When Shiloh Sevin was 9 years old, she started having panic attacks while at sleepovers with friends.
Her parents had divorced when she was younger, and the stress became overwhelming.
She had trouble breathing during school and found herself constantly fidgeting. Soon, her symptoms began occurring daily.
Sevin often needed to take breaks from her 4th grade class to visit the nurse’s office.
Mental health and wellness support
Sevin’s mother, Hope Sanders, sought therapy for her daughter.
Sevin began sessions with Alana K. Miller-Clayton, PhD, a psychologist for Kaiser Permanente in Atlanta.
Miller-Clayton taught Sevin breathing exercises and stress management techniques, and introduced her to the Calm app.
Digital app an ‘extension of therapy’
Calm is a sleep and meditation app that can lower stress and anxiety.
“The app can be an extension of therapy,” Miller-Clayton said. “The Calm app, along with therapy, can provide kids support and structure when practicing their coping skills, allowing them to feel more comfortable.”
The app is available to Kaiser Permanente members at no extra cost. Members 13 and older can download and use it on their own. Younger members may use it under the supervision of a clinician. Sanders accessed the Calm app through kp.org and started using it with her daughter.
The sleep stories and calming techniques within the Calm Kids section helped Sevin manage her anxious feelings. She used the short meditation exercises when she felt overwhelmed. And she said using the app helped her deal with her parents’ divorce and social interactions at school.
“The Calm app has different types of exercises,” Sevin said. “They are easy to click through. They helped me get back into breathing. Even if I wasn’t having an anxiety attack, it helped me fall asleep. The sleep and meditation exercises calmed me down.”
Sanders said she was happy her daughter benefited from Miller-Clayton’s guidance and the Calm app.
“Having her talk to somebody unbiased about what she’s feeling has been really good, and being able to stay with the same therapist for all this time has been amazing,” Sanders said.
