Just ordered an Apple Watch (Series 8): Mental health uses?

[The Cockney Rebel]

You're welcome 😊

I've had an AW for a bit over two years. i started with the AW3 (on closeout sale from my cellular carrier) then quickly traded for an SE 1 when released. I wanted a bigger screen so just got the 8 a few weeks ago.

The Apple Watch quickly became maybe my favorite Apple device. I use it to track my workouts and make closing the rings a daily goal. It's a sneaky way to motivate yourself to move more, but effective. Working from home, it's easy to get trapped in work and not realize how long I've been sitting, so I use the Stand notification and Mindfulness to move about & de-stress or refocus. I can't say the AW has been transformative, but I know I'm healthier overall for its presence on my wrist.

I hope you'll stick with it and make interaction with your Watch part of your daily routine. Even if you shut off email & text notifications (it's ok to unplug a bit 😉) the Stand, Breathe/Mindfulness, and Activity reminders add value to life.

Peace & Strength to you!

Really appreciate you taking the time to give such detailed feedback.

I have taken all that you have said onboard.

I’ve returned quite a few Apple Watches, as I found no use for them (I’ve become a hermit!) However, I plan to give this one a good go.

Peace and strength to you also, my friend .

 

[GuruZac]

I've found Mindfulness to be a useful feature. You can set your # of notifications or sessions per day and use that as a reminder to take timeout from whatever is going on & focus on your breath for a minute (or two or three minutes) or do some light meditation, be mindful of certain things.

Good luck to you OP.

I second this. I like the reminder the Watch sends.

 

[Violet_Antelope]

Mental health has been my issue too for years, around 20 years. Lost my dad in 2008 and got myself in a depression spiral that lasted 5 years. Lost my job in 2009 and havent been able to get a job since. Been uneployed for 13 years 7 months. Lost my mom in 2021. Been really close to just ending it all and leaving earth behind. To me there is no gadget that would help me. Sold my apple watch recently because it served zero purpose in my life. Just sending worthless job applications is eating me alive and destroying me mentally. After thousands of applications Im still unemployed. I have one degree but it turned out to be worthless. I have no mental health to get a new degree. Just feeling worthless 24/7, parents are gone, no job in sight. No money. Havent even been in a reliationship yet and Im almost 37yo. Just wanted to post this because I could relate to OP.

I’m so so sorry you’re feeling this way! I can only imagine the pain you’re in over the loss of your mom. Any kind of forms and application process are designed to break you down into a metric to quantify, but *you* are so much more than that! You have strengths and weaknesses, likes, dislikes, interests and skills. Please take time to focus on the things you enjoy even if you feel too sad to enjoy them fully. Can you find ways to share them with others of us in similar situations?

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

There have been some great suggestions here I don’t think I can add much to - the watch can be a useful tool for monitoring your wellbeing, and using it for music and podcasts is a good idea when you need to be distracted from your thoughts. One thing to beware of - don’t get too caught up in the metrics - they’re useful reminders not an indication of success or failure.

I’m truly sorry you’re hitting such a rough patch. I have severe OCD and know a little of how mental health issues can drive you to breaking point. Each day is a victory whether it has been tough or good. Use the tools that help you, but reach out to people who do as well. I’m rooting for you to find calmer times soon.

You’re all so lovely and caring, and I cannot thank you enough.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

OCD can become brutal, and I hope yours isn’t as ruthless as mine is.

I’ve been sectioned 26 times in less that 5 years, that’s section 2 of the mental health act, here in the UK.

Hoping the AW can help me to break the cycle.

Feel free to PM me if you’re struggling with your OCD.

Look after yourself .

 

[fridayxiii]

Who'da thunk it: a tech forum displaying so much love, support, and humanity. I dig all the good vibes flowing today 😊 @The London Fella I know you said you're somewhat removed from social media. if you need an alternative from tech talk, check out the Community Discussion here for lots of good conversation about food, music, sports, and myriad other interests. If you need another connection in this crazy ride we call life, reach out via PM. We need all the support we can get. One love y'all.

 

[MLL63QNA]

Who'da thunk it: a tech forum displaying so much love, support, and humanity. I dig all the good vibes flowing today 😊 @The London Fella I know you said you're somewhat removed from social media. if you need an alternative from tech talk, check out the Community Discussion here for lots of good conversation about food, music, sports, and myriad other interests. If you need another connection in this crazy ride we call life, reach out via PM. We need all the support we can get. One love y'all.

Talking about music and my love towards death metal and funeral doom. I love violin, cello, and piano. I love sad lyrics, full of death, pain and sorrow. Thats my jam. Dont ask me why all that sadness and death in music gives me strength, I dont know the answer for that.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Who'da thunk it: a tech forum displaying so much love, support, and humanity. I dig all the good vibes flowing today 😊 @The London Fella I know you said you're somewhat removed from social media. if you need an alternative from tech talk, check out the Community Discussion here for lots of good conversation about food, music, sports, and myriad other interests. If you need another connection in this crazy ride we call life, reach out via PM. We need all the support we can get. One love y'all.

