When panic, anxiety, anger, or overwhelm hits, most apps ask you to sign up, pick a course, and read instructions first. Bao Breathe skips all that. Press once and a calm companion breathes with you — nothing to read, no account, free to start. Four modes, each tuned to a different feeling, plus a panic fast-lane that drops you into the gentlest pattern instantly. Build a small daily practice so calm comes easier next time. It's the button you reach for when it actually hits.
Hey everyone! :) I built Bao Breathe because of my own experience with this stuff. I was diagnosed with panic disorder and have dealt with anxiety for years, plus the usual work stress and honestly some anger I never really knew what to do with.
The thing that always got me was that when I actually needed help in the moment, every app wanted me to sign up or pick a course or read something first. That's just not possible when you're mid-panic. So I made the opposite. You press one button and a calm companion breathes with you. Nothing to read, no account, free to start.
One thing I want to be upfront about: Bao isn't therapy or medical advice, and it's not a crisis service. It's a self-soothing tool for the hard moments, meant to sit alongside real support, not replace it.
If you've ever frozen up when panic hit, I'd really love to hear what you think.
To add, a few decisions I sweated over: the right breathing technique per mode; haptics are permanently OFF in panic mode (vibration can feel threatening mid-panic), there are no breath-holds in he gentlest modes, and we never say "you are safe" — because a panicking brain argues with absolute statements.
The rescue core is completely free, in every mode. I'd genuinely love your feedback especially from anyone who's dealt with panic themselves.
Report
How does the panic fast-lane actually decide which pattern is gentlest for someone, since what feels calming can vary so much from person to person?
@oglu_fak5611 Hi, thanks for the question! You are right, there are lots of breathing patterns that help with panic. We didn't want to make someone pick one while they're panicking, so the fast-lane just goes with the gentlest one that tends to work for most people: 2 seconds in, 4 seconds out. No holding your breath, no vibrations, no text to read. The reason it's a longer breath out than in is that the exhale is the part that actually helps your body settle, and that's pretty consistent across people.
And if you're in the middle of it and it's not working for you, like you feel you can't breathe with it, you can pause and switch to a grounding exercise instead (that one's about your senses, no breathing). So you're not stuck with it.
Report
the panic fast-lane is such a smart move, dropping people straight into the gentlest pattern before their hands are even steady enough to tap through a menu. respect for actually designing for the worst moment instead of a sunny onboarding flow.
@kaz_m80241 thank you very much for your kind words!
Report
Pressed it mid-rush and the panic fast-lane just kicked in instantly, no menus, no setup. Really like how the little animated companion exhales slower than you do, kinda pulls you into rhythm without trying to be clever.
@erengldalyzxw thank you for trying it out and for letting me know how it worked for you :)
Report
finally an app that doesnt throw a paywall or a quiz at you first. hit the panic button mid-meltdown and it just started breathing with me, which is exactly what i needed.
Jobs On The Block
Jobs On The Block
To add, a few decisions I sweated over: the right breathing technique per mode; haptics are permanently OFF in panic mode (vibration can feel threatening mid-panic), there are no breath-holds in he gentlest modes, and we never say "you are safe" — because a panicking brain argues with absolute statements.
The rescue core is completely free, in every mode. I'd genuinely love your feedback especially from anyone who's dealt with panic themselves.
How does the panic fast-lane actually decide which pattern is gentlest for someone, since what feels calming can vary so much from person to person?
Jobs On The Block
@oglu_fak5611 Hi, thanks for the question! You are right, there are lots of breathing patterns that help with panic. We didn't want to make someone pick one while they're panicking, so the fast-lane just goes with the gentlest one that tends to work for most people: 2 seconds in, 4 seconds out. No holding your breath, no vibrations, no text to read. The reason it's a longer breath out than in is that the exhale is the part that actually helps your body settle, and that's pretty consistent across people.
And if you're in the middle of it and it's not working for you, like you feel you can't breathe with it, you can pause and switch to a grounding exercise instead (that one's about your senses, no breathing). So you're not stuck with it.
the panic fast-lane is such a smart move, dropping people straight into the gentlest pattern before their hands are even steady enough to tap through a menu. respect for actually designing for the worst moment instead of a sunny onboarding flow.
Jobs On The Block
@kaz_m80241 thank you very much for your kind words!
Pressed it mid-rush and the panic fast-lane just kicked in instantly, no menus, no setup. Really like how the little animated companion exhales slower than you do, kinda pulls you into rhythm without trying to be clever.
Jobs On The Block
@demirsoyed52821 thanks for trying it out! I'm happy you liked it :)
Just tried the panic fast-lane and the gentle pattern really did slow my breathing within a few cycles. Love that there's nothing to set up first.
Jobs On The Block
@erengldalyzxw thank you for trying it out and for letting me know how it worked for you :)
finally an app that doesnt throw a paywall or a quiz at you first. hit the panic button mid-meltdown and it just started breathing with me, which is exactly what i needed.
Jobs On The Block
@zlemeng6 Thank you! this is exactly what I would want for myself too :)