3 FREE Apps to Help Veterans Manage Anxiety
by Megan Jackson
Many veterans struggle with anxiety. For some, it results from trauma or a life-threatening experience; for others, the source is a stressful life event, such as transitioning from military to civilian life.
Learning to manage anxiety and mitigate anxiety attacks can be life changing for a veteran. Here are 3 FREE apps to help you learn about anxiety, with easy activities to help manage it.
1. Breathe2Relax:
This app was developed by the Defense Health Agency (DHA) and focuses on diaphragmatic breathing to help calm the body’s fight or flight response to anxiety triggers. It includes educational articles and videos to teach about stress and its effects on the body as well as what diaphragmatic breathing is and how to practice it successfully.
The best part of this app is its simplicity. It allows for easy access and use of the guided breathing exercises, even while in the midst of an anxiety attack.
Simply open the app. Click “Breathe” and you will be taken to a guided breathing exercise that you can use as is; or, customize to your preferences.
This app also helps you track your anxiety with a simple sliding bar that allows you to choose how you feel at that moment, from relaxed to stressed.
You can find this app in the App Store and Google Play.
2. UCLA Mindful:
This app comes from the Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) at UCLA, where scientists have been researching mindfulness and its effects on individuals. Simple and sleek in design, this app allows users to quickly and intuitively find exactly what they are looking for.
The “Getting Started” section includes short and informative videos about what mindfulness is, how to choose the right meditation for your needs, how to have effective posture during meditation, and the science behind mindfulness. It’s a great place to start for anyone who is new to mindfulness or has reservations about how mindfulness can help manage their anxiety.
The app also includes several guided meditations, links to relevant podcasts and live guided meditation sessions.
UCLA Mindful can be found in the App Store and Google Play.
3. Self-help App for the Mind (SAM):
This app covers a broader array of mental health issues, however, an entire section is geared specifically toward managing anxiety.
It contains many tips and links to resources to help you find information on any aspect of anxiety. It also helps you learn how to avoid having attacks in the first place.
SAM also offers a social cloud feature where you can receive support from others.
This app can be found in the App Store and Google Play.
Many veterans struggle with anxiety. For some, it results from trauma or a life-threatening experience; for others, the source is a stressful life event, such as transitioning from military to civilian life.
Learning to manage anxiety and mitigate anxiety attacks can be life changing for a veteran. Here are 3 FREE apps to help you learn about anxiety, with easy activities to help manage it.
1. Breathe2Relax:
This app was developed by the Defense Health Agency (DHA) and focuses on diaphragmatic breathing to help calm the body’s fight or flight response to anxiety triggers. It includes educational articles and videos to teach about stress and its effects on the body as well as what diaphragmatic breathing is and how to practice it successfully.
The best part of this app is its simplicity. It allows for easy access and use of the guided breathing exercises, even while in the midst of an anxiety attack.
Simply open the app. Click “Breathe” and you will be taken to a guided breathing exercise that you can use as is; or, customize to your preferences.
This app also helps you track your anxiety with a simple sliding bar that allows you to choose how you feel at that moment, from relaxed to stressed.
You can find this app in the App Store and Google Play.
2. UCLA Mindful:
This app comes from the Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) at UCLA, where scientists have been researching mindfulness and its effects on individuals. Simple and sleek in design, this app allows users to quickly and intuitively find exactly what they are looking for.
The “Getting Started” section includes short and informative videos about what mindfulness is, how to choose the right meditation for your needs, how to have effective posture during meditation, and the science behind mindfulness. It’s a great place to start for anyone who is new to mindfulness or has reservations about how mindfulness can help manage their anxiety.
The app also includes several guided meditations, links to relevant podcasts and live guided meditation sessions.
UCLA Mindful can be found in the App Store and Google Play.
3. Self-help App for the Mind (SAM):
This app covers a broader array of mental health issues, however, an entire section is geared specifically toward managing anxiety.
It contains many tips and links to resources to help you find information on any aspect of anxiety. It also helps you learn how to avoid having attacks in the first place.
SAM also offers a social cloud feature where you can receive support from others.
This app can be found in the App Store and Google Play.
To become a member and receive our services, please apply on our Liberty Medical Center of Texas Form and learn more about how we can help you today.
