Is it possible that you can overcome anxiety with an app? If this article today from Fierce Mobile Healthcare is any indication, then yes. There is most definitely a smartphone app for anxiety. It sounds crazy at first glance, right? You go out, start to get a little anxious and feel like you’re frazzled a little bit, and all of a sudden “there’s an app for that”? Sorry for the pun, but you surely get the odd nature of this whole thing, right? What if it’s not though? Let’s take a look at the article at Fierce Mobile Healthcare and see what this whole thing seems to be about. http://www.fiercemobilehealthcare.com/story/new-smartphone-app-helps-patients-fight-anxiety-disorder-symptoms/2012-02-20
The still-to-be-named app, was studied in a 338-patient trial, and used a psychological approach called “cognitive bias modification.” The idea is to help anxiety disorder sufferers short-circuit anxious or negative thought cycles when in stressful situations.
Hey, we’re off to a good start! Getting real, professional help from a smartphone app seems a little far fetched. Getting a little bit of a boost from an app that helps to stop that cycle of anxiety and negativity that so many of us have definitely felt when we get into a busy setting sounds kind of nice. There are some drawbacks to the whole thing though.
To begin with, it is a fair bet that quite a few people are likely to look at an app like this, and try and get it to replace real help from a trained professional. In fact, one psychiatrist stated as much in the article. Trying to automate treatment with an app may not offer the type of results that a lot of people are going to look for.
Makes enough sense… Anxiety can stem from a lot of things. Sometimes, we just haven’t gone out in a long time because of illness, family commitments, work or something else. The first time hitting a social setting after being cooped up indoors for a long time can be even worse if you’re one of the many, many people who is prone to anxiety disorders of any sort. Maybe not, but it’s probably not that uncommon of a problem.
Let’s take just one more look here at what the app, developed by Harvard researchers no less, is supposed to do. Then, you’ve got to head over and read the entire article and browse the site as well. It’s all rather good information, and we are only going to link to sites that we think are great and of high value, and they make the cut in the opinion of this blog writer.
For example, patients with social anxiety–fear brought on by being in crowds or public places–often focus on any angry-looking or hostile faces in the crowd, and simply don’t see people with positive expressions, the Times explains.
The smartphone app, through a simple, repetitive exercise, re-conditions the brain to automatically look away from, and not fixate on, hostile expressions. This can interrupt the cascade of negative thoughts and rising anxiety that normally would have been triggered by the patient’s skewed perception of a situation.
It’s pretty cool, and there are quite a few other apps on the market to help people who have got behavioral issues like this one. The app’s not been named yet, and who knows how you’ll get it, or who will be able to (presumably anyone with a smartphone, but who knows), but it’s something to keep an eye on.
We’ll cut it for now, direct you to please pay the full article and site a visit, and drop a comment to let us know what you think. If you like the article and want your friends to know about it, would you hit a “Like” or +1 to spread the word? Let us know if you know of anyone else, or maybe yourself, who has already benefited from a smartphone app for anxiety, which one it was, and how well they did.
I was watching an episode of the medical TV show, The Doctors. In this episode, the doctors were citing staggering statistics about how the abuse of prescription drugs is now considered an epidemic as people from all walks of life look to drugs to relieve anxiety. Certain physicians who were interviewed in another study said there exists a placebo effect for persons who have become dependent on drugs. In many cases, it is their believe that the drugs are helping them which cause them to improve.
Hey Eleanor,
That’s interesting. I don’t usually watch that show, but sometimes there is some really interesting and useful information on there. You hear a lot about prescription drug “crises”, for lack of a better term. Pain killers, anxiety meds etc certainly could all be overused, especially these days when anxiety his pretty high. It will be really interesting to see where technology takes treatment.
Like Linda’s comment, it would be pretty interesting to see how things go if technology continues to develop. Putting apps out for anxiety may not be the best long term strategy, but maybe short term uses could be helpful. I guess we’ll see.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I think I have heard of everything now. An app to help you with anxiety issues? Are they going to make one that counsels you if you have mental problems next or suicidal tendencies? Are we just trying to take the human factor out of everything these days? People need to talk to people when they have problems like this they need to feel like someone cares. They don’t need a robot.
Hey Linda, that’s definitely a big concern. The human element of all of this is very, very important to be sure. If people look at it like a tool in a toolbox of tools, with counseling or whatever treatment they and their doctor has decided on, maybe it’s good. The only problem is if all you’ve got is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
It would definitely not be good if people were to start thinking that apps like these could be a shortcut to fixing the broader issues at hand. As a short term bit of help when things get a little rocky? Maybe not awful.
This was actually very interesting. I would bet that this app. is less expensive than if you went to a psychiatrist. I wonder though if it would deal with every aspect of anxiety and how debilitating it can be if not addressed early on. What does this app. do exactly if some is suffering an anxiety attack? Or is this to hopefully prevent those kinds of things from happening.
Hey Frank. Looks like it’s mainly there to cut off the anxiety issues before they start up. There’s some information in the excerpted article, at the source, that talks a little bit about how people with social anxiety issues tend to focus on faces that look less friendly. The app is supposed to help with that. I guess we’ll see if and when it’s released.
Thanks for stopping by.
I am not at all surprised that there exists an app to help reduce anxiety. In fact, what one of the readers said about the placebo effect really does exist – and there is documented proof. I watched 60 Minutes last Sunday and they interviewed a doctor who conducted a study where he gave patients a sugar pill and told them he was prescribing medication that would cure them of their depression – and they all improved. So if a sugar pill can convince patients until they are cured, why not an app?
