10 Virtual Therapy and Mental Health Apps to Cope With Coronavirus Stress

The coronavirus situation in the US has escalated quickly in the past few days, leaving many people on edge. On March 15, the CDC began recommending that people practice social distancing—in other words, avoiding close contact with others. A day later, President Donald Trump made an announcement advising people to limit their socializing to small groups of no more than 10 people to help prevent the spread of the virus.

With most of us limited to confined spaces, and some of us isolated from our social circles, staying mentally healthy is more important than ever. "Most people can't go see a therapist in person right now, so anything that helps you get out those feelings and thoughts is so beneficial," says psychologist Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD, Chief Learning Officer of online-therapy.com. "While it's not a complete replacement for therapy, it's definitely a positive alternative."

Dr. Lombardo explains that because stress manifests itself in every aspect of our lives, and because the pandemic is creating so much of that stress, finding any kind of resource to help you through this time is beneficial. If you can't see your therapist IRL, or can't afford a weekly therapy session, don't worry. There are plenty of apps that can help you work through the stress and uncertainty of this time—whether it's through interaction with a therapist or an app dedicated to mindfulness.

1. Youper

Youper is an artificial intelligence (AI) "emotional health assistant" that allows you to have text message conversations with a bot which provides feedback to help monitor and improve your mental health. According to the app's website, Youper (which is totally free, by the way) can also help with developing more personalized treatments for conditions like depression and anxiety. It's a great solution for instant, at-the-ready communication. (Free; available on iOS and Android)

2. Moodpath

If you struggle with depression or anxiety, the current climate can be particularly challenging. The Moodpath app, which is geared towards helping those conditions in particular, includes features like a digital journal, mood tracker, and plenty of audio files and articles focused on building positivity and self confidence. Moodpath is free, so it can be a great supplement to your existing therapy routine. (Free; available on iOS and Android)

3. Talkspace

Even before social distancing, the Talkspace app connected people to therapists virtually through messaging and video calls. While using the app is not free, therapy plans start at $65 per week—which is less expensive than a lot of other therapy plans. The app will help you find a therapist that fits your needs and is available 24/7, so you can message during any particularly challenging episode. (Free to download with in-app purchases; available on iOS and Android)

4. Woebot

Sometimes you just need someone—or something—to vent to. Woebot is an AI service that lets you message a bot, which responds with encouraging, thought-provoking feedback throughout the conversation. The app, which was designed by a group of psychologists, uses cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to interact and respond with its users. Woebot is totally free, and can be helpful in a pinch when you're feeling particularly stressed. (Free; available on iOS and Android)

5. Bloom

The Bloom app is the perfect combination of everything you want in a therapy app. It features daily video therapy sessions, cognitive behavioral therapy exercises, and provides feedback based on your mood tracker. The app offers a free three-day trial, and costs $60 per year afterwards. If you're interested in starting therapy but don't know where to begin, this app is a great stepping stone. (Free to download with in-app purchases; available on iOS)

6. Sanvello

Formerly known as Pacifica, Sanvello is another combination app with a daily mood tracker, coping resources, and a community support forum. Unlike some other apps, Sanvello accepts some insurance plans, so you can get instant help for a discounted price. Plans start at $9 monthly, but its basic feature has plenty of resources for free. (Free to download with in-app purchases; available on iOS and Android)

7. Better Help

You don't need to spend hours searching for the right therapist. Better Help connects you with a licensed therapist for you, you and your partner, or your child. You have the option of text messaging, calling, or video chatting your counselor, so you can choose the method that best fits your lifestyle. Better Help costs $40-$70 a week depending on your plan. (Free to download with in-app purchases; available on iOS and Android)

8. I am

Positive affirmations are a great way to help change that internal voice and switch your negative thoughts to positive ones. The "I am" app sends you notifications with positive affirmations throughout the day to help foster those kinds of thoughts. You can set as many reminders as you like, anytime throughout the day. The app features a three-day free trial, with subscriptions starting at $2.99 per month afterwards. (Free to download with in-app purchases; available on iOS and Android)

9. Ten Percent Happier

Ten Percent Happier provides guided meditations for reducing stress, cultivating healthy habits, and more, and can be a great addition to your typical therapy routine. The app costs $99.99 per year after a seven-day free trial. But in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ten Percent Happier is providing a free, live guided meditation at 3 pm EST every weekday, which will focus on finding peace during this time of uncertainty. The company is also offering any healthcare worker a free subscription to their app, as a thank you for their services. (Free with in-app purchases; available on iOS and Android)

10. Sayana
Sometimes just defining how we feel is the first step to feeling better. That's where Sayana steps in. This app, which is focused on self-discovery, can help you track your mood and articulate your feelings so that you can start the healing process even quicker. Sayana costs $4 a week, and includes coping mechanisms for stress and community forums for working through problems. (Free with in-app purchases; available on iOS)

