Anxiety has always been a part of my life. Growing up, I had a brother who was diagnosed with autism, which made life a bit more challenging. In early childhood I frequently felt physical sensations of shortness of breath, for which my paediatrician prescribed me with a Ventolin inhaler. In my teen years, when I was having a hard time, I used to play computer games. Gaming gave me the escapism I needed.

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The only problem was it helped in the very short term. When I was growing up, towards the end of my computer science degree at the age of 23, I reached a peak point in terms of my anxiety, where I was under tremendous pressure. It was full of exams, I broke up with an 8-year relationship, and I was involved in a car accident from which I got out unscathed, but I was sure I was about to die. It was a turning point that changed my outlook on life. I realized the distress I was feeling is called anxiety and that it can be treated by psychological treatment, and that CBT is the most effective method.

 

At first, my goal was to get rid of the fear that kept me from sleeping at night and studying during the day. From that moment on, I decided that what I really needed to do was to diminish anxiety altogether. I began to set life goals for myself. not necessarily to achieve them, but to prove myself that I could deal with anxiety. After a long struggle, I was a point away from achieving a degree with honors, but I was able to finish my degree non the less, and in those 3 months, I got back to driving and was also accepted to my first job at Microsoft at the age of 24.

 

Slowly I realized that anxiety is an uninvited visitor of a sort, who comes back to visit at different times. I couldn’t anticipate when it will return. I felt helpless in front of it. It aws hard for me to accept that even though I had tools to handle anxiety, it is very difficult for me to identify its arrival before it would wrack chaos. It was also discouraging to experience anxiety repeatedly. The problem is not really solved, when the same process must be repeated.

 

Even though, I tried to treat anxiety by going back to my therapist or by using online courses or apps, I’ve read many self-help books. It was very hard for me to try to find motivation to continue fighting anxiety. I came to see that even though I was extremely disciplined at that point of my life, I wasn’t able to muster the motivation nor the discipline to handle anxiety. Anxiety often created in me a sense of paralysis. It always overwhelmed me at times I least expected it, and at random ever-changing intensities. Looking for a therapist, finishing the CBT worksheets handed to me by therapists, or the daily use of apps, all made me think less of myself since I wasn’t able to get myself to do it anymore.

 

In time I realized that I was not alone. I learned that a lot of people face the difficulty of identifying anxiety and act to neutralize it when it comes, that it is hard for them to stay in treatment. And in general, they are ashamed of this problem which takes over all areas of their life, as I progressed in my familiarity with anxiety later in life, I realized that the tools handed by therapists or wellness apps to those who suffer from anxiety needs to change and adapt to us. They need to be more accessible, to fit our interests, and the intensity with which we need it to build mental strength. A long-term solution that will allow anyone suffering from anxiety to live their life in the most managed and relaxed way possible.

 

Years later, when going on dates with Assaf, my husband in years to come, we talked about computer games in our teens and what a significant sanctuary it was for us at that age. We realized that something in computer games was addictive in a negative way. Shortly afterwards Assaf opened his psychotherapy clinic and when he consulted with other therapists, they noticed the inconsistency of the millennial generation to persevere with CBT treatments. "But they keep telling us about the computer games they play for hours!" Why is it so hard for them to do just one CBT worksheet once a day?

 

At the time of the first COVID-19 quarantine in Israel, I gave birth to our first son Ethan. Assaf and I found ourselves caring for a newborn baby all alone for a month without any help, due to the quarantine. This was the time when we began to realize that our idea was becoming tangible, that the problem was becoming more and more real. We realized that we have a passion to create a solution to the anxiety problem that will affect people's lives in the long run, even after the Corona will be over. It seemed to be a golden opportunity where more and more people were willing to admit that they suffer from debilitating anxiety and be open to alternative technology solutions that fit their regular habits, like playing mobile games.

 

My own and Assaf’s similar passion for computer games, psychology and education and our understandIng of their power combined with technology - to solve mental problems, felt Supernatural! Inspired by our personal experience we decided to bring our passion and sense of mission and establish a company that will change the lives of countless people for the better by helping them realize their true potential and banishing the unwanted visitor, anxiety, once and for all.