Anxiety Tracker (Top 3 benefits)
This article will cover what anxiety trackers are? We will look at the importance of tracking anxiety, and how it could be done? We will briefly understand what exactly anxiety means. We will also look at some of the methods used to track anxiety and the most appropriate time to track down anxiety. Finally, we will discuss a few FAQs based on the topic to get a better understanding of it.
What are Anxiety trackers?
Anxiety trackers are methods by which people can keep track of their daily anxieties and moods, by keeping logs of this, one can analyze their mood changes and help them get a better understanding of what they might be going through.
With the help of anxiety tracking, people can know what triggered their anxiety, so in the future, they might avoid being in such situations, or with the help of a psychologist, they might learn how to deal with their anxiety symptoms better.
One might ask, is it really necessary to keep track of anxiety?
No, it’s not completely necessary to keep track of their anxiety, but if recommended by their doctor or if they want to see a pattern in their anxious behavior, it’s an educational method to notice the behavioral changes.
Why is it important to track anxiety?
If someone is diagnosed with any anxiety disorder, for example, panic disorder, the therapist might ask them to keep track of their symptoms, sleeping pattern, mood, and experience with medication.
This is because, keeping track of that information can help in assisting and managing their condition, it also provides their doctor with a clearer depiction of their progress.
Tracking their recovery process can also help them maintain a successful treatment and will also prevent a relapse if they notice their symptoms starting up again.
This process can be useful in monitoring the treatment progress, among other things, also how fluctuation in their mood and anxiety can be related to the changes caused due to the use of medication or any other self-help technique.
In families, dealing with anxiety can be difficult, check out the best anxiety books for parents and teens.
Anxiety Tracking Methods
There are commonly 2 ways to track down anxiety;
The first being more organic, as in, journaling or using a diary to track the changes in mood and anxiety level. These are called anxiety and mood charts, these charts also help keep track of medication, sleeping patterns, and major life changes or events, note down some triggers and any other additional information that the person might feel relevant to add that relates to their condition.
Secondly, using mobile applications. There are many apps available now for tracking moods and anxiety. For people who might find writing a tedious task, using these applications can make the whole process much easier
It is very important to know that no matter what method of tracking anyone uses, it should be the one that is most convenient for them to maintain. To determine what type or amount of information someone should collect must be already discussed with their doctor.
The most appropriate time to track anxiety
Now that we discuss what methods of tracking are available, it is important to set aside an appropriate time to work on this activity. For this to be the most accurate and helpful, the person must collect information about their anxiety regularly, but sometimes this isn’t always possible, so to gradually ease into the process, they should try to collect information every week. The more information they can gather, the better the understanding will be.
A simple method to track down anxiety symptoms
To track the progress, one must follow three simple steps:
- Tracking method: The first step is to determine the method of tracking that is, whether to write in a journal or to use an app of choice.
- What information to track: The second step, is to figure out what they want to track down, like what symptoms they experienced that day, time and place, mood changes, etc.
- Start tracking: Lastly, the hardest step is making the first entry. But once the person starts it usually gets easier as they go.
Things to remember whilst keeping track of anxiety
- The person who is keeping track of their anxiety might not notice a pattern or interpretation. But their doctor may be able to see something that they are possibly missing. That’s why it is very helpful to review this information with a therapist or a trusted loved one.
- When they forgot or skip some days, they can try and fill it as soon as they can remember, but if they are unable to remember exactly how they felt that day, then it is better to keep that day blank and continue with their regular schedule.
- If the person notices a pattern of increased anxiety or panic, this could be a sign of relapse in symptoms. So they should always get their progress reviewed every three to four weeks.
- If the pattern is worsening due to the increase of symptoms, their therapist will be able to help them make proper adjustments to their treatment plan, so they can manage their condition more effectively.
FAQs: Anxiety Trackers
What’s the best app to track anxiety?
According to ADAA, the best mental health apps are:
Headspace
Anxiety reliever
Happify
Breath2relax
AnxietyCoach
iCBT app
Why is it important to learn about anxiety?
We all experience anxiety; it is a natural human state and a vital part of our lives. Anxiety helps us to identify and respond to danger in ‘fight or flight’ mode. It can motivate us to face up to dealing with difficult challenges.
What it feels like to have anxiety?
Anxiety disorders are characterized by a variety of symptoms. One of the most common is excessive and intrusive worrying that disrupts daily functioning. Other signs include agitation, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, tense muscles, and trouble sleeping.
What anxiety does to a person?
Anxiety can make you feel worried or scared. Anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as a fast heartbeat or sweating. It is a normal human response to be anxious in certain situations. You may have an anxiety disorder if you feel anxious all or most of the time.
What is normal anxiety and abnormal anxiety?
The difference between normal anxiety and abnormal anxiety is when it is considered normal and adaptive when it serves to improve peoples’ functioning or well being. In contrast, abnormal anxiety is a chronic condition that impairs peoples’ functioning and interferes with their well-being.
Conclusion
In this article, we covered what anxiety trackers are. We looked at the importance of tracking anxiety, and how it could be done. We even briefly understood what anxiety means. We also looked at some of the methods used to track anxiety, along with the most appropriate time to track down anxiety. Lastly, it is important to choose whatever method of tracking is the best or convenient for you. If you have any questions regarding this topic, feel free to reach out to us.
References
https://adaa.org/finding-help/mobile-apps
8 Creative Ways To Track, Understand & Manage Your Anxiety In 2018