Talking to AI helped her be a calmer, better mom — so she vibe-coded a web app to help others emotionally reset

When Karima Williams felt overwhelmed by her emotions, she chose not to confide in friends or seek therapy. Instead, she turned to Claude, an AI chatbot from Anthropic. The 34-year-old mother from Maryland found it easier to express herself without feeling like she was burdening her loved ones. This initial use of AI as a personal emotional outlet soon blossomed into something more significant: Crash Out Diary, a web application designed for emotional offloading. Williams, an account director at a marketing agency, developed the app to assist others in managing their emotions. The free, anonymous platform does not retain messages unless users opt to create an account. Unlike conventional chatbots, Crash Out Diary emphasizes single interactions. Users send a message, receive a motivational response, and are then guided through activities like tapping games or breathing exercises to help them regain their composure. Describing the concept of 'crashing out' as an emotional unraveling, Williams explains, "You're dealing with a lot of stuff at one time and you're having an external reaction." Her social media promotion of the app gained traction, amassing over two million views on Instagram since its launch in April. To date, the app has facilitated approximately 50,000 emotional reset sessions. Initially, Williams sought Claude's help to navigate emotions she felt uncomfortable sharing with others. Balancing work pressures and unresolved issues with a former boss, she utilized notes from her life coach to guide her discussions with the AI. Williams would prompt, "Ok, how do we calm myself down?" The warm, reassuring responses from Claude helped her organize her thoughts, providing clarity that she often didn't receive from friends. The on-demand nature of AI also appealed to her. "There's no inappropriate time to talk to it," Williams noted, emphasizing the freedom to express herself without worrying about repetition in her conversations with friends. This support system has ultimately made her a more attentive parent, allowing her to tackle her insecurities about motherhood and focus better on her son after stressful workdays. Williams has integrated AI into everyday parenting, using it to identify bugs they find at home and to learn about plants and animals during nature walks. When she began developing the Crash Out Diary app, she had little knowledge of product structuring or backend setup. By asking Claude to explain concepts in simpler terms, she was able to navigate the technical aspects of app development, turning to the chatbot for assistance with product requirement documents, code review, and pitch deck creation. While the learning curve was steep, Williams found it rewarding, stating, "I'm learning at the same time as I'm building." She plans to expand Crash Out Diary, incorporating new features based on user feedback and aiming for a launch on Apple's App Store. Throughout the process, she enjoyed moments of humor as Claude mimicked her dramatic tone, making the experience both productive and enjoyable. In her view, AI prompting should be a fundamental skill for households, emphasizing its versatility beyond app creation. Williams believes it enhances thinking, planning, and even gardening skills, showcasing the broad potential of AI in everyday life.