10 Free Apps That Will Calm Your Anxiety

We love that mental health is making a comeback — particularly when it means that people are finally getting down to talk about anxiety. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety affects just over 18 percent of American adults, making it the most common mental illness in the country. Unfortunately, as much as we’d like to use coloring books for stress or follow stress relieving yoga poses, anxiety doesn’t always have our feelings in mind and typically hits when we’re not safe and comfy at home. For anyone dealing with anxiety on-the-go, we’ve got 12 apps that can assist you notice to a small degree additional zen throughout your busy day.


1. Calm: Simple and easy-to-use, this meditation app is the perfect remedy for a unexpected anxiety spell. With over 25 calming sounds — like rain on leaves and a crackling fireplace — it’s just the soothing background noise you would like to induce through the workday. Plus, it comes with a ton of free meditation programs to essentially set your mind at ease.


Download it Free on Android and iOS


2. Colorfy: It’s no secret that coloring books have made a large pop culture splash as the new, trendy anti-stress miracle cure. But who really has the space or willpower to lug around a full pack of pencil crayons and a chunky coloring book with them? That’s where Colorfy comes in. With dozens of free coloring pages, it’s a convenient way to make use of this popular mindful activity for stress relief on-the-move.


Download it Free on Android and iOS


3. Essence — Breathing Relaxation: When you’re having an anxiety attack, it can be extremely troublesome to keep your breathing in check. Luckily, this minimalist app makes it easier to breathe deeply with the proven 4-7-8 methodology.


Download it: Free on iOS


4. White Noise Ambience Lite: Sometimes it’s not possible to avoid chaos, whether that’s a jammed 8am bus or a hectic day at the workplace. This free white noise app is great for tuning it all out and comes a lot of completely different sounds to appease your anxious mind.

Download it: Free on iOS


5. Pacifica: Whatever you would like to calm your anxiety, this app has it. From tracking your mood to setting daily goals and chatting with other users who understand the struggle, it’s an all-in-one stop for online anxiety relief.


Download it: Free on Android and iOS


6. Headspace: If you want to find out regarding meditation but are a little put off by the advanced YouTube videos and skilled lessons, then this is the app for you. Just ten minutes a day permits you to understand the basics and develop your fundamental skills one step at a time. Plus, their one-time meditations are conveniently targeted for mini meltdowns and mindfulness on-the-go.


Download it: Free on Android and iOS


7. Personal Zen: Although this app would possibly appear like another data-wasting game at first glance, it’s actually a clinically proven way to cut back anxiety. Developed by a professor of psychology and neuroscience, the game is instantly engaging and reduces anxiety within minutes. 


Download it: Free on iOS


8. Seven-Minute Workout: Working out may be a good way to chop stress, but most people just can’t spare an hour every time they feel anxious. Using nothing more than a chair, a wall and your own body weight, this series of seven-minute workouts can be tailored to whatever helps you relieve the most stress.

Download it: Free on Android and iOS


9. Happify: Short quizzes, games and activities make this app ideal for anyone attempting to ditch the crying face emoji for a toothy grin. More of a long-term program, this app has been scoring some amazing feedback on the App Store, with most people saying that they feel considerably happier in just two months after using the app.


Download it: Free on Android and iOS


10. Diaro: Writing down your feelings when anxiety strikes can be a good way to target your triggers and learn to be more careful about them. But carrying a  physical journal everywhere we go just seems a little too impractical. This virtual diary is the perfect middle ground — it even sports a security code to make sure that all your entries are private and secure.


Download it: Free on Android and iOS