Who knew the technological advances that helped millions of individuals track their physical activity could also provide an option to track psychological health too! Undoubtedly, we are used to fitness trackers. But the idea of an app or a wearable device tracking the mood changes. Or even thoughts that might be suicidal seems like a fantasy for many.
Nevertheless, all this is true and already booming. The new apps and wearables help individuals track early signs of emotional changes and take proper care of their mental health. This is an even more important tool since mental health professionals rely a lot on patients regarding their feelings and the things that are limiting them to live a normal life.
But what led to this transformation? Let’s find out.
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Evidence-based Mental Health Review- Learn About The Technological Advances
Conventionally, clinical interviews, or paper surveys hold a lot of importance when it comes to mood evaluation. However, such methods had compliance issues and were mostly biased in many ways than one. But the need to log data and process it accordingly did not change.
With so much development around technology and the availability and cost-effectiveness of the same, clinicians are gradually moving towards digitally abled options. As a result, clinicians are readily switching to smartphone or biosensor based tracking devices. Why? Because such devices are well equipped to track different mood states and behavior, thereby helping patients to get necessary care.
But how is technology helping clinicians with mood assessment? Let’s find out.
Technology and Psychological Care
When it comes to data for mood assessments, clinicians prefer mostly the following data records:
- Self-reports
- Behavioral data
- Physiologic measures
Electronic devices are one way to get valuable information for mood disorders evaluations and respective treatment journeys. Here’s how apps or wearable devices are helping patients get the information.
Decoding The Mood-body Links
Our physical and psychological health is connected in many ways. Using this as a principle, scientists look into the relationship between mental states, such as anxiety or sadness, and body dynamics. By far, the changing heart rate is one of the best ways to identify the causes of stress. For instance, whenever someone is stressed, the pulse tends to shoot up.
Other than that, the skin temperature varies in times of emotional breakdowns. Using this, scientists are developing wearables or applications that can sense pulse, temperature, and movement and provide mood assessments assistance.
Interpreting Biomarkers
We already mentioned about the changes in the physical self when there are issues with the mental state. But not everyone is well equipped to decode what such changes imply or mean. Right? That’s where devices come into the picture. A mood forecasting app will remind you to either call a friend or take a walk if you have not done that for hours together.
Also, in the case of shifting biomarkers, the device will automatically alert the doctor and help the patient with timely intervention. But does research show any promise? Well! According to a team of researchers who monitored more than 200 students for five semesters using different factors, such as temperature, phone activity, and skin conductance, they found that they could diagnose stress correctly in more than 80% of the cases.
That’s definitely a positive outcome. So, if you are also worried about the mood changes and are unable to track them manually, here are the best mood tracker apps that will help you do just that.
Mood Tracker Apps For Your Everyday Assessment
With so many technological advances going on, you have multiple options to choose from. Here we’ll be discussing different applications that are revolutionizing the mood tracking system.
Let’s start!
Use MoodKit to Deduce Your Mental Health Digitally
It is an iOS app that allows its users to understand their mood fluctuations. The technology uses cognitive behavior therapy principles to draw conclusions. For example, you get a chance to engage yourself in various mood-enhancing activities. Not only that, it will help you identify or decode unhealthy thinking processes and thereby allow you to make necessary changes.
All in all, it allows users to develop a strategy or roadmap that helps them to integrate mental well-being in their everyday lives. To explain in layman terms, the app enables you to achieve mental wellness in the following ways.
- With mood improvement categories, it allows users to commit to each and every activity and make a journal out of all that.
- With a thought checker, the app allows you to get rid of any negative thoughts that might be clouding your judgment. Thereby it helps to overcome such situations.
- With a tracker, it helps to monitor your daily progress.
All of this data allows you to make necessary changes in your daily life that will help to improve your mood and overall psychological well-being.
Use Grapefruit to Feel Better About Yourself
If you want to track your mental well being and are looking for a quick or convenient way of doing it, this app is something that’ll allow you to do that. It’s a Mac app that tracks your mood and provides detailed information on your progress. The best part of this app is that it gives an option of customizing your method.
In short, you can write your daily journal, track your moods or habits, and use a rating system that allows you to monitor your progress. And all of that in the way you want since it’s your journey, why use something that’s inflexible.
In the End,
Remember, you can’t manage a thing if you can’t measure it. The rule applies to personal as well as professional life. The fact is that if you can organize, analyze, or process the day, you can reach an accurate conclusion.
With mental health disorders already skyrocketing, there is a need to track everyday behaviors in the most accurate manner possible. Luckily, technology is allowing us to do that. With applications available, one can organize information discreetly and reach a wellness goal quite efficiently.
Isn’t that a fantastic opportunity to delve deeper into your mental profile and find the triggers quickly?
Author bio-
Appointed as the head of the editorial team at Outreach Monks, Brandon Skeith knows the in and out of everyday technology. His works have been featured in renowned publications including Forbes and Britannica.
