In Episode 11 of our podcast, Navigating Digital Mental Health: Digital Apps, Digital Therapeutics and Resources, Dr. Brandi stresses the importance of selecting digital mental health tools that address your unique needs. These tools can assist with everything from mood disorders to habit tracking. Determining which app or device you should use can feel overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re hoping to achieve. Don’t worry – we’re here to help.
While mental health professionals are the only people who can diagnose mental health disorders, doing self check-ins are a first step towards assessing your current mental state. Feedback from your self-assessment, coupled with advice from your therapist, if applicable, will guide your digital mental health tool selection process. To help you get started, we’ve compiled 5 questions to ask yourself about what’s going on in your life.
- How am I feeling? With our busy lifestyles, it’s challenging to make space to acknowledge our emotions. Set aside a few minutes to sit still and notice what arises.
- What’s keeping me up at night? Identify the scenarios that you often replay in your head. Note the things you find yourself often worrying about and if there are any common themes.
- How is my physical health? Maintaining good mental health without a properly resourced body can be challenging. Acknowledge if you’re struggling to meet your basic needs (sleep, food, water or movement) or if you are experiencing any chronic pain.
- When’s the last time I experienced joy? Think back to the last time you did something purely for fun. Make note of how often you experience joy or levity in your daily life.
- Who can I turn to for support? Identify which people you can confide in and turn to for help. This group can include friends, family, a therapist or even an online support group.
Checking in with yourself might feel odd at first, but we encourage you to make a practice of it to keep a pulse on the state of your mental health. Regular check-ins will help prompt you to make needed lifestyle changes that bolster your mental well-being, and recognize when it may be time to get professional help. Digital mental health tools can enhance your journey to establishing and maintaining good mental health–but it all starts by identifying what YOU need.
