17 Years Clean

What inspired you to build this? In 2008, I overdosed and woke up in a hospital bed in Melbourne. I'd been using drugs and alcohol for 10 years to cope with severe panic disorder. That moment changed everything. During my recovery, I realized something: every addiction treatment program focused on the substance, but nobody was treating the anxiety that CAUSED my addiction. I spent years searching for tools that addressed both together. They didn't exist. 17 years later, I'm clean, married with 2 kids, and living in Istanbul. But I still remember what it felt like at 2 AM during a panic attack with no one to call and no tools that actually worked. What problem were you trying to solve? The panic-addiction loop. Most people with addiction issues started using substances to cope with anxiety, trauma, or panic disorder. But when they get clean, the anxiety comes roaring back—often worse than before—and they have no tools to handle it. That's why relapse rates are so high. I wanted to create something that: Works during a panic attack (not just theory) Treats anxiety AND addiction together Is accessible 24/7 (panic doesn't wait for therapy appointments) Gives people the tools I wish I'd had in 2008 How did your approach evolve? I started with just my personal recovery notes—breathwork techniques, grounding exercises, cognitive tools that saved my life. But I realized people in crisis need MORE than just information. They need: Immediate intervention - The "Panic Attack Now" button became the centerpiece. When you're in the middle of a panic attack, you can't navigate menus. You need help NOW. Progress tracking - Recovery isn't linear. People need to SEE their progress: days sober, panic attacks survived, tools used. Data makes the invisible visible. Privacy first - Everything stores locally. No accounts, no servers, no judgment. Your recovery data is yours alone. The biggest evolution was realizing this couldn't just be an "anxiety app" or an "addiction app"—it had to treat the ROOT CAUSE that connects them: a dysregulated nervous system that never learned healthy coping mechanisms. This app is what I needed 17 years ago. I built it so nobody else has to go through what I did without tools that actually work.