How Tech Can Improve Your Mental Health

It’s estimated that as many as 1 in 4 people will suffer from some kind of mental disorder in their lifetime. Most of those people will struggle with depression. Conditions such as depression can strike people of any age, at any point in their lives. The symptoms range from mild to severe and regardless of their intensity, mental illness can wreck havoc on our daily lives. Fortunately, modern technology has made it possible to treat conditions such as depression in new and innovative ways. Different types of technology such as meditation apps and even virtual reality headsets have successfully been used to treat complex psychological syndromes including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What’s more, technology can be used to improve our general health and well-being even without a clinical diagnosis. In this article, we’ve taken a closer look at how technology can improve our mental health. • Mindfulness Apps Mindfulness, or experiencing the present, is an increasingly popular form of supporting our mental health amidst our hectic lives. What makes it so easy is that you can practice mindfulness by setting aside only 5-minutes of your day. The results include decreased anxiety and better sleep, which will manifest after only a few sessions. The key is to do it regularly and to fully concentrate on clearing your mind. As with most things in life, practice makes perfect. There are plenty of free mindfulness apps to help you get started, as well as paid apps such as Headspace that give you a series of weekly exercises to complete. You can use the app anytime from when you’re lying in bed at night to during your morning commute. • Virtual Reality (VR) Treatment In the last couple of years, virtual reality (otherwise known as alte ate reality) technology has burst on to the scene. These futuristic gadgets are mind-blowing in their ability to transport us into another world where we can explore, complete tasks and even gather data. But this technology isn’t just for video gaming. A quick look at Virtual Reality Headset reviews reveals a multitude of ways in which this technology can be used to improve our overall health, such as in the form of virtual reality gyms. Medical professionals are using Virtual Reality gadgets to treat trauma patients by letting them process past events in a controlled and safe digital environment. The results have been shown to include reduced anxiety and a lower the threshold for panic attacks. VR can also be used to treat personality disorders and phobias. We’re only just starting to understand the true scope of this technology. • A New Social Media These days the majority of us will have a personal Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and/or Twitter account. These social media platforms have been incredible in making the world more connected, letting us share our experiences with our loved ones and a wider audience at the click of a button. However, there is a darker side to our social media obsession. It builds on our insecurity and makes for an ideal stage for bullying under the cloak of anonymity. Researchers at Melbou e University are on a mission to “take back” social media and use it for a purpose that enhances mental health. They’re trialling a new social platform called MOST that will let users to engage with each other in a positive environment, allowing them to share and crowd source ideas for treating common conditions such as anxiety. It will also provide regular exercises and inspiration for better mental health. We’ll definitely be giving this a try. No matter how you choose to practice self-care, being conscious of your own wellbeing is paramount. Make sure to check in with yourself every day and set aside time, just for you. By taking the time to understand how you’re feeling, you can manage your inner strength, and channel it into success. To get more inspiration on how technology is changing our lives for the better, visit The Gadget Nerds.