27 Sep Simple Ways to Improve Your Mental Health Without Therapy
Whether it’s for more happiness or to overcome / better manage anxiety and distress, I’m a big fan of therapy; and of coaching.
I’ve delivered it to thousands of individuals over the years; and I’ve participated in it myself from the “other side of the desk”.
Therapy or coaching can help us learn life skills to live better, and happier.
But I’m also well aware that not everyone wants to or can access therapy. It might be too expensive, or not geographically available or there may well be any number of other reasons some might not choose this option.
The good news is that for these people, there are still effective and simple ways to feel better more often …
via CNET by Taylor Leamey
Therapy is expensive. Sliding scale payments, insurance and online therapy options can make it more affordable, but the fact is, therapy is still out of reach for a lot of people. Traditional therapy can cost anywhere from $100 to $200 per session without insurance.
Online therapy services like BetterHelp and Talkspace have made therapy more affordable, at around $60 to $90 per session. Still, of the one in five adults who live with mental illness, only 20% were in treatment in 2020, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Therapy is the gold standard for mental health treatment. But sometimes, therapy isn’t available, whether because of location or finances. Thankfully, there are things you can do to improve your mental health without spending money.
Use mental health apps to track daily progress
Mental health apps offer resources to people who otherwise couldn’t get them. While they’re not a substitute for therapy and can’t diagnose conditions, mental health apps like Moodfit and Sanvello are great tools to use on your mental wellness journey. The best mental health apps will help you relieve stress and anxiety and teach you how to manage symptoms in the future.
There’s a lot of variety in what these apps offer and the features that are built in. Many offer a great catalog of educational resources to help you learn about conditions and adapt coping strategies to manage them daily.
Mental health apps can also be a reminder to check in on yourself. Most send push notifications throughout the day, which can be used as an indicator to stop and assess how you’re feeling.
Implement cognitive behavioral therapy strategies on your own
Cognitive behavioral therapy is commonly used to treat depression, anxiety and addiction. CBT strategies and tools are intended to be taken outside of therapy sessions and used in daily life.
It’s called self-directed therapy and …
… keep reading the full & original article HERE