Control Mental Health: Think Better with Easy Mindfulness Apps

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space.  In that space is our power to choose our response.  In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
—Viktor E. Frankl

No human being escapes the obstacles and challenges of life. We all experience traumatic events and their effects on us can be long-lasting. Yet, psychological research shows that humans have the capacity to recover from trauma by employing any number of positive coping strategies. In particular, emotion-focused coping strategies help people address the emotional effects of a traumatic event. One of those strategies is called positive reframing, or the ability to perceive something that was previously viewed as negative in a positive light, usually by thinking of the negative event as an opportunity for change, growth or deeper connection.

Positive reframing can literally change one’s brain, which in turn impacts emotional outcomes. Research shows that positive reframing leads to changes in the amygdala, the region of the brain associated with the fear response, thereby producing a decrease in emotional arousal. Multiple positive emotional effects stem from positive reframing, including the ability to manage stress after a personal failure, to cope with life-threatening illnesses, and to overcome negative stereotypes. The use of positive reframing may also help to increase self-compassion and positive change.

One important aspect of positive reframing is to shift the thought to the positive without overriding the original reality and context of the negative event or trigger. Social scientist Caleb Ziems and team used tenets of positive psychology to outline six methods of positive reframing, including utilizing a growth mindset, framing setbacks as temporary, neutralizing the emotional charge of the thought, emphasizing the positive aspects of the situation, highlighting one’s positive characteristics, and adopting an “attitude of gratitude”.

Using positive reframing takes continued practice. Amidst all the tasks and responsibilities of daily life, finding dedicated time to practice shifting toward more positive thoughts can be a challenge.

Offerings via smartphone apps have democratized mental health care, allowing people to sustain mental wellbeing and positive growth on their time and their terms. Apps can aid in sustaining positive mental health outcomes because they help in forming habits — the stronger the habits, the more a person is likely to experience positive changes in mental health over time. Studies of these apps show that mental-health-focused app users were able to address their feelings in the moment, giving them a sense of ownership over their situation. The apps also gave individuals the ability to practice positive coping strategies, particularly when under prolonged stress. Other research found that when people used mindfulness meditation apps on a regular basis, they experienced significant improvements in levels of distress and overall wellbeing – and the effects lasted for months after using the app. Apps, like Uplifity,  that specifically use emotion-based coping strategies like positive reframing were found to increase self-compassion and have significant impacts on anxiety and depression.

Research also shows that repetition is important;  what time of day and length of time spent on meditation apps may influence positive outcomes, though being rigid about scheduling is unnecessary. This finding of flexibility supports one’s ability to tailor and personalize their practice to whatever timeframe meets their needs and still reap all the benefits.  Anytime is a good time to practice positive reframing and Upliftly’s array of topics along with an easy to use interface makes it simple and  practical to incorporate into daily activities for maximum reframe opportunities.

Apps like Upliftly, simply serve as a portal for these outcomes. The access to a positive reframing practice and the repetition of the act allows one’s mind to process life’s events through a new lens. This style of meditation, and the coping strategy embedded within it, allows the person to broaden attentional focus long enough to shift toward more positive thoughts that make space for joy, acceptance, compassion and more. Over time, one trains their mind to positively reframe whenever stressors come across their path. Upliftly provides a space for just-in-time support that’s needed to assist in positive reframing.

Positive reframing offers an opportunity to shift perception, giving us a chance to work alongside our nervous system to process stress, address past negative events and proactively move toward positivity. This practice can be life-changing with time and practice – and an app like Uplitlfy provides regular access to this impactful coping strategy, placing this power in everyone’s hands.

Join the waitlist to get 30-days free on Upliftly!

References:

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