Thank you, brother.

Appreciate you and your time (no pun intended!)

I may sign up to FB, under a pseudonym, so I can join your group.

The love is reciprocated .

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Talking about music and my love towards death metal and funeral doom. I love violin, cello, and piano. I love sad lyrics, full of death, pain and sorrow. Thats my jam. Dont ask me why all that sadness and death in music gives me strength, I dont know the answer for that.

I do the same thing, so you’re not alone.

Listen to Symphony No. 3, Op 36: II and tell me if it doesn’t resonate with your heart.

A truly powerful piece of music.

Here’s a link:

I collect quotes, and this is one of my favourites:

“When you’re happy, you hear the music. When you’re sad, you hear the lyrics.”

So true.

By the way, I’ve been told by psychiatrists that I’m “delusional” because I say similar things to you. Go figure!

 

[Violet_Antelope]

Wow, doesn’t it help to actually talk to others facing similar things not just ‘experts’! If I’m delusional for finding strength from painful or angry lyrics… wow, just wow sadly I think a lot of those assigned to help only make things harder! (I also collect quotes, and trite as it may be I like the reminder that ‘being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared, it means being scared and doing it anyway’)

 

[MLL63QNA]

Wow, doesn’t it help to actually talk to others facing similar things not just ‘experts’! If I’m delusional for finding strength from painful or angry lyrics… wow, just wow sadly I think a lot of those assigned to help only make things harder! (I also collect quotes, and trite as it may be I like the reminder that ‘being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared, it means being scared and doing it anyway’)

To me the only thing in this world that gives me strength is sad music. Thanks to sad music and its existence Im still alive, if I wouldnt discovered sad music back in 2008 I probably would not be alive anymore writing this.

When Im angry I hang my brains on the wall and put some Fleshgod Apocalypse playing, when Im sad maybe Dominia, Draconian, Mist of Misery, Clouds.

 

[Apple_Robert]

The watch would make it easy to record thoughts throughout the day. And with the phone, you can also view the texts of those notes. I use an app called SnipNotes.

I wish you well,LF.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Wow, doesn’t it help to actually talk to others facing similar things not just ‘experts’! If I’m delusional for finding strength from painful or angry lyrics… wow, just wow sadly I think a lot of those assigned to help only make things harder! (I also collect quotes, and trite as it may be I like the reminder that ‘being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared, it means being scared and doing it anyway’)

I don’t trust these so called “professionals.”

So they’ve read books, and attended lectures, and they think they understand? Well I’ve lived with this all my life, so guess what? Who’s the expert?

They’ve allowed me to deteriorate, to the point of being sectioned 26 times in less than 5 years. All they do is lock me up, and feed me tablets.

I’ve been refused therapy, as they say I’m too suicidal, and a specialist hospital here in the UK that deals with extreme personality disorders and suicidal ideation has turned me down.

Surely I’d be a perfect candidate for such a hospital?

I used to think that the mental health company (“service/trust”) was broken. However, now I know it’s corrupt.

They’ll all be trying to pass the buck, should I one day be successful in my attempts.

Anyway, rant over.

Which AW do you have?

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

The watch would make it easy to record thoughts throughout the day. And with the phone, you can also view the texts of those notes. I use an app called SnipNotes.

I wish you well,LF.

Hey, Robert!

Nice seeing you, and I hope you are well?

Thank you for the advice. I’ll check out that app.

So you can record voice notes on the AW, and it syncs with your other devices? That would be a very useful feature.

Look after yourself.

 

[MLL63QNA]

I don’t trust these so called “professionals.”

So they’ve read books, and attended lectures, and they think they understand? Well I’ve lived with this all my life, so guess what? Who’s the expert?

They’ve allowed me to deteriorate, to the point of being sectioned 26 times in less than 5 years. All they do is lock me up, and feed me tablets.

I’ve been refused therapy, as they say I’m too suicidal, and a specialist hospital here in the UK that deals with extreme personality disorders and suicidal ideation has turned me down.

Surely I’d be a perfect candidate for such a hospital?

I used to think that the mental health company (“service/trust”) was broken. However, now I know it’s corrupt.

They’ll all be trying to pass the buck, should I one day be successful in my attempts.

Anyway, rant over.

Which AW do you have?

Hospitals are not for sick people anymore, let it be sickness inside you or outside. They give you pills and wish you goodluck. If you lay dead somewhere, well at least they have one less patient to take care off.

Someone might call this society, well I have different term for that word.

Its similar in Finland.

 

[Night Spring]

Apple watch's activity rings are helpful in getting me more active, but I've found it useful to supplement that with a daily goals/habit tracking app. For instance, the mindfulness exercise on the watch is great, but there's no visual chart to quickly show how often you've done them, like you get with the activity rings. So I set up a meditation card in a habit tracking app, and check off each time I do a mindfulness exercise on the watch. Same with going for walks -- the activity rings show you've done so many minutes of exercise, burned so many calories, but doesn't show if you've done a particular type of exercise. Having my walks marked in the habit tracking app motivates me to go for a walk every day.

