The 17 best apps to treat anxiety

The prevalence of anxiety disorders has increased in the last decade, and experts warn that in the case of children and adolescents stress is increasing alarmingly.

The Spanish Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AEPNYA) affirms that this increase will have a great impact on psychiatric illnesses in adults in the next decade.

Types of anxiety disorders

In reality, anxiety is something that we have all felt at some point in our life. It is a normal emotion, which is even adaptive. Right before an important exam, for example, anxiety can manifest itself. Anxiety usually appears in situations of stress and uncertainty.

Now, when anxiety causes some degree of functional deterioration in the life of the individual who suffers it, affecting the different areas of your life (eg work, interpersonal relationships, etc.), what is known as anxiety disorder is diagnosed. There are different types of anxiety disorder: Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social Phobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Agoraphobia and Phobia Specific.

• You may be interested in: Types of Anxiety Disorders and their characteristics"

Apps to treat anxiety

Along with the increasing prevalence of anxiety disorders, new technologies have also been developed. This has caused psychology experts to try to merge their knowledge of mind and behavior with advances in technology. For example, the novel Virtual Reality Therapy.

However, there are technological advances that are more within our reach than Virtual Reality Therapy. A clear example is the applications for smartphones. In recent years, mobile apps have appeared that aim to reduce anxiety symptoms. Although they are not useful for severe cases, they can be effective for less severe cases.

Although these applications do not replace a psychologist, below you can find a list of 15 apps to treat anxiety.

• Related article: "The 7 types of anxiety (causes and symptoms)”

1. Me I

Very attentive to the (free) launch of this app the week of March 16, 2020, because Meyo is called to completely revolutionize the market for mobile applications aimed at treating anxiety. Meyo can become your best tool to cope with the stress we live with and to both avoid and reduce the impact of anxiety in our daily lives.

With the scientific support of top-level physicians and psychologists, Meyo seeks that we are absolute masters of our physical and emotional health. Because when we manage to find a balance between body and mind, problems affect us less, we have more vitality and energy, we face challenges with more optimism and are less susceptible to stress and, therefore, anxiety.

Therefore, the app is equipped with an artificial intelligence that detects what your problems and needs are, analyzes the possible reason for stress (or anxiety) and from this it offers you an absolutely personalized plan so that you can solve the underlying problem and do everything in your power to improve mood, boost vitality, promote optimism and, ultimately, better process obstacles and enjoy more of everything you surrounds.

Meyo offers you challenges, videos, games, tips and any type of audiovisual content whose effectiveness is endorsed by the scientific team. Eat healthier, prepare healthy recipes, play sports, perform better at work, meditate, do yoga, improve relationships with friends, overcome a love breakup or the death of a family member, abandon shyness, leave behind fears, phobias and insecurities, face problems at work or with other people, improve financial situation, find work, learn to save ...

It doesn't matter what is causing you stress or anxiety. Meyo will have something to offer you to overcome obstacles and so that you are not only a healthier person, but a happier person. Without a doubt, an app that we will follow very closely. In addition, the company behind this app has bought the rights to dozens of short films (some even winners of Oscars) that, in addition to entertaining, exemplify the topics covered. They have several shorts that talk about how we approach anxiety and how it is possible to overcome it. As always, Meyo combines wellness with entertainment.

In addition, the company behind this app has bought the rights to dozens of short films (some even winners of Oscars) that, in addition to entertaining, exemplify the topics covered. They have several shorts that talk about how we approach anxiety and how it is possible to overcome it. As always, Meyo combines wellness with entertainment.

• To know more: "'Meyo', the app that will revolutionize physical and psychological health"
• You can download it for Android and to iOs.

2. TherapyChat

TherapyChat is a digital platform that makes available to the user a wide variety of psychologists who offer assistance psychological distance through a video call service, maintaining the confidentiality of the information treated.

To use it, you just have to select a service plan, explain the problem, and have a chartered psychologist who is assigned depending on the needs and characteristics of the Username. In addition, the first session is free.

• On this page You will find more information about TherapyChat, as well as links of interest.

3. Gurumind

Gurumind is one of the most complete and accessible meditation and relaxation techniques apps. In its interface it is possible to find easy-to-use resources at any time to promote emotional balance in times of anxiety or stress.

In addition, Gurumind has different sections depending on the need that the user has at all times: insomnia, extreme anxiety, sadness, and more.

• On this page there is more information about the app, as well as links of interest.

