Innovation in tech has made life much more comfortable. With recent developments, you can order food with the tap of your phone screen (no calling required!), call a car to take you to your location, and much more. Unfortunately, these recent developments coincide with growing rates of mental disorders like anxiety and depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in six US adults struggles with a mental disorder.
Although the technology itself isn’t to blame, aspects like social media exposure contribute to poor mental health. Research indicates that social media accessibility via smartphones can have a detrimental effect on one’s mental health. That being said, technology can also help improve mental health for the better. Here’s how new innovations have had an impact on people’s mental health.
Mindfulness Apps
Firstly, there are well-developed mindfulness applications that are helpful while meditating. It offers impressive benefits like reducing stress, a factor that can exacerbate symptoms of different mental disorders. These applications offer guidance on breathing techniques to reduce stress levels and help you focus.
This, in turn, alleviates symptoms of anxiety and depression while relieving fatigue. If you’re considering trying meditation as part of a holistic approach to treatment, a mindfulness application is a good place to start.
Mood Tracking Apps
There are many reasons to keep track of how you feel. A detailed record of your emotions can help your therapist provide an accurate diagnosis. Similarly, it can help you and your therapist evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment plan. If your mental health practitioner provides you with an individualized treatment plan, such as at United Recovery Project, you’ll want to know if it’s making a difference.
While most therapists recommend a pen-and-paper format, it’s much more difficult to get used to. In contrast, a phone application is easier to use. Such applications can keep track of your mood over time, encourage you to reflect on happier moments, and help you build a more positive perspective.
Journalling Apps
A more detailed way to keep track of your thoughts and feelings is to keep a journal. In fact, research shows that it’s a low-cost way to manage mental illness. While the traditional format involves pen and paper, a smartphone application can perform equally well.
They allow you to keep a digital diary with customizable templates so you can save time while journalling. One benefit of using an application is that it keeps track of the weather, time, and date for a particular day. Plus, you can add pictures or screenshots to give context to your feelings and emotions.
In terms of convenience, technology can help organize the journaling process so you can easily go through entries when looking for certain details.
Social Media Blocker Apps
As mentioned above, increased social media usage is linked to higher rates of anxiety and depressive disorders. In this case, using the right technology can help limit your exposure to such platforms. With the right applications, you can set daily limits on how long you spend on a platform. Moreover, you can set up reminders that tell you to take a break if you’ve been active for too long.
Virtual Reality To Alleviate Anxiety
Therapists can use virtual reality technology as a way to help with distress tolerance and management. With virtual reality, you can learn to manage your symptoms in a simulated environment. For instance, people who feel anxious in crowded spaces or social situations can learn to manage their emotions in a virtual reality setting.
Therapists can use virtual reality technology as a tool for exposure therapy. It can help alleviate the intensity of your stress response when you encounter stressful situations, memories, or thoughts that cause feelings of fear.
E-Therapy and Counseling
Lately, a much more impactful use of technology to improve mental health includes the provision of e-therapy and counseling. In this form of therapy, a mental health practitioner uses models like telephone or online video conferencing to speak with clients. Recently, this method has been gaining immense popularity due to its high accessibility.
It allows you to seek help and guidance from a professional without having to leave your home. Moreover, it’s particularly beneficial for clients who live in remote areas that don’t offer access to clinics where they can meet a therapist in person.
Monitoring Seniors’ Mental Health
Because mental disorders look different in older adults compared to other demographic groups, their mental well-being is overlooked. Due to ageism and stereotypical notions of what it means to be ‘old,’ people associate aging with limited mental stability. However, this isn’t the case. Older adults are more vulnerable to feelings of depression and other mental disorders. This is due to loneliness, isolation, and an inability to perform activities due to limited mobility.
Thanks to the easy connectivity provided by recent technological innovations, healthcare providers can monitor the mental health of older patients. This way, older adults struggling with mental disorders can get the care they need.
Mental Health Hotline
Lastly, there are hotlines and live chat options available for people struggling with anxious or depressive thoughts. These helplines are attended by crisis counselors and mental health professionals who can provide assistance and guidance to people who need someone to talk to.
In some cases, people who feel overwhelmed due to negative emotions may not have friends they can talk to. Therefore, a hotline or 24-hour online chat provides people with the anonymity, accessibility, and convenience they may need to reach out to someone.
Conclusion
Thanks to technology, the provision of mental health services is much more organized and systematic. Additionally, the development of applications and software can help people manage their symptoms and keep track of their thoughts and emotions while undergoing treatment. And with advanced technology like virtual reality simulations, therapists can help clients manage their responses to stressful situations.