Best Anxiety Apps for Small Business Owners

Anxiety, depression, and stress have become common in everyday modern life, impacting relationships, families, communities, and even the workplace. In fact, mental health problems have an impact on employers and businesses directly through increased absenteeism and a negative impact on productivity and profits. According to Mental Health America (MHA), managing stress and balancing professional and personal demands continue to be a prominent issue for employees.

In 2021, some 80% of employees agreed that the stress from work affects their relationships with friends, family, and co-workers. A further 71% of employees say that they find it difficult to concentrate at work -up by 6% from 2020. Very often anxiety manifests itself in the form of increased heart rate, rapid breathing, restlessness, trouble concentrating, insomnia, and others.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be beneficial to consult a trained mental health professional. In the meantime, you might want to explore some mental health apps that can help alleviate your anxiety.s to help relieve your anxiety.

What is an Anxiety App?

Anxiety apps are tools that help users focus on improving different aspects of their mental health and well-being. They employ a variety of behavioral exercises and relaxation techniques to help you break free from anxious thoughts and feelings. These may include meditation sessions, calming tracks, breathing exercises, mood monitors, sleep therapy, goal setting, courses, and more. With anxiety apps, all you need is your mobile device and a few minutes to focus. Anxiety apps not only help you overcome panic attacks but also help you receive therapy in the comfort of your own home. They make it easier for people to reach out for help and are easily accessible for anyone trying to cope with mental health problems.

Why You Should Download an Anxiety App

Anxiety apps can help you find the right mental health services that suit your needs. They also can help ease any apprehensions when it comes to seeking to address a mental health issue in person. There are many potential benefits of using anxiety apps for alleviating depression and anxiety, including:

Affordability: Unlike therapy with a mental health professional, anxiety apps come at a relatively low price. However, they may not be the best substitute for treatment if you are dealing with anxiety at work or serious mental health issues.
Supplement existing therapy: Anxiety apps can supplement treatment as they help to offer compliance to routine treatment through worksheets and tools.
Convenience: Anxiety apps come in the palm of your hands making it easy for you to access some tools to help you cope with depression, anxiety, and insomnia. They also offer convenient ways of practicing strategies learned in face-to-face therapies and include reminders that can be set to increase treatment and continuation of therapy.
Gathering data and trends: Some anxiety apps can generate data through graphs or tables showing improvements or areas that need improvement. This can help therapists determine which interventions are working best and which ones should be changed.

Benefits of Using Anxiety Apps	Description
Affordability	Anxiety apps are generally more cost-effective than traditional therapy, making them an affordable option for mental health support. However, they may not be suitable for severe mental health issues.
Supplementing Existing Therapy	These apps can complement existing therapy by offering tools and worksheets that enhance the effectiveness of routine treatments.
Convenience	Anxiety apps provide easy access to tools for coping with depression, anxiety, and insomnia, right at your fingertips. They also facilitate practicing strategies learned in face-to-face therapy and offer reminders for treatment continuity.
Gathering Data and Trends	Some anxiety apps can generate valuable data in the form of graphs or tables, showing improvements and areas that require attention. This data can assist therapists in evaluating the effectiveness of interventions and making necessary adjustments.

Choosing an Anxiety App: Our Methodology

When it comes to selecting an anxiety app, it’s crucial to consider various factors that cater to their specific needs and well-being. Here are the key criteria we take into account, with each rated on a scale from one to five, with five representing the most crucial elements:

Effectiveness (Importance: 5/5):
- The primary criterion is the app’s ability to effectively help manage and reduce anxiety. Its track record in aiding anxiety relief is paramount.
User-Friendly Interface (Importance: 4/5):
- A simple and intuitive user interface ensures that users can easily navigate the app and access anxiety relief tools when needed.
Accessibility (Importance: 4/5):
- The app should be readily available on both iOS and Android platforms, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
Evidence-Based Techniques (Importance: 5/5):
- The app’s anxiety management techniques should be grounded in evidence-based practices, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or mindfulness.
Customization (Importance: 3/5):
- The ability to customize anxiety-relief exercises and strategies allows users to tailor their experience to their unique needs.
Offline Access (Importance: 3/5):
- The app should offer offline access to anxiety relief tools, ensuring users can use them even without an internet connection.
Privacy and Data Security (Importance: 4/5):
- Ensuring user data privacy and security is essential, especially when dealing with sensitive mental health information.
Community and Support (Importance: 3/5):
- Features that facilitate connecting with a supportive community or accessing professional support can be beneficial.
Cost (Importance: 2/5):
- The app’s pricing structure should be reasonable and align with the user’s budget, with free or affordable options available.
Reviews and Ratings (Importance: 4/5):
- Checking user reviews and ratings can provide insights into the app’s effectiveness and user satisfaction.

Criteria	Description	Importance (out of 5)
Effectiveness	The app’s ability to effectively help manage and reduce anxiety should be a top priority, with a track record of proven anxiety relief.	5
User-Friendly Interface	An intuitive and user-friendly interface ensures ease of navigation and access to anxiety-relief tools when needed.	4
Accessibility	Ensure the app is available on both iOS and Android platforms to cater to a wider audience of users.	4
Evidence-Based Techniques	The app’s anxiety management techniques should be grounded in evidence-based practices, such as CBT or mindfulness.	5
Customization	Customizable anxiety-relief exercises and strategies allow users to tailor their experience to their unique needs.	3
Offline Access	The app should offer offline access to anxiety relief tools, ensuring usability even without an internet connection.	3
Privacy and Data Security	Ensuring user data privacy and security is crucial, especially when dealing with sensitive mental health information.	4
Community and Support	Features that enable users to connect with a supportive community or access professional support can be highly beneficial.	3
Cost	The app’s pricing structure should be reasonable and budget-friendly, with options that suit users’ financial constraints.	2
Reviews and Ratings	Checking user reviews and ratings provides insights into the app’s effectiveness and user satisfaction, helping in decision-making.	4

Best Free Apps for Anxiety

If you need help coping with anxiety, depression, or insomnia, try one of the free anxiety apps below:

Mindshift

MindShift CBT helps users manage their anxiety and stress using effective, evidence-based anxiety management strategies based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This free self-help anxiety relief app helps to reduce stress, learn more about anxiety, develop more effective ways of thinking, be mindful, and relax. It comes with a user-friendly intuitive design, tools based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) designed for anxiety relief and self-management; daily check-in to keep track of your anxiety levels and mood tracking; facts and tips to overcome general worry, social anxiety, perfectionism, panic attack, and phobias; goal setting tools to keep users accountable; coping cards and statements to help users deal with anxiety; guided relaxation and mindfulness meditations; tips and tricks for incorporating healthy habits into your life and minimizing anxiety naturally; the ability to share data to streamline sessions with your counselor, therapist, or psychologist; and more.