Can AI chatbots help treat anxiety disorders?
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.