Dealing with anxiety and panic attacks can be a really rough road. From low-level stress to intense panic attacks, having these issues can really take a toll on your life. But finding support on these topics can help hugely in dealing with or moving on from them.
So, here are five apps that can help with anxiety and panic.
1.Dare
Dare offers a simplified way of recognizing, understanding, and managing your anxiety and panic. When signing up for the app, you will be asked which specific issues you're concerned about, such as depression, insomnia, or anxiety. After selecting your area of concern, Dare will play you a short audio guide all about that specific area.
After listening to this guide, you will be able to explore a number of features on the Dare app, such as overcoming worry or healthy anxiety. You can also read the stories of other individuals who have dealt with mental health issues, yet still overcome the challenges and achieved happiness.
Dare also allows you to track your progress, where you can rate your level of anxiety daily on a scale of 1-10 so that you can see how your overall state of mind is changing.
One of Dare's best features on offer is its SOS option. It lets you access calming methods when your mental stress has peaked, and you are feeling panicked or overwhelmed. You can select which problem you are facing, and the app will play you a helpful audio guide to hopefully pull you out of the dark and allow you to think clearly again.
A lot of the app's features are only accessible by upgrading to the premium version, which costs around sixty dollars a year, or ten dollars monthly. Though the app works well for those who want to track basic factors and aid you in emergency situations, try another of the apps listed here if you want to access more features free of charge.
Download: Dare for Android | iOS (Free, premium version available)
2. Rootd
Rootd is an app that allows you to learn about your specific mental concerns, and what you can do to help yourself.
The main feature is called Rootr. You can use this when you feel that you are experiencing panic or overwhelming emotions. The app will walk you through what you are feeling, and ask you to focus on certain things to help you return to a calm state. It will also provide you with positive and reassuring affirmations that allow you to rationalize your thoughts and feelings.
Other helpful features include Breathr, Sleepr, and Visualizr. These are more similar to mindfulness or deep breathing apps, and allow you to tackle your issues via visualization and breathing exercises. The app will guide you on how to perform these two exercises, and will stay with you along the way by timing your activity.
You can also use the app's Journal feature to log your moods, day to day activities, and write about how you are feeling. You can set reminders so that you check in every day. You can also set reminders for the Breathr, Sleepr and Visualizr features.
The app tracks your progress, allowing for anxiety check-ins, and logging how many panic attacks you have overcome, as well as how much time you have spent using the Sleepr, Breathr, and Visualizr features.
Download: Rootd for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
3. My Safe Zone
My Safe Zone offers calming tools that allow you to overcome your anxious feelings. There are four main options to choose from on the app: Panic Patterns, Positive Affirmations, Calming Animations, and Soothing Sounds. Each of these offers a safe, calming space for you to pull away from your stresses and come back to yourself.
Unlike Dare or Rootd, My Safe Zone won't log your mood or offer any sorts of lessons on anxiety or panic. The app's purpose centers more around calming you down in the moment. However, for a couple of dollars a month, you can upgrade to the premium version, which allows you to add custom affirmations and choose a panic buddy from your contacts for emergency situations.
Download: My Safe Zone for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
4. Mind Ease
Mind Ease offers a warm and calming space for you to deal with your anxiety. The home page itself features a beautiful sunset with a background noise of waves and birdsong, which can alone aid in calming you down.
The app's main feature is the Calm Me option. Here, you can log your current thoughts and feelings, and, depending on your response, the app will offer a remedy, such as cognitive therapy. You will then be told what the specific therapy or remedy entails, and will be asked what specific event or scenario has triggered you.
The app will then take you through a number of important thinking techniques. You will be asked to examine your thought or trigger, and, after being taken through some more steps, will be asked to come up with a new, more realistic belief. This method has proven to be helpful with many people, so it could certainly help you, too.
On the app's Explore option, you can find some interesting resources and activities that are restricted to the app's premium version, which costs around $35 a year. With this subscription, you can get anxiety insights, unlimited exercises, and a more in-depth customization.
Download: Mind Ease for Android | iOS (Free, premium version available)
5. Wysa
Wysa is slightly different to the other apps listed here, in that it uses AI to identify your problems. You can talk to an AI-powered bot that will talk you through your anxiety, and offer simple solutions to help. However, this AI bot is still in beta, and all the creases have not yet been ironed out.
The app also offers exercises in a number of different areas, including health anxiety, breakups, confidence building, and productivity. You can also check your journal to see the activities you've completed and the progress you've made so far.
Be mindful that some of the features on the Wysa app can only be accessed via the premium version, such as unlimited exercises and meditation activities.
Download: Wysa for Android | iOS (Free, premium version available)
Ease Your Anxiety and Access Calmness
We're at a unique point in time where we can access incredibly useful mental health tools from the comfort of our home, and free of charge. So, why not give them a go and see if they can help you understand and manage your anxiety and panic.