Apple Watch for mental health benefits?

[The Cockney Rebel]

Hello all,

Another query from me.

I know the AW is good for health tracking, and is probably the main reason for people buying one.

However, are there many apps to help with mental health?

I have a comorbid diagnosis of EUPD/BPD & OCD.

I used to go to gym, and became addicted to running, but now I am mostly housebound.

One of the reasons for me being drawn to the AW (apart from FOMO!) is that it could possibly help with my mental health in some way?

One great app, called Motivation, has an AW app which rotates through positive quotes/phrases throughout the day, via a complication. During the time I tried the AW, I found it to be very helpful.

I haven’t been to gym since about 2016, but I have been contemplating trying to get back into it. However, I have become very unwell so feel a bit reserved re that thought for now.

However, if I just started going for walks (which I don’t do) and tracking my progress via the AW, this could gently lead me back into physical fitness?

I don’t know.

Do you know of any good apps for the AW, with regards to mental health?

I have insomnia, so sleep tracking and possibly trying to get into a good sleep routine could be a good start for me.

Certain Apple products really have influenced my life, in the past. For example, when I got my first Mac (2008 iMac) it was such a beautiful machine, and just begged me to be creative with it. It was due to this iMac that I got into street photography, for which I am self taught, and for quite a while I had discovered a passion which I probably never would have even considered if it wasn’t for the iMac.

I’m thinking/hoping the AW could trigger a similar positive outcome, with regards to my mental health.

Do you experience mental health issues, and has the AW made a difference for you in that regard?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks.

 

[mk313]

I don't use any specific apps so I can't recommend anything there, but I will say that having an Apple Watch has changed how I use my phone. It's still around, but I rarely use it, since I can get calls, texts on my wacth. If you're on that struggles with Social Media, you may find that having the watch makes you interact with your phone less, which may lead you to interact with Social Media less, which would have a positive mental benefit.

 

[Night Spring]

if I just started going for walks (which I don’t do) and tracking my progress via the AW,

That's exactly how I use my watch! I have a pedometer app, and I set a daily step goal, and it keeps a graph showing how many steps I took every day. I also use the walking workout, which keeps a map of my walks. The Activity app also gives me monthly goals every month, most of which I find fits my activity level, and provides additional motivation. The Health app also displays trends of various metrics.

I've now managed to go for a walk every day for the entire summer, and trying to see how much I can extend this streak as the weather gets colder.

I also have a reminder set to beep me an hour before sunset, so I'm reminded to go for a walk if I haven't done so by then. There's all sorts of little ways to use the watch to motivate yourself, you just have to find a way that works for you.

 

[wilderkun]

Hello all,

Another query from me.

I know the AW is good for health tracking, and is probably the main reason for people buying one.

However, are there many apps to help with mental health?

I have a comorbid diagnosis of EUPD/BPD & OCD.

I used to go to gym, and became addicted to running, but now I am mostly housebound.

One of the reasons for me being drawn to the AW (apart from FOMO!) is that it could possibly help with my mental health in some way?

One great app, called Motivation, has an AW app which rotates through positive quotes/phrases throughout the day, via a complication. During the time I tried the AW, I found it to be very helpful.

I haven’t been to gym since about 2016, but I have been contemplating trying to get back into it. However, I have become very unwell so feel a bit reserved re that thought for now.

However, if I just started going for walks (which I don’t do) and tracking my progress via the AW, this could gently lead me back into physical fitness?

I don’t know.

Do you know of any good apps for the AW, with regards to mental health?

I have insomnia, so sleep tracking and possibly trying to get into a good sleep routine could be a good start for me.

Certain Apple products really have influenced my life, in the past. For example, when I got my first Mac (2008 iMac) it was such a beautiful machine, and just begged me to be creative with it. It was due to this iMac that I got into street photography, for which I am self taught, and for quite a while I had discovered a passion which I probably never would have even considered if it wasn’t for the iMac.

I’m thinking/hoping the AW could trigger a similar positive outcome, with regards to my mental health.

Do you experience mental health issues, and has the AW made a difference for you in that regard?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks.