I hope the watch works out for you this time, but keep in mind it's only one tool. It can get you started, but keep an eye out for other things/methods to help you along. The important thing is you've decided you want to recover. And I'm so grateful for that.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Hospitals are not for sick people anymore, let it be sickness inside you or outside. They give you pills and wish you goodluck. If you lay dead somewhere, well at least they have one less patient to take care off.

Someone might call this society, well I have different term for that word.

Its similar in Finland.

They don’t even wish me good luck anymore.

I’ve been sectioned so many times, I’m surprised they don’t invite me to the staff Christmas do!

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Apple watch's activity rings are helpful in getting me more active, but I've found it useful to supplement that with a daily goals/habit tracking app. For instance, the mindfulness exercise on the watch is great, but there's no visual chart to quickly show how often you've done them, like you get with the activity rings. So I set up a meditation card in a habit tracking app, and check off each time I do a mindfulness exercise on the watch. Same with going for walks -- the activity rings show you've done so many minutes of exercise, burned so many calories, but doesn't show if you've done a particular type of exercise. Having my walks marked in the habit tracking app motivates me to go for a walk every day.

I hope the watch works out for you this time, but keep in mind it's only one tool. It can get you started, but keep an eye out for other things/methods to help you along. The important thing is you've decided you want to recover. And I'm so grateful for that.

Hello my friend.

Nice to see you again, and I hope you are well?

I think I’ll start with walking. I’ve become a hermit (literally) so taking baby steps (no pun intended) is the way to go.

I don’t want to set my goals too high to begin with, because with my personality disorder I can think one minute that I’ve conquered the world with a great idea, then in the next moment my mood plummets, and I think it’s all over.

It’s all black and white with EUPD/BPD, so I need to try to find some middle ground.

You’re always there to offer advice, and I’m very grateful for that.

Please look after yourself, and be well.

 

[MLL63QNA]

To me the only thing outside of sad music that has ever given me at least a little bit of happiness is my electric scooter, while driving it I feel free and my mind is clear. Im like a bird in the sky with no shackless or strings attachted to anything.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

For all:

There’s a great app called “Motivation” which has an iOS/iPadOS & AW version.

It has widgets, which update throughout the day, with motivational quotes, relating to the topic/s you select.

I have “anxiety” set as my topic.

When I’ve had AWs in the past, I’ve used the Motivation app as one of the complications. It was great to be able to glance at your wrist, and seeing a positive quote, when you’re not feeling so good.

Thought I’d share that with you all.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

To me the only thing outside of sad music that has ever given me at least a little bit of happiness is my electric scooter, while driving it I feel free and my mind is clear. Im like a bird in the sky with no shackless or strings attachted to anything.

 

[daveathall]

Truthfully? Just continue to get better mate. Good for you. Hope all goes well, congratulations on your watch but more so on turning it around.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Truthfully? Just continue to get better mate. Good for you. Hope all goes well, congratulations on your watch but more so on turning it around.

Thanks, bruv.

Nice to see you flying the St. George’s Cross.

Be well.

 

[Night Spring]

I don’t trust these so called “professionals.”

I think the problem with many health professionals is that they lack spiritual/religious grounding. The best psychological insights I've heard have been in lectures by religious people. Theology, at its best, is deep reflection into the human state. Unfortunately, most of what passes for religion out there is either people being morality police or taking advantage of vulnerable people, so it's hard to find the real deal. And since religion is deeply personal, what resonates for me won't necessarily work for other people.

But yes, the health profession has never learned that the best experts are the patients actually experiencing the problems. I was born with cerebral palsy, and my mother initially took me to see doctors to help me gain more mobility. But the doctors started taking notes from my mom about things she was doing to help me! At that point, my mom decided the doctors were useless, and stopped going. 😆

 

[Dealmans]

Sure the watch can help with exercise, walking etc. But I would get a bible and start reading the New Testament.
@Night Spring is correct. Find a christian councellor.

 

[Night Spring]

Nice to see you again, and I hope you are well?

I think I’ll start with walking. I’ve become a hermit (literally) so taking baby steps (no pun intended) is the way to go.

I don’t want to set my goals too high to begin with, because with my personality disorder I can think one minute that I’ve conquered the world with a great idea, then in the next moment my mood plummets, and I think it’s all over.

Yes, I'm doing quite well, thanks!

And I also started with walking. Initially, it was like once or twice a week, but I eventually got to the point of walking everyday. Now I think I've kept a streak of walking every day for over a year, except for one day when I was sick, and another when it was just raining too hard.

So definitely go for baby steps. I'm glad you're aware of the pitfalls of setting goals too high. Thankfully I haven't had such extreme mood swings, but I've had times when everything just seems pointless. For me, having the daily list of habits to keep up has been helpful in keeping me going. But it's a double-edge sword, because if I ever can't keep up the habits, that could cause a depressive episode, lol.

Trick is never to get too attached to anything, I guess, as they say in Buddhism. But it's hard to actually do!