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Tula: A Mobile App for Panic and Anxiety Relief
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How can we support someone through the storm of a panic attack?
Problem:
During a panic attack, even simple tasks can feel overwhelming.
Most mental health apps expect users to read instructions, make decisions, or navigate multiple screens, adding stress when anxiety is already high.
What’s needed is guidance that is simple, gentle, and reassuring in moments of panic.
Goal:
Provide immediate calming support during panic and anxiety attacks.
Design a mobile app with a soft, approachable UI tailored for individuals seeking non-intrusive mental health care.
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Competitive Analysis & User Research of Anxiety and Wellness Apps
Market Landscape:
Before conducting user and expert interviews, I analyzed leading anxiety and wellness apps like Rootd, Calmer, Dare, and Anxiety Tracker to identify gaps. Clear patterns emerged:
- Many apps overwhelm users with too many features or clinical interfaces.
- Tools are common but often buried or gated by long onboarding.
- Users frequently mention frustration with paywalls and confusing navigation during moments of need.
These insights exposed key gaps: overwhelming interfaces, hidden tools, and limited emotional support in moments of distress.
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User & Expert Interviews:
I spoke with three individuals who experience panic attacks and two licensed therapists to understand what truly helps in high-stress moments when thinking clearly is difficult.
Key Insights:
- Cognitive Shutdown: During panic attacks, users’ minds often “go blank,” making multi-step instructions hard to follow.
- Discovery of Tools: Users often don’t realize all the tools available to them, making intuitive discovery crucial.
- Personalized Anchors: Users rely on personal resources (like notes or playlists) to self-soothe.
- Emotional Cues & Microcopy: Tone, visuals, and carefully chosen words (e.g., “Take a breath”) serve as emotional signals that help users feel safe and grounded.
- Prioritizing Exit Paths: Clear, easy escape routes empower users with control, reducing feelings of being trapped during moments of overwhelm.
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Initial Wireframes: Translating Insights into Structure
The first wireframes aimed to reflect core user needs:
- Immediacy, discretion, and low cognitive load were prioritized in the initial design.
- Key features were included, but visual hierarchy and screen balance still needed refinement.
- The SOS button was present, but lacked the visual weight needed to stand out in urgent situations.
- Some tool labels caused hesitation under stress, suggesting a need for clearer, more emotionally intuitive language.
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Final Wireframes: Clear, Accessible, Supportive
The final wireframes refined visual hierarchy and interaction flow:
- Prominent SOS Button: Immediate access to relief.
- Six Core Tools: Tools, Saved, Breathe, Affirmations, Meditation, Sleep.
- Custom Routines: In Tools, users can build and save personalized routines using exercises and sensory aids.
- Guided Learning: An Education section within Tools offers simple techniques for anxiety management.
- Quick Access Favorites: The Saved tab lets users bookmark go-to content for fast, frictionless support.
Final Results & Learnings
Usability Study Results:
- 80% of users located and launched a saved exercise or sound within 15 seconds during a timed task.
- 75% accessed the education subsection in Tools within 20 seconds when asked to explore anxiety management techniques.
- 75% successfully created a custom routine within 30–60 seconds after an initial explanation, with many quickly appreciating the feature despite a slight initial learning curve.
Additionally:
- 75% of participants preferred Tula over an anxiety app they currently use, citing clearer navigation, quality of tools, and a more calming visual experience.
- 80% said they would feel comfortable using Tula in public due to its discreet interface and one-tap access to core tools.
Key Learnings:
- Design for Overwhelm: During panic, users feel overwhelmed and struggle with complex instructions. Providing simple, intuitive tools paired with calming visual and verbal cues helps users feel safe and regain control quickly.
- Relief + Learning: Offering immediate access to support tools alongside optional educational content encourages users to build long-term coping skills and stay engaged beyond moments of crisis.
- Personalized Anchors: Users heavily rely on personalized resources like saved exercises, notes, or playlists to self-soothe. Customizable tools that let users create and access these anchors are essential for comfort and ongoing use.