Thanks for you honestly. I suffer similar issues. The watch is best for not isolating on your phone. You can go do stuff, and if you have separation anxiety, it's all mirrored on the watch.
Personally I think that an app that used the motion sensors, ml, screen time, pulse, and sleep data all together could really be a way to monitor symptoms. But there's no app like that right now. And I can't code at all. Lol

 

[secretk]

I do not own an Apple Watch but I have thought about those topics. Few ideas (that maybe someone with a watch could confirm):

1. Using the Breathe/Mindfulness app. Most people with mental issues and diagnoses usually follow some therapy. Most of the therapy approaches rely on building self-awareness and ability to analyze your emotions and your thoughts. Meditation actually help improving your self-awareness. I have also heard that the Watch can monitor your heart rate and if detects high pulse or constant fluctuating it might remind you to open the Breathe app and have meditation session.
2. I have found in Internet Shortcuts related to Anxiety checks. You can download such shortcut and have it accessible from the watch.
3. Most people with mental issues struggle with insomnia. Being able to track your sleep might help you. Meditation before going to bed might help you too. Setting up a bedtime schedule in general with getting really light activities (in my case for example it is listening to podcasts) for 1 hour before going to bed helps.
4. I don't know how your OCD manifest but maybe you can use apps like Reminder or Notes to remind you about stuff so that you don't get obsessed.
5. You might look for some app with positive affirmations around BPD and OCD and make them appear on your watch/phone
6. You might keep audio diary whenever you end up in say manic state (BPD) or anxiety (due to OCD). You can use the Voice memo app from the watch and start talking and go through your thoughts and emotions.

 

[Night Spring]

I have also heard that the Watch can monitor your heart rate and if detects high pulse or constant fluctuating it might remind you to open the Breathe app and have meditation session.

The watch does alert you if you have extremely low or high heart rate or unusual heart rhythm, but not for the purpose of reminding you to meditate. Those alerts are like, hey you might want to check in with a cardiologist.

It does remind you to use the Breathe app -- I believe you can set how often it does this in a day.

I did find the Breathe app useful in getting into a habit of meditating every day. You can set the duration from 1 to 5 minutes, and "just a minute" is a easy place to start. I gradually lengthened my sessions, then started doubling the 5 minutes so I did 10 minutes, and now use the "Meditate" setting in the Workout app to do longer sessions.

 

[secretk]

The watch does alert you if you have extremely low or high heart rate or unusual heart rhythm, but not for the purpose of reminding you to meditate. Those alerts are like, hey you might want to check in with a cardiologist.

Thanks for sharing!

It does remind you to use the Breathe app -- I believe you can set how often it does this in a day.

Good point! Indeed this might be useful too!

I did find the Breathe app useful in getting into a habit of meditating every day. You can set the duration from 1 to 5 minutes, and "just a minute" is a easy place to start. I gradually lengthened my sessions, then started doubling the 5 minutes so I did 10 minutes, and now use the "Meditate" setting in the Workout app to do longer sessions.

I do not have the watch but wanted to explore meditation as well. I started with 3 minutes because 1 was not enough for me. I apparently need at least 2-3 minutes to see some heart rate decrease. I confirm that you need start small and then gradually increase. It does take few sessions until you feel the benefits but once you establish a routine you do gain benefits. At least I know that I do.

 

[Night Spring]

Thanks for sharing!

Good point! Indeed this might be useful too!

I do not have the watch but wanted to explore meditation as well. I started with 3 minutes because 1 was not enough for me. I apparently need at least 2-3 minutes to see some heart rate decrease. I confirm that you need start small and then gradually increase. It does take few sessions until you feel the benefits but once you establish a routine you do gain benefits. At least I know that I do.

Yes, establishing a routine is key. I kept starting to meditate, then will fall out of the habit, and start again. What finally did it for me was the combination of the watch and a habit tracking app. The watch keeps track of the times and duration of my Breathe sessions in the Health app, and each day I reach my goals, I check off that item in the habit tracking app. Seeing nice rows of bar graph in the Health app and the checked off days in the calendar in the habit app is definitely strong motivation to keep doing it every day so I don't get an ugly gap in those markings!

 

[secretk]

Yes, establishing a routine is key. I kept starting to meditate, then will fall out of the habit, and start again. What finally did it for me was the combination of the watch and a habit tracking app. The watch keeps track of the times and duration of my Breathe sessions in the Health app, and each day I reach my goals, I check off that item in the habit tracking app. Seeing nice rows of bar graph in the Health app and the checked off days in the calendar in the habit app is definitely strong motivation to keep doing it every day so I don't get an ugly gap in those markings!

I had a habit tracker in my planner and would mark every day when I meditate. Indeed it is satisfying to see the established routine. I also sensed a shift in my mindset. I became more positive in general - instead of seeing problems I am seeing options and ideas for improvements.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

As per fall detection, if the Watch detects a dangerously low heart rate, does it alert emergency services if you don’t respond to an alert?

Say if your heart stopped, for example?

 

[Night Spring]

As per fall detection, if the Watch detects a dangerously low heart rate, does it alert emergency services if you don’t respond to an alert?

Say if your heart stopped, for example?

How would the watch know if your heart has stopped or you've just taken it off?

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

How would the watch know if your heart has stopped or you've just taken it off?

