I’m a firm believer that staying away from your phone is imperative to detox. At times when I have felt extremely overwhelmed and stressed, switching off my phone is always my first step in remedying the situation. My self-care sessions consist of every candle in my bedroom lit and any means of communication silenced as I rearrange my bookshelves and drawers. Tidying an already tidy space aids my mind, a little. There are times however when avoiding my phone isn’t an option; I spend a great deal of time on public transport, and to survive the ordeal I have to have something playing into my earphones. My parents begin to worry if they go five minutes without hearing from me, so I don’t leave the house without a fully charged phone.
We’ve all cried on public transport before, and it’s awful. Whilst it’s oddly poignant to fall apart in a public space that is taking you on a physical, necessary journey, that particular tightness that expands in your chest takes away anything poetic about the experience. These instances are why I have the below apps on my phone to help me.
Tappy:
This app is brilliant for people who couldn’t revise for their exams at school without a fidget spinner in their hand (AKA, people like me). A few years back, I would spend every evening at home reading out every detail and specific regarding Weimar and Nazi Germany and Tudor Britain whilst twirling the children’s toy around. I drove my family nuts.
On the day of the Queen's funeral I remember being sat in the living room watching it on low volume. My laptop was open, and I was typing up my 'Witch, please' article. I also had a podcast playing from my phone. My brother walked into the room and, after observing my 'multitasking', began reasoning with me that the amount of stimulus I needed to function was abnormal. He was definirely right, and I haven't resolved the problem yet.
That said, Tappy is a virtual, self-care fidgeter which consists of an assortment of widgets, including but not limited to a daily affirmation generator, mood tracker and breathing observer - there’s even a virtual fidget spinner with an unlimited amount of spins, and this one won’t go flying out your hands. The app has an arcade section, consisting of ASMR-like activities such as a Tic-Tap-Toe and Bubble Popper, and a relax section in which countless meditation recordings are provided. You can listen to the sounds whilst using other parts of the app; I’ve used the holiday melody a few times whilst revising for summer exams.
The best part of the app, though, is that it’s free.
Be okay:
If you’re looking for a more simple approach to grounding yourself during moments of extreme anxiety or panic, Be Okay might be a better option. It offers the conventional breathing bubble for you to match your breathing with. In the settings, you can alter the inhalation and exhalation times as well as the sounds; if beach waves help you, you can choose them. The app also allows you to import your favourite photographs and contacts - this is a lovely touch, especially during times when you need a reminder of your support system.
Worry dolls:
If you have a fear of dolls this might not be the one for you. Personally, I prefer to journal my worries and then bury the diary in my drawers. If this isn’t an option, I’ll deposit my concern onto a worry doll. I don’t use the app much, though I love the option of being able to remove a doll, and my worry, entirely.
If I open the app now and scroll through my dolls, several of them carry worries which are no longer troubling me. The below is an example, for I deposited my fear that I’d never pass my driving test and since writing it, I have. Instead of deleting the worry, I’ve held onto it - reading back on things that have since been resolved is very therapeutic to me after a long day.
Impulse:
Impulse is the only app on this list I’ve paid for and I can assure you, it was completely worth it. The app offers an assortment of activities, including ‘brain gym’ puzzles and games to engage and distract your mind. The games are categorised into the likes of ‘feel accomplished’ and ‘relax’, the former of which consists of drawing one-line pursuits and memorising shopping lists whilst the latter sees robotic flows and connecting the dots.
Impulse offers premium workouts in which a daily activity is assigned to you based on the goal you’re hoping to achieve. This can be improving the likes of your concentration, mental arithmetic skills and memory with each programme lasting 10-30 days. There’s even a section of the app called ‘Math lessons’ for those of you who enjoy maths.
My favourite part of Impulse is the test section. I’m an INFJ and I’ve known it for years but my ego was granted additional clarification on being misunderstood. The app offers the likes of emotional intelligence tests and trauma and fear response tests, all of which provide a detailed report of the way your mind thinks and reacts to events. There is also an archetypes test, and below is a copy of my report. Basically, I’m a hot mess.
I pay for Impulse annually, and of all the mental health apps I've invested in, it's by far the best. And unlike my Duolingo Owl, I don't ignore the notifications.
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Have an amazing week,
Karisma
xx