How Hurricane Trauma Led Me to Build a Mental Health App

It started quietly, during COVID—like so many wellness ideas born in the middle of collective chaos. I was a licensed therapist seeing clients through a screen, watching panic rise in nervous systems all around me—including my own. We were talking about coping, but what we really needed was something we could feel. Something that helped people feel safe again—not just think about it.

So I got to work. Like a lot of folks in the wellness space, I started with what I knew: a website, a few online courses, and a couple of self-help books. And they helped—but something still felt missing. I didn’t know it at the time, but that missing piece was AI and the use of it into a mental health app.

I realized I needed a way to meet people exactly where they are, in real time. Not just give general advice, but offer tools that actually adapt to the person using them—like a therapist in your pocket who gets your nervous system. That’s when Mind Circuit really began to take shape.

That’s when Mind Circuit was truly born. I designed it to help clients between sessions—to give them a way to regulate their emotions in the moment, not just once a week in therapy. The method at its core is something therapists have trusted for decades: bilateral stimulation, or BLS.

If you’ve ever tapped your knees back and forth while thinking, gone for a walk to clear your head, or swayed gently while listening to music—you’ve experienced a natural version of BLS. Clinically, BLS is most commonly used in EMDR therapy, where it helps the brain process stuck emotions through rhythmic left-right stimulation (Shapiro, 2001). Today, you’ll find it in trauma-informed classrooms, veterans’ treatment programs, and even sensory-friendly environments for neurodivergent kids. But what we didn’t have—until now—was a way to carry that tool with us, anywhere.

Then came the hurricane. Hurricane Helene tore through our community in Western North Carolina, displacing families—including mine—and throwing our nervous systems into full-on survival mode. I wasn’t just witnessing trauma as a clinician anymore. I was living it, alongside my neighbors, my kids, my clients. That storm didn’t just reshape our homes—it reshaped my mission. I became even more committed to creating a tool that didn’t rely on appointments, insurance, or perfect circumstances. Just a phone, a moment, and a willingness to try again.

Here’s the truth: People don’t heal just because they know better. They heal when they feel better—when their bodies begin to believe they’re safe again. But after trauma, our nervous systems often get stuck in “on” mode: overthinking, over-functioning, waiting for the other shoe to drop. What we need are tools to help us come back down. Slowly. Gently. Consistently.

Key Takeaways:

• Healing isn’t just mental—it’s physical. Your body needs to feel safe before your mind can truly relax.
• Trauma rewires your nervous system. It’s like your body is stuck in survival mode, always on high alert.
• Overthinking and overdoing are signs of a stuck system. It’s not just “stress”—it’s your body trying to protect you.
• Healing takes time and patience. You can’t rush your way out of survival mode; it’s a process.
• Gentle tools can help reset your system. Things like deep breathing, grounding exercises, and mindfulness can slowly bring you back to balance.
• Consistency is key. Small, regular practices are more effective than big, one-time efforts.
• You’re not broken. Your body is doing what it thinks it needs to do to keep you safe—it just needs help learning to relax again.

Mind Circuit is my way of helping people do that. It’s not meant to replace therapy, but to support what therapy starts. Think of it as a set of emotional training wheels—science-backed and compassion-built—to help people find their footing again.

During the pandemic, over 42% of U.S. adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression (CDC, 2021). And even now, access to therapy is unequal, waitlists are long, and many people don’t know where to begin. That’s where Mind Circuit fits in. It’s a bridge between insight and action, between knowing you’re anxious and actually feeling calm again. A soft, science-backed reset for when your thoughts are spiraling and your body feels like it’s buzzing.

Hurricane Helene may have taken roofs and walls, including mine, but it also gave me clarity. Healing doesn’t wait for the perfect conditions. It happens in small, messy, brave choices. It happens when you stop pushing through and start learning to pause. That’s what this app is for: to give you space to pause, process, and try again. One quiet, powerful reset at a time.

Gentle tools to help reset your nervous system and guide it back to a state of calm and safety:

• Deep Breathing Exercises: Try box breathing (inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4) to calm your body and mind.
• Grounding Techniques: Use the 5-4-3-2-1 method—name 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, and 1 you taste.
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tense and release each muscle group in your body, starting from your toes and working upward.
• Gentle Movement: Yoga, stretching, or even a slow walk can help release stored tension in your body.
• Soothing Sounds: Listen to calming music, nature sounds, or binaural beats to help your nervous system relax.
• Weighted Blankets: The gentle pressure can mimic a hug and help your body feel safe and grounded.
• Journaling: Write down your thoughts and feelings to process emotions and release mental tension.
• Mindfulness Practices: Focus on the present moment through meditation or simply observing your surroundings without judgment.
• Cold Water Therapy: Splash your face with cold water or hold an ice cube to activate your vagus nerve and calm your system.
• Safe Touch: Self-hugging, holding your own hand, or even petting an animal can provide comfort and reassurance.
• Visualization: Imagine a safe, peaceful place in your mind and “go there” when you feel overwhelmed.
• Aromatherapy: Scents like lavender, chamomile, or eucalyptus can help soothe your senses.
• Slow, Rhythmic Activities: Knitting, coloring, or even rocking in a chair can help regulate your nervous system.
• Nature Time: Spend time outside, even if it’s just sitting under a tree or walking barefoot on grass.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 24–30, 2020. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69(32), 1049–1057.

Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures. Guilford Press.

Siegel, D. J. (2010). The Mindful Therapist: A Clinician’s Guide to Mindsight and Neural Integration. W. W. Norton & Company.