I thought the Watch knows when you’ve taken it off, therefore if it knows you’re still wearing it, and it detects a low or stopped heart rate, I thought it might alert emergency services?

 

[Night Spring]

I thought the Watch knows when you’ve taken it off, therefore if it knows you’re still wearing it, and it detects a low or stopped heart rate, I thought it might alert emergency services?

No, it's not that sophisticated.

Like, I can take off the watch and wave it around, and it'll increase your activity and exercise minutes, and also increment your step counts.

Also, it doesn't constantly measure your heart rate, unless you are running a workout. When not running workout, it only measures your heart rate every five minutes, or maybe it was every ten minutes, I forget which. If it constantly measured heart rate, I don't think the battery will last all day.

And even though it's supposed to constantly measure heart rate during workout, I find that the measurement often fails. Maybe the band was loose, or I was moving in a way that wasn't conducive to getting a good reading. So I often have streches of minutes during my workouts where the heart rate measurement is blank. If the watch called 911 every time it didn't detect my heart beat, the EMS might as well stay parked outside my door. ?

 

[PaladinGuy]

No, it's not that sophisticated.

Like, I can take off the watch and wave it around, and it'll increase your activity and exercise minutes, and also increment your step counts.

Also, it doesn't constantly measure your heart rate, unless you are running a workout. When not running workout, it only measures your heart rate every five minutes, or maybe it was every ten minutes, I forget which. If it constantly measured heart rate, I don't think the battery will last all day.

And even though it's supposed to constantly measure heart rate during workout, I find that the measurement often fails. Maybe the band was loose, or I was moving in a way that wasn't conducive to getting a good reading. So I often have streches of minutes during my workouts where the heart rate measurement is blank. If the watch called 911 every time it didn't detect my heart beat, the EMS might as well stay parked outside my door.

It’s a bit complicated now for how often the Apple Watch samples heart rate outside of workouts. It’s spread out at different intervals. It used to be something like ever 5 minutes.

For workout heart rate, wrist optical heart rate sensors all have similar weaknesses. If you’re moving your arm a lot, you’ll have a harder time getting a HR lock. If you are bending your wrist, it’ll be harder. Bands that are fabric tend to do best for me because sweat doesn’t build up under the watch, and I can get a proper fit with them.

Sometimes, your skin color/pigment or tattoos or other individual things can throw it off.

In general, the Apple Watch is by far the most accurate optical heart rate monitor I’ve used, and I’ve tried Garmin, Fitbit, and Microsoft Band (RIP) over the years. I always come back to the Apple Watch. I really wish Apple did more frequent sampling and that they did more with data analysis and health metrics like recovery. In my opinion, this is the biggest weakness of the Apple Watch after battery life.

To answer the OP’s question, I struggle with OCD and Depression. I sometimes find the Mindfulness (Breathe) app helpful. I also have used Headspace, which is helpful with the watch. There’ve been rumors for at least two years that apple was going to release mental health functionalities with WatchOS, but so far that’s just been Breathe/Mindfulness. It would be nice if the watch tracked stress and alerted/suggested mindfulness based on that, similar to Garmin. I think the HRV measurements are too infrequent right now for that to work though.

For OCD, not having my phone with me every second is big, and the Apple Watch can help with that if you’re disciplined.

 

[marspark]

The watch does alert you if you have extremely low or high heart rate or unusual heart rhythm, but not for the purpose of reminding you to meditate. Those alerts are like, hey you might want to check in with a cardiologist.

It does remind you to use the Breathe app -- I believe you can set how often it does this in a day.

I did find the Breathe app useful in getting into a habit of meditating every day. You can set the duration from 1 to 5 minutes, and "just a minute" is a easy place to start. I gradually lengthened my sessions, then started doubling the 5 minutes so I did 10 minutes, and now use the "Meditate" setting in the Workout app to do longer sessions.

Thank you for sharing!

 

[cubodado]

In WatchOS 10 it is announced that Mental Health monitoring (State of Mind) is added to Breathe and Meditation. I tend to sleep too little - just go to sleep too late compared to my wake up time. I bought Autosleep to enhance sleep tracking but other than adding nap times to my sleep times I don’t use it too much. It suggests me the hour to go to sleep but it’s to early for my needs so I just tend to ignore it.

 

[Devyn89]

I don’t specifically use it for mental health but it has helped mine. I get into filling my rings which sometimes means a late night walk to fill it. Every time I go for a walk I feel better than when I don’t so having that gameification of exercise has been helpful for me.

 

[bgiresh]

It sounds like you've been through quite a journey, both mentally and physically. I completely get why you'd be interested in the Apple Watch (AW) for its potential mental health benefits, especially when conventional methods like the gym are less accessible to you right now.