STRESSED? HAVE A WORD WITH YOURSELF

IF YOU'RE FEELING ANXIOUS, A SIMPLE WAY TO DECREASE THE PRESSURE IS BY SELF-TALKING - OUT LOUD!

- MEL BRODIE

Humans are not built to deal with excessive stress, but the overwhelming pressure of working harder, faster and longer is all too familiar. And Covid has further impacted the mental health of millions, who've faced change, strained relationships, health concerns and financial worries.

But a pilot study* by an app called Talk It Out has found a successful way to lower anxiety by 37% and dramatically boost our wellbeing. And all it takes is talking to yourself...

GIVE YOURSELF A BOOST

Counselling has never been so in demand, but Dr Moulton says, A lot of people resist seeking help and find it hard to talk to someone else. They prefer to do something for themselves. In Talk It Out's pilot study, 39% of the participants who talked to themselves for just 10 minutes a day, over 10 days, boosted their productivity and ability to deal with problems well, while 38% experienced improved feelings of satisfaction.

WHERE DO I START?

To get the most from your out-loud explorations, use a structure.Talk It Out's free app sets a target time to talk. It records as you speak and provides exercises and challenges.

As you talk, you'll run out of your usual story and interesting ideas begin to bubble up from your subconscious, says Chris Baréz-Brown, creator of Talk It Out. Press the red button and the app will capture that thought in text. Afterwards, sit down with a cup of tea, look at your insights and see what you've learnt. It's potentially life-changing and anyone can do it.