Grounding for emotional flashbacks
A little light
to come back to.
When a flashback hits, it can feel like the past is happening all over again. You don’t have to find the right words. Start with gentle grounding, then turn to reminders of safety from your own life.
Download
The idea behind Porchlight
Some days, the good
is harder to remember.
A kind word. A moment you felt safe. Something you got through.
They happened. Even when your mind tells a different story.
Porchlight is a small place to keep them.
A light left on, for when you need it.
01 In the lighter moments
Keep a little
of the good.
Write a few words. Add a photo if you like. Save a moment you want your future self to remember.
It doesn’t have to be a big thing.
It only has to mean something to you.
02 Grounding through a flashback
Come back,
one small step at a time.
When even a small decision feels like too much, SOS gives you one prompt at a time. Notice five colors. Feel your feet on the floor. Gently release tension or follow your breathing.
You don’t have to explain what happened. Take the steps that feel possible, and skip a prompt if it doesn’t feel right for you.
03 When the good feels out of reach
Let your own life
remind you.
A difficult moment can make it feel as if nothing has ever been okay. During SOS, you can revisit the words and photos you saved when things felt different.
You don’t have to force yourself to feel positive. Your own experiences can offer another part of the story.
04 Remembering your returns
Coming back
is a win.
Sometimes the win is getting through the next few minutes. When you complete an SOS session, Porchlight logs it as a Return in your calendar.
Look back on the days you found your footing again. The effort it took to come back deserves to be remembered, too.
FAQ
What is grounding?
Grounding is a technique for bringing your attention to the present through what you can see, hear, or feel. In Porchlight, that can mean noticing colors around you or feeling your feet on the floor, one small prompt at a time.
What is a Return?
A Return is a record of a completed SOS session. It appears alongside your affirmations and in your calendar, so you can look back on the moments you came through.
Where are my entries stored?
Your words, photos, and Returns are stored locally on your iPhone. Porchlight doesn’t require an account or upload your entries to a cloud service.
How are my entries protected?
Porchlight opens behind Face ID and locks again when you leave the app. Your entries aren’t shared with other people.
Which devices does Porchlight support?
Porchlight is built for iPhone, running iOS 18 or later.
Is Porchlight a therapy or emergency service?
Porchlight is a tool for self-guided grounding and personal reflection. It doesn’t provide medical care or contact emergency services.
Whenever you need it,
the light is here.
A private place for the good moments.
A gentle way back to them.