I used to get pretty sad when I was a teenager. I often felt alone and isolated. I am not sure, but I think I may have been suffering from depression back then. Somehow or another, without the use of any medication, I managed to become focused on fitness and sports and these served as an outlet which may have distracted me. I haven’t changed much. I’ve just become numb to sadness and accustomed to being alone.
How do they have an app. for your phone that helps with anxiety? What does it do for you? When you are suffering from anxiety disorder don’t you need to talk to someone? I mean wouldn’t that help? I guess I will have to research this and see how it is supposed to help. I just have a feeling that an actual person is better help here than an app.
Hey Tonya,
You’re totally right. In the post, I noted that it wasn’t a substitute for talking to a professional to start to work through the issues. A short term fix probably. I guess we’ll see if anything like this becomes available, and on what terms.
Definitely not something for people to consider a replacement for genuine, professional help.
The pursuit of technology is designed to make human life easier and more comfortable and convenient. But what happens when the very innovations that are designed to improve our creature comforts begin to intrude upon the most intimate parts of our lives. Will we forfeit our very soul? This may seem like gloom and doom, but we must ask ourselves these existential questions regardless of how uncomfortable they make people feel. Is this a sign of the times?
I really don’t know what to think about this. It could really help in so many ways but there are a lot of things that can’t be helped this way also. I think that they are on the right track making something like this but it is going to be strictly a judgment call on your part as an individual as to whether you think it is something that can help you or not.
Well this is very interesting and I am glad that they pointed out that this is not a substitution for the real professional help of an expert. I hope people will realize that, but I do think having something like this or just music to play in your head would help with the anxiety issue in most cases. If the anxiety is bad enough though a voice telling you it is alright can be beneficial.
The most under valued remedy for anxiety and less than severe cases of depression is not ever mentioned in journals or blog articles or even in conversation. Regular exercise has got to be the most ignored human necessity ever. Both humans and animals need it. Humans need one hour a day of physical exercise. It relieves stress and prevents obesity and diabetes, among other ailments. Ever notice how pets act up when they don’t get the proper exercise?
Lisa,
First off, thanks for commenting. This post caught a little buzz it seems. Anyway, you’re completely right. Exercise is a great stress reliever, and is definitely good for people who are healthy enough to exercise safely to maintain a positive mental state.
My dog definitely gets a little anxious if I’m not walking him enough, and he’s 15 now.
I do not at all object to using an app to provide some support for mental health treatment. After all, there are news reports which have already covered how certain intrepid doctors are using mobile communications to provide consultations. Some even provide certain types of medical examinations via a web conference. I am all for the progress of technology. I am also getting into app development. So I am curious to see how psychiatric care fares in the mobile market.
You are definitely not alone Harry. A lot of people seem to be more apprehensive in that there is a concern that people will think of these apps as a cure-all. It’s early yet, and the app that was highlighted in this post isn’t even available on a wide scale from what I know.
If they’re used right, maybe they’ll be an amazing breakthrough. Both for patients as well as well meaning app developers, eh? Let us know if you find out more. There are probably quite a few people that would be interested to hear about this if you get into it.
Even though the technology for mental health evaluation is still in its infancy, I think mobile apps are a great way to facilitate more of the standard office tasks. For instance, a therapist could use an app to gather some initial data on a person who is seeking help. Then based on the initial feedback, the therapist could then conduct the first consolation over web chat before scheduling an office visit. This saves time and money on both sides.
Nice comment Theresa. I hadn’t really thought about that. It would be interesting if there were some sort of app that could safely and effectively integrate with professionals working with their patients. Seeing the data from certain episodes throughout the day may be interesting. I’m not psychiatrist or psychologist, but it does seem pretty interesting.
Thanks for dropping by.
Craig, that is quite an idea which has some very intriguing possibilities. Having patients either write a journal about their experiences, thoughts and emotions throughout their day and log it using their mobile device. This enables them to do so wherever they may be. They might even record a video log or capture footage of their actual experience. This could make for some educational and riveting footage, not only for the medical care professional, but also for the millions of cyberspace voyeurs – if such footage could be shared on Youtube or the doctor’s own website.
Thomas,
First off, thanks for the comment, and you are completely right. The footage could be pretty fascinating, and may be a heck of a learning tool for students in a training course. It may also be nice for support groups if these types of apps catch on.
There would likely be some privacy issues involved, but who knows how that might shake out? Thanks for the thoughts.
I am glad that they pointed out that this is not a substitution for the real professional help of an expert. It wouldn’t surprise me if that is exactly what some people thought. You know those phones that you can talk to and they talk back? I’m sure someone out there thinks that is a real person helping them. To think an app. could help you would not be to far fetched.
Yeah, Siri is not a counselor (yet).
One point I try and make on the blog each time a post goes up is to remember that there is no replacement for a real professional to counsel and offer help. Who knows if these sorts of apps even catch on, but in the overall digital age, and a shift we’re seeing towards mobile… it’ll be interesting.
I think this could really help in so many ways but there are a lot of things that can’t be helped this way also. As long as people know the difference between the two I think that they are on the right track making something like this but it is going to be strictly a judgment call on your part as an individual as to whether you think it is something that can help you.
Definitely Ana. Working with a counselor to make the best choice regarding a course of treatment is the key. I have no clue, but I’d be surprised if this sort of thing caught on in the app stores for the various mobile platforms. But, just like many sites have mobile apps of their own, maybe treatment programs would develop this sort of thing.
It’s so early that it’s all speculation, but it’s all rather interesting. It looks like this caught on a bit as well since I think this may be the only post with real comments on it, and we’re up to 19 or 20 now… Didn’t see this coming.