Have yo
u ever faced such stress that you are too keyed up to do a deep breathing exercise on your own? Have you ever wanted to be able to keep track of fluctuating moods, but don’t have an easy method to do so? These are common feelings, and new technology allows you to do this with your mobile phone or tablet, for free.
November is the month of the military family, which is a great time to highlight the resources military families can utilize. The National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2) creates mobile applications that service members, veterans, and their families can download to improve their mental health. Trained mental health professionals developed the apps and they are completely free. Below are some of them:
Mood Tracker: This mobile application allows user to monitor and track emotional health. It is especially helpful to for users who want to report back to a mental health provider, or someone who just wants to identify patterns in his or her own moods. Users can save all of the data in a graphical or spreadsheet file so that they can assess it and/or send it via email.
PTSD Coach: Developed via a partnership between T2 and the Department of Veterans Affairs, this app is intended to be used in conjunction with psychological treatment for PTSD, but can also be used by itself. The app allows users to assess and manage their own symptoms. It explains coping skills and provides assistance for common PTSD symptoms and issues.
PTSD Coach users can also find immediate support when they need it, as the app enables users to populate the phone with personally important phone numbers. It also links the user to treatment programs. And in an emergency, users can quickly link to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
Breathe 2 Relax: This stress management tool is a hands-on 
diaphragmatic breathing exercise. Users can time how long their deep breaths are in and out and customize the settings on the app. They can watch customized animation that visually demonstrates the breath times.
If you are looking for information on other mobile applications that help with mental health management, visit T2 Health.
