Hiya Gorgeous!
Your mental health matters, and it’s time to make it a priority.
There, I said it! Yes, there’s a lot going on in our world and it may be easy to compare your struggles to those of others. And you do have a lot of reasons to be happy! But whatever ifs/ands/buts are going through your head right now, your mental health is still important.
Tough love time… You cannot be or do your best if you’re not taking care of yourself. End of story! If you dedicate every moment of time and ounce of energy to everyone and everything but yourself, you will eventually burn (or spin) out. You can count on that.
Luckily, helping yourself and helping others aren’t mutually exclusive! Self-love isn’t selfish. Practicing it actually makes you better equipped to love and care for other people, animals, causes, etc. Prioritizing your mental health doesn’t have to mean neglecting everything else—you can do both, I promise.
I know it can be intimidating to face your innermost thoughts and challenges, but I’m right here with you! Also, rest assured that you can go at your own pace. While it’s great to dig deep if and when you’re ready, this kind of self-care doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming on a daily basis—especially when you have the right tools at your disposal.
And on that note, I’ve got good news… You’re about to get some wonderful tools for your toolbox! I’m sharing 5 mental health apps that will help you reduce stress and anxiety, prioritize happiness and balance, and practice self-love in just minutes a day.
Sound like a plan? Let’s get into it!
5 Mental Health Apps to Reduce Anxiety & Boost Happiness
1. BetterHelp: Professional Counseling in Your Pocket
I’m a big believer in the power of therapy. I think everyone should have a therapist! Not just when we’re facing specific challenges or major life events, because let’s be honest—being human isn’t always easy, no matter what your circumstances are.
BetterHelp is first on my list of must-have mental health apps because its mission is to make counseling more accessible, affordable and convenient (can I get a heck yes?!). Just download the app, answer some questions and voila, meet your very own professional, licensed counselor!
From there, you can schedule live chat, video or phone sessions with your therapist, and send them messages anytime you want through the app. BetterHelp literally puts your therapist in your pocket, how cool is that? No worries if it’s not a match—you can request a new counselor anytime.
Online counseling is a great option if you’re traveling, between therapists or just want some extra support. It’s also good for folks who have limited or no access to other mental health resources for whatever reason, such as lack of reliable transportation or limited ability to leave the house. Some people also don’t feel safe or comfortable seeking help in person, and need a more discrete alternative.
Cost is still a barrier for many, but e-counseling may be slightly cheaper depending on factors like insurance coverage (BetterHelp costs $40-70 per week depending on the services you use). We definitely have more progress to make in that area!
Important note: BetterHelp is not suited for those in crisis or with severe mental illnesses. If you or someone you know is in danger, or having thoughts of self-harm or hurting others, please reach out to one of the organizations on this list. If this is an emergency, please call 911.
Check out BetterHelp for iPhone here and Android here (you can also get started on the website).
2. The Tapping Solution: A Simple Technique for Breaking through Mental Blocks
Thanks to my dear friend Nick Ortner, I’ve been reaping the benefits of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique, aka “Tapping”) for years. This practice, which is a combination of ancient Chinese medicine and modern psychology, has helped me work through some of my biggest mental and emotional blocks—I can’t wait for you to experience it!
When practicing EFT, you literally tap on acupressure points (your body’s meridian points) while saying simple affirmations and focusing on a particular negative emotion, event, etc. Tapping has been shown to help treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, pain and more (source). This powerful healing method is no joke!
If you’re intrigued and want to try it out, I can’t recommend The Tapping Solution app enough. Nick and his team created this app for newbie and experienced tappers alike. It’s chock full of exercises designed to free you from fear and anxiety, and address numerous other mental health challenges. There’s even a quick Tapping Basics series to help you get up to speed!
The free version of the app is a great place to start because it comes with plenty of sessions to choose from, such as Instant Boost of Happiness and Motivate Me to Have a Productive Day. Then if you love Tapping as much as I think you will, you can upgrade to the full subscription ($11.99/month) to get access to the full library, new sessions every month, and the ability to download and listen offline.
