💜HoldOff Legal & Mental Health Disclaimer

🚨Critical Mental Health Disclaimer

❓What Is HoldOff, Really?

HoldOff is a relationship awareness app designed to help you pause and reflect before sending messages when emotions run high. It uses pattern recognition to flag language commonly seen in mental health struggles (like rejection sensitivity, anxiety spirals, or attachment issues), but it does this with a clear understanding: pattern recognition is not diagnosis.

HoldOff was created by Stacy Ann Martin, a person with lived experience of ADHD, rejection sensitive dysphoria, and relationship communication challenges. She built HoldOff to help herself and others think twice before sending messages that might escalate conflict.

👤About Stacy Ann Martin (HoldOff Creator)

Who Stacy Ann Martin is NOT:

• A licensed therapist (LCSW, LMFT, LPC, PhD, etc.)
• A psychiatrist or medical doctor
• A psychologist or clinical researcher
• A certified mental health professional of any kind

Who Stacy Ann Martin IS:

• A person with lived experience of ADHD and rejection sensitive dysphoria
• Someone who has struggled with relationship spirals and emotional dysregulation
• A developer who created HoldOff to help others in similar situations
• Committed to transparency about her limitations
• Dedicated to basing HoldOff on clinical research, not personal opinion alone

🔍Pattern Detection Disclaimer

What the System Does

HoldOff uses pattern recognition to flag language that commonly appears in:

• Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)
• Anxiety-driven spirals
• Avoidant attachment responses
• Emotional dysregulation patterns
• Perfectionism rumination
• Other common mental health presentations

What It Does NOT Do

• Does NOT diagnose — Flags are observations, not diagnoses
• Does NOT predict outcomes — Pattern recognition ≠ certainty
• Does NOT replace professional assessment — Only a licensed professional can diagnose
• Does NOT guarantee accuracy — Some flags will be false positives or misses

How to Use Flags Responsibly

1. Pause & reflect — Take time to consider why the message triggered
2. Don't shame yourself — Mental health patterns are neurological, not character flaws
3. Seek professional help if needed — If patterns are interfering with relationships, talk to a therapist
4. Use as awareness, not diagnosis — "This looks like RSD" ≠ "I have RSD"
5. Trust your judgment — You can override any flag and send anyway

📋Terms of Service (Summary)

By Using HoldOff, You Agree That:

• HoldOff is a tool for personal reflection, not professional care
• You will seek professional help if mental health concerns persist
• You understand the app's limitations and disclaimers
• You won't use HoldOff as a substitute for therapy or medical advice
• You accept responsibility for messages you send
• Pattern flags are suggestions, not diagnoses

Appropriate Use

You agree NOT to use HoldOff to:

• Manipulate or control others' behavior
• Avoid genuine communication in relationships
• Self-diagnose mental health conditions
• Delay seeking professional help for serious concerns

No Professional Relationship

Using HoldOff does not create a therapist-patient, counselor-client, or doctor-patient relationship. Stacy Ann Martin is not your therapist, counselor, or doctor.

🔐Privacy Policy (Summary)

Data We Collect (Minimally)

• Locally stored: Message drafts, contact lists (stored on your device)
• Optionally synced: Encrypted pattern data (if you enable backup)
• Analytics: General App usage (anonymized, not tied to your identity)

Data We DO NOT Collect

• Your full message content (unless you explicitly enable backup)
• Personal information about your contacts
• Location data
• Browsing history
• Mental health diagnoses

Data Sharing

Your mental health data is never shared with third parties without explicit consent.

HoldOff may use these services:

• Stripe for payments (if you upgrade to Premium)
• Render for backend infrastructure
• Anthropic Claude API for pattern detection (anonymized only)

Your Rights

• You own all message data you create
• You can delete your data at any time
• You can request all your data (right to know)
• You can export your mental health insights to share with a therapist

✅User Agreement & Consent

By using HoldOff, you acknowledge and agree to all of the following:

If You're in Crisis Right Now

Do not rely on HoldOff alone. If you're having thoughts of self-harm, suicide, or a mental health emergency:

• Call 988 (US Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) — 24/7, free, confidential
• Text "HELLO" to 741741 (Crisis Text Line)
• Go to your nearest Emergency Room
• Call 911

⚠️Limitation of Liability

We Are Not Liable For:

• Mental health crises or deterioration
• Relationship outcomes or conflicts
• Misinterpretation of patterns flagged by the app
• Messages you choose to send
• Any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages

🆘Mental Health Resources

Crisis Support (24/7, Free)

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (US): Call 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org/chat
• Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741
• International Association for Suicide Prevention: iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres
• Emergency Services: Call 911 (US) or your local emergency number

Finding a Therapist

• Psychology Today Therapist Finder: psychologytoday.com
• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (referrals to local treatment)
• TherapyDen or BetterHelp: Online therapy platforms
• Your Insurance Provider: Check your mental health coverage

ADHD & RSD-Specific Resources

• ADDitude Magazine: additudemag.com — ADHD research and support
• CHADD: chadd.org — Support groups and resources
• Russell Barkley (RSD Research): Videos and articles on emotional dysregulation

Relationship & Communication Support

• The Gottman Institute: Research-based relationship advice
• Non-Violent Communication (NVC): cnvc.org
• Attachment Theory Resources: Understanding your attachment style

💜Our Commitment to You

HoldOff was built by someone who's been there—someone who's spiraled, someone who's hurt people she loves through impulsive texts, someone who knows what it feels like to feel too much and say it wrong. We get it.

But we also know that an app isn't a therapist. No algorithm can replace real professional support. So we're being transparent about what HoldOff is and isn't, we're basing everything on clinical research, and we're directing you to real help when you need it.

HoldOff is here to help you pause. The rest is up to you.

You deserve support. And you deserve to be okay.