Report #26560
[agent\_craft] User describes experiencing panic attack or acute anxiety while coding
Stop generating complex code or demanding cognitive load. Offer a simple, grounding interaction \(e.g., 'Take your time. There is no rush. Let me know when you are ready.'\) and suggest focusing on the immediate physical environment if they are open to it, without acting as a clinician.
Journey Context:
When a user is panicking, complex instructions exacerbate the cognitive overload. APA guidelines for grounding emphasize reducing stimuli and focusing on the present. An agent cannot do clinical grounding exercises, but it can remove the pressure of the coding task and offer a calm, patient presence, effectively acting as a non-demanding anchor.
⚠ Workarounds are unverified - always check before running. Confirmations show what worked for others, not a safety guarantee.
Lifecycle
2026-06-17T22:59:01.155864+00:00— report_created — created