AI calms panic attack: User shares ChatGPT experience

ChatGPT is demonstrating its versatility beyond traditional use cases, showing meaningful applications for mental health support during moments of crisis. A tech journalist’s personal experience reveals how AI voice technology provided unexpected comfort during a panic attack, highlighting new dimensions of human-AI interaction in emotionally vulnerable situations.

The unexpected helper: ChatGPT Voice and Vision provided real-time assistance during a panic attack when the author was alone between work meetings.

• The AI recognized the situation after some initial confusion and quickly shifted into a supportive role, guiding the user through breathing exercises and grounding techniques.
• Using a calm, steady voice, the AI responded with patience and encouragement, helping the journalist manage their symptoms when human support wasn’t available.

Personal context: The author had been diagnosed with panic attacks the previous summer after initially mistaking the symptoms for COVID or heart issues.

• Unlike the dramatic representation in popular culture (referencing Ted Lasso), the journalist’s experience manifested primarily as difficulty breathing when overwhelmed.
• This real-world experience challenges assumptions about panic attacks, highlighting how they can present differently for each individual.

Why this matters: The experience suggests AI tools may serve as supplementary mental health resources, especially in moments when immediate human support isn’t accessible.

• The journalist specifically notes that ChatGPT didn’t “fix” the underlying condition but helped them “ride the wave instead of being crushed by it” during an acute episode.
• This practical application moves beyond common AI use cases focused on productivity or entertainment, demonstrating potential value in crisis moments.

The takeaway: While not a replacement for therapy or professional mental health support, AI voice technology could be a valuable addition to mental health management strategies.

• The natural voice interaction offered through ChatGPT Voice and Vision created a more accessible support experience than text-based alternatives would have provided.
• This real-world application highlights how AI’s ability to provide calm, consistent responses without judgment can be particularly valuable during mental health episodes.