According to some research, strong religious beliefs coupled with a positive relationship with a higher power are connected to lower levels of disordered eating and body image concern. 
Image from Khalifa University.
You may or may not notice it, but when you’re depressed, your behavior changes — enough so that your phone can tell the difference.
I read an article that recommended apps to track your mood. One of the highest-rated ones was called Dailyo, which is a quick journaling app that lets you track your moods by selecting emoticons. Once the app sees a pattern, it begins to pinpoint trends where your mood starts to drop, and offer suggestions how to raise it.
Such a cool concept! (You can download Dailyo for iPhone and Android.)
In 2015 I read a study from Northwestern University researchers published on depression and smartphone use. It turns out the more time you spend on your phone, the more likely it is that you’re depressed.
The numbers are startling: Non-depressed people use their smartphones for an average of 17 minutes per day. Depressed people use them for 68 minutes. (Honestly, those numbers are probably different for the 2020 crowd.)
“People are likely, when on their phones, to avoid thinking about things that are troubling, painful feelings or difficult relationships,” Northwestern’s David Mohr says in a press release. “It’s an avoidance behavior we see in depression.”
The other depression indicator phones can pick up on is location: Depressed people tend to stay home or in one location a lot more than non-depressed people do. It’s a matter of lack of motivation and energy, Mohr says.
Phones are an objective, non-obtrusive way to measure depression. Researchers say the next step is to determine whether encouraging people to reverse the depressive behaviors tracked by their phones can reduce symptoms of the disorder.
I really appreciate this study and these type of apps because of their ability to help people be aware of mood swings and periods of depression. I say you find the tool that works best for you, and use it!
You Might Also Enjoy...
According to some research, strong religious beliefs coupled with a positive relationship with a higher power are connected to lower levels of disordered eating and body image concern. 
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, isn't about brain wiring--it's how the brain fires. Here's some new info we're learning!
Depression tends to worsen with age. Now, during isolation and COVID-19, it is even more important to help our elderly maintain their mental health.
Scientists are looking into regulating glutamate--a neurotransmitter--to attack OCD symptoms in patients, and the research is beginning to come in.
For decades, mental health professionals have heavily emphasized medication in the fight against schizophrenia symptoms. A groundbreaking new study says we should turn that approach around: Focusing more on therapy than on medication yields better results.
When it comes to sleep, it looks like alcohol has an effect opposite the one many think it has. It turns out that not only is a nightcap a bad way to send you off to bed, your drinking habits overall could be affecting the way you sleep.