Sift —

Somatic Crisis Relief App

Zero-Friction Grounding for Acute Anxiety & Executive Freeze

  • Role: Lead UX/UI Designer (End-to-End Capstone)

  • Timeline: 8 Weeks

  • Tools: Figma, Qualitative Interviewing, Somatic Frameworks

  • Target Audience: Neurodivergent adults (ADHD/OCD) experiencing acute psychological distress 

Overview

Modern mental health apps assume the user is calm—demanding that overwhelmed brains read dense screens, fill out reflective journals, or log symptom data. But during acute panic or sensory overload, executive function locks up entirely.

Sift is a textless somatic utility designed to bypass high-level cognitive processing. It delivers immediate nervous system de-escalation through fluid, low-stimulation physical micro-interactions.

The Problem vs. Reality

Standard App Assumptions

  • Expects reflective, text-heavy journaling.

  • Requires multi-step menu navigation.

  • Relies on precise drag-and-drop actions.

Crisis State Reality

  • Forced text inputs reignite ruminative spirals and secondary fatigue.

  • Executive lock-up makes complex processing physically unavailable.

  • Shaky hands and task freeze impair fine motor control.

  • 30% of adults with ADHD/OCD present with acute executive lock-up during spirals.

  • 78% of users report secondary digital fatigue from complex app structures mid-crisis.

Qualitative Insights & Directives

From 6 semi-structured interviews with neurodivergent participants and clinical experts (Psychiatric NP):

  • Insight 1 (Text Box Aversion): Open text prompts trap users in over-analysis.

    • Directive: Strip out all non-mandatory text forms.

  • Insight 2 (Digital Purging): Overstimulated users instinctively crave physically erasing visual clutter.

    • Directive: Build touch mechanics where physical swiping dissolves shapes.

  • Insight 3 (Somatic Reactivity): Shaky hands make standard tap targets unusable.

    • Directive: Expand interactive touch coverage to 80% of the screen canvas.

Personas

Addressing Dual Stress Profiles

  • Elliot (Hyperactive / Restless Mind): Needs a kinetic outlet to rapidly scribble away visual noise and discharge physical tension without typing.

  • Nadia (Hypoactive / Frozen Mind): Needs low-stimulation, press-and-hold interactions to gently break physical task paralysis without making decisions.

The Solution

Rather than forcing overwhelmed users to navigate choices, Sift opens with 1-Tap Direct Access straight into a single adaptive exercise.

  • Release Path (Restless Minds): Rapid scribbling and sweeping gestures physically dissolve visual shapes to discharge kinetic energy.

  • Reset Path (Frozen Minds): Low-effort central press-and-hold mechanics provide a sensory anchor to break task paralysis.

  • Visual Ergonomics: Uses low-contrast muted palettes, soft typography, and smooth cross-fade animations to prevent sensory shock.