4. \ Mentavio

Mentavio is another of the useful tools to treat anxiety-related problems, since it puts the user reach a wide repertoire of psychologists who can provide psychological assistance or therapy to distance.

This digital platform, which works without the need for subscriptions and offers SSL encryption to guarantee confidentiality, displays profiles of psychotherapists to choose from, each one of which has your most relevant information in your professional profile: resume, specialties, time availability, scores from other users, prices, etc.

• If you are interested, you can see their contact information at this page.

5. Worry Watch

Anxiety is manifested many times by imagining negative and unreal future scenarios. Worry Watch is an app whose purpose is to enable the handling of irrational and unjustified concerns or thoughts. Has a journal that helps track user concerns, including what might happen and how the situation really ended.

As use of the app increases, it is possible to monitor trends and learn from your worry and anxiety patterns. By observing one's thoughts and the actual consequences, one begins to realize that these thoughts are, in many cases, irrational.

6. Worry Box

Worry Box in Spanish means box of worries. This app was created to help people deal with worry and learn to effectively manage this paralyzing emotion. When we are faced with this kind of anguish, the app gives a list of coping expressions to help us reframe thoughts. It also includes relaxation audios to help induce calm.

7. What´s up?

In the treatment of anxiety it is very important to be aware that one suffers from this psychological phenomenon, and thus understand how your thoughts affect your emotions and behaviors. This can make the difference between having a panic attack and rationally approaching your fear and worry with a more open mind. That is, it is key to learn to manage this phenomenon and to reduce the intensity of your symptoms.

This application uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to instruct its users on how to identify negative thought patterns and sources of anxiety. It features breathing techniques, habit and anxiety monitors, positive quotes, forums, and even a game.

8. MindShift

When you suffer from anxiety, you can feel tied to your constant thoughts of worry and fear. Mindshift try to help users reduce these thoughts. He does this thanks to his diary, his symptom tracker and the relaxation tips that he facilitates to handle a complicated situation. These guided tips focus on anxiety, fears and phobias, and confidence.

9. Stress Doctor

More than Stress Doctor, this app should be called Stress Psychologist. It is an app useful for people who regularly face panic and anxiety attacks, which uses the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach to help users rethink their destructive thought patterns that can lead to or worsen their anxiety. Offers breathing exercises, an anxiety journal, and other options.

10. Headspace

An application based on mindfulness, with mindfulness and meditation techniques to help manage stress and anxiety, improve well-being and be happier in general. Guided meditations are designed to train the brain in just 10 minutes a day, with the ability to record progress and help practice self-compassionalong with a buddy system so one can stay motivated and help others do the same.

11. Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep

Relaxation can be difficult when someone is anxious. Yet the sound of nature can help you relax and sleep better. This application was created to help users find calm. The different options include waterfall, night in the jungle, sounds of birds and thunder. You can also use the application as an alarm.

12. Anxiety Free

High levels of stress can make anxiety symptoms worse, which is why stress management techniques are often recommended for people with anxiety. The Anxiety Free app uses self-hypnosis techniques to help decrease stress and reduce feelings of anxiety. The lessons are guided and developed by Donald Mackinnon and last 90 minutes each.

• Related article: "Hypnosis, that great unknown"

13. Moods

Learning to manage anxiety requires, first of all, knowing how to recognize it. With this mood tracker application, you simply need to enter how you feel at any time of the day so that you can use these inputs to track and identify patterns of behavior and thinking.

14. Self Help for Anxiety Management

This app can help you manage anxiety symptoms. It is a self-help tool for the management of this disorder, which starts from a holistic vision for its treatment.

In the app you will find an anxiety monitoring tool, instructions for relaxation, a treatment guide and a community with which to interact. There are also interactive relaxation features that you can use to learn how to better manage your emotions and physical reactions.

15. Sleep time

Insomnia due to anxiety is frequent in situations in which a person is stressed or has excessive worries. Getting a good night's sleep can make the difference between having a good day or a bad day. Sleep time lets you sleep with relaxing and ambient sounds. It also allows you to track your sleep patterns and provides you with information on the quality of your sleep hygiene.

16. Breathe2Relax

This application is easy to use. Developed by the National Center for Telehealth & Technology, this app guides us through diaphragmatic breathing (or "belly breathing") and allows us to write down and memorize our own stress level. It also offers informative videos on the consequences of stress.

• You may be interested: "Types of breathing (and how to learn them in meditation)"

17. PTSD Coach

Created by the National Center for PSTD, this app is intended for those who suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD Coach is a self-assessment tool that links users with support groups.