The information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Coronavirus Anxiety - Helpful Apps To Deal With The Stress

These are unprecedented times. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is testing the best of us. There is no end in sight as the virus keeps spreading and the majority of the world is under lockdown. The added social distancing norms have led to many people being isolated from their near and dear ones. All of this combined has resulted in severe anxiety, stress, and depression in hordes of people all over the world.
The stress and anxiety are natural. After all, you can’t leave your home or meet people outside. Moreover, we don’t know how long this phase will continue. So, what is the way out? Technology has come to the rescue in these times, and several apps focused on mediation have seen a surge in downloads as they are helping people deal with their anxiety. Many apps have also created coronavirus-focused programs, including free resources for healthcare workers. What’s more, a lot of these meditation apps are even offering free memberships to help people cope with their stress in the current situation.
These anxiety apps will hence be of great help to many people – from the elderly to the young students. Let’s take a look at five of the best of such apps that might prove beneficial to you in dealing with the stress caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

1. The Tapping Solution

The Tapping Solution is a free app that integrates the EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Tapping Technique – an alternate treatment used particularly for emotional distress. This unique self-soothing technique is based on the principles of Chinese acupuncture along with modern psychology.
The Tapping Solution app attempts to help people lower their stress levels along with reducing anxiety, getting motivated, getting better sleep and removing negative emotions. They have a huge range of topics that includes Stress Relief, Releasing Fears, Emotional Freedom, Sleep Support, Healing Your Body, and much more. The app measures people's anxiety before and after the EFT tapping technique that people can follow from the guidelines listed. According to the creators, their app has measured an "average decrease in anxiety [of] 49 percent in 10 minutes."
In light of the extreme stress and anxiety that is being caused because of the coronavirus pandemic, the app's creator Jessica Ortner recently said that they have “grabbed every meditation that's relevant to what's going on right now and unlocked it all and made it free."
App Download Links: 
Android
iPhone

2. Headspace

Headspace has established its name as one of the most well-known meditation apps out there. The app usually costs $12.99 per month, but they are offering it for free in the U.S. to healthcare workers. This is a great move, as it is these healthcare workers who are at the forefront of this war and must be dealing with unimaginable stress.
With hundreds of guided meditations that you can even listen on the go, Headspace can be utilized in the current situation perfectly. It also features some great mindfulness tips like managing stress and better sleep. This isn’t all. The app is also providing a collection of coronavirus-specific content called "Weathering the Storm" for free to everyone. This includes meditations, sleep, and movement exercises depending on how you are feeling. According to the website, “It’s our small way of helping you find some space and kindness for yourself and those around you.”

App Download Links:

Android
iPhone

3. Breethe

Breethe is not just your run-of-the-mill meditation app. It offers a plethora of features like music, nature sounds, bedtime stories, guided meditations, masterclasses, and hypnotherapy sessions to help you return to your natural happy state. There are also breathing classes and inspirational talks here that you can make use of to unwind and relax. Users have found Breethe to be a great tool to help them relax and energize. You can choose from the many sections and use them according to your needs. 
The app usually costs $89.99 per year, but owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the creators are offering it for free to everyone during this period.

App Download Links:

Android
iPhone

4. Talkspace

While mediation apps are great, they might not be enough to deal with the dread from the ongoing pandemic. This is where an app like Talkspace can be a real boon. It allows users to connect virtually with a licensed therapist. It will help you find the best-suited therapist in your area and you can talk to them via text, audio or video chat multiple times a week. While the app is free, the therapy sessions aren’t. But they are still much more affordable than the compatible therapy sessions online. 
The creators also announced recently that they will be "donating 1,000 months of free online therapy to medical workers across the United States." So, if you know of any medical workers in your social circle, now would be a good time to let them take advantage of this app.
Talkspace has also initiated a number of free and notable coronavirus-related resources to help people in these stressful times like Facebook groups led by professional therapists, blog posts by mental health professionals, as well as an Instagram channel to resolve the various stress-related issues of users.
App Download Links:
Android

iPhone

5. Insight Timer

Having more than 40,000 free meditations for everyone, Insight Timer is a great anxiety app for all age groups including children. There are a lot of options to choose from in their free library organized into neat sections with more than 200 choices. Depending on your needs, you can opt for Nature Sounds, Spirituality, Sound Meditation, and Relaxation Meditation, among a host of other choices. Their section on ‘Recovery & Healing’ has got great feedback, as they cover aspects like depression, grief, healing, pain, body image, and addiction.
Since the ongoing pandemic, they have also updated coronavirus-relevant content for the public like a guided meditation on how to cultivate compassion in this time of panic and fear.
App Download Links:
Android
iPhone

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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