Cingulo is one of many AI therapy apps promising to help improve people's mental health. But do they really work? One user shares her experiences.
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00:0011 years ago, Vanessa Malakias from Sao Paulo was diagnosed with anxiety.
00:07She'd been having symptoms for years.
00:10At any time, her heart would start to race, her breathing became labored,
00:14her hands would tremble or shake.
00:19It was 2019 when she discovered the app Singulo,
00:22which promises to help you overcome your emotional issues.
00:26She's been a regular user ever since.
00:31On days when I'm particularly anxious, I have palpitations
00:35and that kind of restlessness.
00:37I stop what I'm doing, sit here on the bench
00:40and take a few deep breaths in and out.
00:43I get my phone out and do an emergency exercise.
00:47Singulo's release was in 2017.
00:49The app was developed in Brazil by psychologists and neuroscientists.
00:54Registration is free, but all features are only available
00:57with a paid premium subscription.
01:00After registering, you answer questions about yourself
01:03to determine strengths and weaknesses.
01:07Based on this, you receive a personalized program
01:10with videos, audio clips and articles.
01:15I was going through a time of important decisions
01:18and I think the app helped me a lot.
01:21To get to know myself better,
01:23to make the decisions that needed to be made.
01:27Of course, it's nothing miraculous.
01:29It's not something that takes you out of the situation completely,
01:33but it does put you in the right direction.
01:36I think it's great. It makes you look inwards.
01:39Apps like this can definitely help Cescaris Cavazzini.
01:43The psychotherapist specializes in the use of technology
01:46to improve mental health.
01:50Apps can help in various ways.
01:53First, the user can understand the severity of their anxiety
01:56and begin to understand what the triggers are
01:59that exacerbate that anxiety.
02:01Learn to understand how the triggers work
02:03and how to deal with them.
02:07Vanessa Malakias has tried therapy several times,
02:10but she finds it difficult to open up to people.
02:13That's where the app really excels for her.
02:16Singulo is now an integral part of her everyday life.
02:19And though not all of the advice in the app suits her,
02:22the 32-year-old has already been able
02:25to overcome some of her fears.
02:29I have been able to gradually work on my anxiety
02:32and work on talking to my relatives.
02:35Today I can have much better conversations with my parents,
02:38which was hardly even possible before.