Get The Tapping Solution app for iPhone here and Android here!
3. Sanvello: Meditations for Every Mood
It probably comes as no surprise that my list of favorite mental health apps includes one for meditation. Consistent meditation is how I stay centered in busy times, sad times, exciting times and well, all of the time, really!
In addition to my own meditation albums (of course I have to shout them out!), finding an app that works for you is a great way to start or grow your own practice. I’ve been a dedicated Headspace user for quite a while now. It’s one of the most popular meditation apps for good reason, but that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect fit for everyone. We all have different needs and preferences, so I’m sharing a lesser-known alternative to show you just how many options you have to choose from!
And to be honest, Sanvello is more than just a meditation app. In the company’s own words, “Sanvello gives you clinically validated techniques to help you manage your moods and thoughts, so you can understand what works for you to feel better.” That’s done through features like daily mood-tracking, community discussion, guided journeys to address your specific challenges and, of course, meditations for every mood!
There are mindfulness meditations to help you connect with your senses and check in with your body. You’ll also find guided tracks for stressful situations like flying and going to the doctor. The free version of Sanvello gives you access to some meditations, or you can subscribe for $8.99 a month for the whole library and lots of other awesome tools.
Like I said before, finding an app you’re comfortable with is key to consistency with meditation (if you hate using it, you probably won’t!). Every app has different features and strengths, so don’t hesitate to try a few out before settling on a go-to. Based on my own experience and research, as well as recommendations I’ve gotten from other people, you may also want to check out Oak, Calm, 10% Happier, Insight Timer and The Mindfulness App (just to name a few!).
Get Sanvello for iPhone here and Android here!
Psst… Need a quick mood booster? My Pep Talk meditation is just the ticket—download it free today so you can listen whenever you need some stress-busting magic!
Just reading this post made me feel calmer. I plan to take action on at least one of these resources. Thanks for pulling these together.
That’s wonderful, Cassandra, I am so happy these resources are helpful. It’s my pleasure and I truly hope you find something so that calm feeling continues. Xo.
thanks for including the apps for Android as well as iphone Kris!
You got it! Xo.
Hey Christina! This is Jennifer from Team Crazy Sexy and this looks like a great site. Thank you so much for sharing Dr. Jud Brewer, we’ll check him out. ❤
Opening to love and light. Springtime deliciousness. Expansion and connection.
Thank you for sharing this. I am new to meditation, and am looking forward to trying the Sanvello app.
I always appreciate your tips and tricks for maintaining a healthier lifestyle, both physically and emotionally.
Hey Dawn, this is Jennifer from Team Crazy Sexy. A big thank you from Kris and the team for your kind comments. It means so much to Kris when her message resonates with her readers and really wants to make a difference in the lives of those around her. If you haven’t watched “How to Make Meditation Super Easy (video)” mentioned above, you should check it out. Also be sure to try her free Pep Talk meditation (halfway down the page). Enjoy and happy meditating!
Kris, god bless you. Thank you so much for all you share. Specially the app for the EFT is being so helpful!! Tapping It’s so healing and I did’t know how to put it in my daily routine. With the app it’s so easy! Those siblings are genius! I am so grateful, I did the crazy sexy program with you last year and smoothies and juices and good food are still with me. Thank you, dear Kris. Big hug from Spain
A big thank you on behalf of Kris from Team Crazy Sexy, Alicia! We love tapping too, it really makes a difference and we’re so happy for the app. Thank you also for being a CSY alum! We love hearing that you’re still enjoying those nutritious and delicious recipes. Thank you again for all the love, Alicia. Xo from the whole team. 🙂
I’m a big believer in the power of therapy. I think everyone should have a therapist! Not just when we’re facing specific challenges or major life events, because let’s be honest—being human isn’t always easy, no matter what your circumstances are. Your blog post is really incredible!
Thank you for sharing these useful apps! I will be recommending these to my clients! Mental health is such an important topic, I’m so glad to see it being talked about more freely.
Yes, I downloaded it already, thanks for your advice.