With the days getting shorter and the weather getting colder, you know that autumn is here. Which means: hoodies, fuzzy socks, candles, hot cocoa, blankets, and more!
But, for many of us, it also means the big SAD, otherwise known as seasonal affective disorder, is approaching. SAD, which is also referred to as seasonal depression, can make it harder to take care of yourself during the gloomy months.
Here are some of my favorite apps & websites that you can use from the comfort of your own blanket wrapped cocoon:
- Adventures With Anxiety – an interactive website activity where you can learn more about your own personal anxiety, where you are the anxiety
- Self Care Game: an interactive website activity that helps you practice self care by giving you prompts & activities to do
- Coping Mechanisms: a massive list of different coping mechanisms, affirmations, and reminders
- I Am Sober: helps you track the days you are sober from whatever you want to measure- from self harm to addiction
- MindDoc: this app helps you identify your thoughts and feelings, gain insight into your own mental health, as well providing resources to help you take care of your emotional needs, manage stress, and more.
- Clear Fear: specifically for anxiety, this app uses CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), a type of therapy, to help you change anxious thoughts/behaviors and more
- Wysa: Wysa is an AI friend that you can chat with about your day and/or feelings, stress, anxieties, thoughts, etc. Beyond that, Wysa has additional “tool boxes” with resources in areas such as relationships, trauma, and more.
- Reflectly: this app is a journal and mood tracker at the convenience of your phone, with motivational quotes, daily challengers, and journal prompts.
- Calm Harm: using the “Ride The Wave” technique, Calm Harm provides different activities to prevent self harm, such as distractions or offering a healthy way to release emotions.
Here are some hotlines you can call or text too:
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- National Eating Disorder Association toll-free and confidential hotline: 1-800-931-2237
- The Trevor Project (crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBT+ youths): 1-866-488-7386
- Addiction: 877-226-3111
- Eating Disorder: 844-228-2962
- Self Harm: 877-455-0628
- Depression: 888-640-5174
- Depression/suicide: TEXT 741741
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or tendencies, please seek professional help as soon as possible and confide in trusted people who can provide you with support. You are never alone and you do deserve help <3
