Anchor - PTSD Support

Anchor is an educational mental health support app designed specifically for veterans and individuals living with PTSD and trauma-related conditions. Built with evidence-based DBT and CBT techniques from authoritative sources including Harvard Medical School, Mayo Clinic, the American Psychological Association, and the VA National Center for PTSD, Anchor provides immediate access to coping strategies, crisis resources, and AI-powered support whenever you need it.

KEY FEATURES:

Evidence-Based DBT/CBT Techniques (with Medical Citations)
- Grounding exercises (5-4-3-2-1, Body Scan, Physical Grounding, etc.)
- Breathing techniques (Box Breathing, 4-7-8, Diaphragmatic, etc.)
- Distress tolerance skills (TIPP, ACCEPTS, Self-Soothe, etc.)
- Emotion regulation strategies (PLEASE, Opposite Action, Check the Facts, etc.)
- Interpersonal effectiveness (DEAR MAN, GIVE, etc.)
- Mindfulness practices (Observe, Describe, Participate, etc.)
- Cognitive techniques (Thought Records, Behavioral Activation, etc.)
- All techniques include citations to reputable medical sources

AI Support Assistant
- Real-time technique suggestions based on your emotional state
- Crisis moment guidance with intelligent keyword detection
- Trauma-informed, validating responses powered by OpenAI's GPT-4
- Conversations are sent to OpenAI for processing (see Privacy Policy)
- Quick help buttons for immediate support

Enhanced Mood & Emotion Tracking
- Quick 5-point mood scale for fast check-ins
- Detailed emotion logging with PTSD-appropriate emotion model
- Track primary emotions, intensity, and context
- Identify patterns in hypervigilance, shutdown responses, and emotional states
- Progress charts and trend visualization
- Data export for healthcare providers

24/7 Crisis Resources
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988)
- Veterans Crisis Line
- Crisis Text Line
- Local emergency resources
- Personal safety planning tools

Progress Tracking
- Daily mood logging with progress charts
- Technique effectiveness ratings
- Identify patterns and triggers
- Data export for healthcare providers

Privacy & Security
- All data stored locally on your device
- No cloud storage without your consent
- No tracking or analytics
- HIPAA-aware design
- Secure storage for sensitive information

100% Offline Capable
- All features work without internet
- Access techniques anytime, anywhere
- Crisis resources available offline

DESIGNED FOR:
- Veterans with PTSD
- Trauma survivors
- Individuals in therapy seeking supplemental educational tools
- Anyone learning DBT/CBT skills
- People managing anxiety and stress

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:
Anchor is a self-help and educational tool. It is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not a medical device and does not provide medical services. If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact emergency services or a crisis hotline immediately.

WHY ANCHOR?
Created with input from mental health professionals and trauma survivors, Anchor combines evidence-based techniques with modern technology to provide educational support when you need it most. Whether you're in therapy or managing symptoms on your own, Anchor is your companion for learning coping skills and personal growth.

SUPPORT:
For questions, feedback, or support, visit our GitHub repository or contact us through the app.

Your journey to healing matters. Download Anchor today.

Recent changes:
Notification Reliability Improvements — Fixed an issue where turning off notifications in Settings didn't always stick, and improved how the app tracks reminder scheduling so breathing and mood check-ins keep working reliably even if you haven't opened the app in a while.

Also restored the full variety of breathing reminder messages (150 unique messages), and cleaned up formatting in AI Support chat responses.