Top 6 Mobile Apps for Anxiety Management and Stress Relief

A growing number of individuals are turning to mobile applications for distraction, stress relief, and anxiety reduction. I can relate, as I am part of this trend. I’ve discovered that not every “stress relief app”meets its promises, so I’ve put together a list of my top recommendations for combating anxiety and stress.

1. Top Choice for Guided Meditations: Calm

Price: Free with premium upgrade

Calm (Android | iOS) is tailored to assist users in managing stress, anxiety, and sleep-related issues with guided meditation, sleep stories, breathing exercises, and soothing music. The app boasts a variety of resources that cater to different preferences, making it suitable for a wide audience.

As a regular sufferer of anxiety, I found the guided meditations particularly beneficial. I appreciate the option to select shorter, five to ten-minute sessions when I’m busy or lengthier meditations for when I’m looking to relax. However, Calm extends beyond just meditation; it also provides masterclasses on mental wellness, sleep stories, and soothing sounds for those who prefer less structured sessions.

On the downside, the pricing can be a hurdle. Although Calm has free features, the majority of its content—especially the advanced meditations and sleep stories—requires a premium subscription. Additionally, I noted that some of the longer meditation sessions can become repetitive with frequent use.

2. Ideal for Emotional Support: 7 Cups

Price: Free with premium upgrade

Sometimes, sharing your thoughts with others is the best way to alleviate stress and anxiety. 7 Cups (Android | iOS) is designed to provide emotional support through anonymous chats with trained listeners, as well as self-help resources and access to professional therapy. This makes it an excellent choice for anyone in need of a compassionate ear, particularly those grappling with depression.

Personally, because I tend to spiral when feeling anxious or isolated, I find 7 Cups to be a reassuring tool. The opportunity to chat with a trained listener on demand is invaluable during peak anxiety moments. These listeners provide supportive, non-judgmental conversations, which I often require between therapy sessions. The app also features self-help guides and community support forums, aiding me in gaining perspective and learning from others with similar experiences.

However, there are some limitations. While chatting with volunteer listeners is free, accessing licensed therapists necessitates a subscription, which may be pricey for some users. I’ve also noticed that the quality of support varies among volunteer listeners: while some provided excellent assistance, others seemed less engaged. Moreover, the breadth of available resources can initially feel overwhelming to navigate.

3. Fantastic for Stress Relief: Antistress

Price: Free

While it might appear somewhat gimmicky at first, Antistress (Android | iOS) serves as an excellent stress relief app designed for those seeking distractions to alleviate stress and anxiety. Its straightforward design and range of engaging games cater to various preferences without overwhelming users.

Antistress includes a collection of calming, interactive activities aimed at reducing stress. The different games kept me engaged, and the tactile interface was perfect for keeping both my hands and mind occupied. It’s a lighthearted and effortless way to relieve stress without requiring extensive time or energy, much like using a coloring book app.

Nevertheless, these simple stress-relief activities are not intended to address long-term stress or severe anxiety. Therefore, users seeking more substantial support may not find this free app as beneficial as others.

4. Leading for Breathing Exercises: Breathwrk

Price: Free with premium upgrade

Breathwrk (Android | iOS) focuses on helping users relieve stress, minimize anxiety, and enhance focus through structured breathing exercises. It provides simple breathing techniques tailored to individual goals, with visual and audio cues guiding users throughout each pattern, making it suitable for all levels of experience.

I’ve found Breathwrk to be a great resource for calming myself during moments of intense anxiety or stress. It’s become a staple for me whenever I feel overwhelmed, and I’ve observed that regular use has led to better anxiety management throughout my day. The best part for me is the wide variety of available exercises, making it easy to pick the one that fits my current needs and the time I have available.

However, only basic exercises are free; more advanced techniques come with a premium subscription. Additionally, the app focuses solely on breathing exercises and does not offer guided meditations or mood tracking, which may also be necessary for holistic stress and anxiety management.

5. Top for Mood Tracking: Moodfit

Price: Free with premium upgrade

Moodfit (Android | iOS) is a mental health app developed to assist users in improving their anxiety and stress levels through mood tracking, personalized insights, and mental health exercises. The app enables users to document their emotions over time, offering insights into how elements such as sleep and exercise can impact stress and anxiety.

Initially skeptical, I’ve found Moodfit to be remarkably insightful as I used it. The mood tracking feature is both simple and effective: logging my emotions daily has heightened my awareness of what triggers my anxiety or stress. I also valued the personalized mental health exercises suggested by the app based on the data I provided.

There is a learning curve due to the abundance of features. Moreover, this app isn’t just an occasional tool for moments of stress—it requires daily usage to maximize its benefits.

6. Excellent Journaling Tool: Unstuck

Price: Free with premium upgrade

The Unstuck: CBT Journal app (Android | iOS) is crafted to assist users in managing anxiety, stress, and negative thought patterns through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It offers daily prompts, exercises, and journaling tools to help users navigate mental challenges and enhance emotional well-being. By emphasizing structured exercises, it fosters self-reflection and encourages healthier thought processes.

As someone who has battled anxious thought spirals, I found Unstuck to be an invaluable resource for self-reflection. The daily prompts inspired me to examine my thoughts more critically, while the exercises helped me confront negativity and reframe situations in a constructive light.

That said, one drawback is its reliance on self-discipline—you must commit to daily journaling for real progress. Furthermore, while it provides helpful structuring, it lacks the personalized touch that a therapist would supply. Nevertheless, for those looking to explore CBT techniques independently as a means of coping with anxiety, Unstuck is a fantastic entry point.

Take Charge of Your Mental Health

While it’s impossible to eliminate stress and anxiety entirely, having these tools at your disposal can assist on particularly challenging days or help you enhance your resilience to stress, ensuring those tough days have less impact. You can also explore other mental health apps or listen to mental health podcasts to further nurture your mind and spirit.

Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Megan Glosson.

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