Project Overview:

The Panic Attack Assistant App is a mental health-focused mobile/web application designed to assist individuals experiencing anxiety or panic attacks in real time. It provides interactive calming techniques, breathing exercises, distraction activities, and emergency contact options to help users regain control and calm down during high-stress moments.

This project is highly relevant for students aiming to build a wellness-focused app using PHP, Java, or Node.js for the backend and HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript for the frontend.

Technologies Used:

• Frontend: HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript

• Backend: PHP / Java / Node.js

• Database: MySQL / MongoDB

• Optional: Web Speech API for voice guidance, Vibration API (for mobile), Web Notifications API

Key Features:

1.  Real-Time Calming Assistant

• Guides users through deep breathing exercises with visual cues and timers

• Includes calm-inducing audio, such as nature sounds or binaural beats

• Offers grounding exercises like “5-4-3-2-1 technique” to bring awareness to the present

2.  Emergency Help Button

• One-tap feature to contact a predefined emergency contact or mental health helpline

• Can also send a message like “I’m not feeling okay right now” with the user's location (optional)

3.  Cognitive Behavioral Techniques (CBT) Tools

• Interactive journal for recording thoughts during the attack

• Automatic cognitive reframing suggestions to replace irrational thoughts with rational ones

• Guided affirmations and positive visualization prompts

4.  Distraction Activities

• Quick mini-games, simple coloring, or logic puzzles to shift focus

• Soothing photo gallery (e.g., animals, nature)

• Breathing animation (inhale/exhale with expanding shapes)

5.  Panic Timer & Tracker

• Timer feature to track duration of panic attacks

• Auto-log episodes in the database with intensity level, triggers, and notes

• Graphical dashboard to visualize patterns over time

6.  User Profile & History

• Personal progress tracker

• Set daily mood logs and triggers

• Privacy-focused user data management

7.  Educational Resources

• Information about:

  • Understanding panic attacks

  • Tips to reduce frequency

  • When to seek professional help

• Links to verified mental health support platforms