# Lacen — Real Recovery Stories — Hope & Healing, Personalized > Personalized recovery stories and journaling for anxiety and depression. (iPhone/iPad app by AthenaMachina, LLC.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lacen-real-recovery-stories/id6761865840 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [AthenaMachina, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1891850847) - Category: Health & Fitness, Lifestyle - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.86/5 from 14 App Store ratings · 5 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 15.1 · 76 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2026-04-17 - Data updated: 2026-08-11 - Monetization: subscription - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lacen-real-recovery-stories/id6761865840/reviews.md ## What is Lacen? I built Lacen for my anxiety. Here's what I wish I'd had and believe can help you: Minutes each day to calm you mind and track your recovery. Breathing exercises, guided journaling, and 1000+ success stories from people who've been where you are — personalized to what you're going through. Techniques grounded in positive psychology — the research-backed science of what helps people flourish, developed at Harvard, Yale, and UPenn. Real accounts from real people who faced loneliness, brain fog, feeling overwhelmed, and dark seasons, and found their way back. No AI advice. No clinical worksheets. Just proof that recovery is possible. HOW IT WORKS 1. Complete a short onboarding questionnaire 2. Get matched with stories for your specific experience 3. 5 new stories daily on how people have overcome anxiety and depression 4. Guided journal prompts to help you think from fresh, hopeful perspectives REAL STORIES FROM REAL PEOPLE Every story in Lacen comes from someone who has been where you are — real accounts found across the web from people who: • Found their way back to clarity after long COVID brain fog • Broke the doomscrolling cycle and reclaimed their calm • Moved past loneliness and rebuilt meaningful connections Each story includes a summary and a direct link to the original source — so you can hear it in their own words. BUILT ON POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY • Hope Theory — See real pathways others have taken • Character Strengths — Discover what's already working in your life • Self-Compassion — Treat yourself the way you'd treat a friend • Broaden-and-Build — Positive experiences expand what you believe is possible This isn't about fixing what's wrong. It's about building on what's right. DAILY JOURNALING Guided prompts help you notice your own progress, name your wins, and build on your strengths. Includes a "burn mode" for when you need to write it out and let it go. BREATHING EXERCISES Guided cyclic sighing — a Stanford-studied technique shown to be the most effective breathing method for calming the nervous system. WHY LACEN IS DIFFERENT Most wellness apps give you meditation timers or chatbot advice. Lacen gives you something more powerful: proof. When you read about someone who felt exactly what you feel — and made it through — something shifts. We're not broken. We're in a hard season. And people like us got through it. Lacen requires an active subscription to use its features. Monthly and annual plans available. Cancel anytime. PRIVACY & SAFETY Lacen does not diagnose, treat, or cure any condition. It is a wellness app that delivers curated stories and positive psychology exercises. Your journal entries are private and stored securely. We never sell your data. Terms of Use: https://athenamachina.com/lacen/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://athenamachina.com/lacen/privacy-policy If you're in crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) or your local emergency services. ## Key features - Daily personalized recovery stories - Guided journaling prompts - Breathing exercises (cyclic sighing) - Positive psychology techniques - User-curated success stories - Burn mode for journaling ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Lacen Annual | $59.99 | per year | | Lacen Monthly | $7.99 | per month | | Lacen Annual | $44.99 | per year | ## Recent user reviews (5 of 5) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lacen-real-recovery-stories/id6761865840/reviews.md ### 5/5 — great! *2026-05-08* Great app with real, relatable recovery stories. Lacen makes it easier to feel less alone and stay motivated by hearing from people who have actually been through it. Simple, supportive, and genuinely helpful ### 5/5 — helps me relax *2026-05-07* going to chill out about work more ### 5/5 — I love the app! *2026-05-06* I like this app already! Can you add a feature for a reader to narrate the stories? ### 5/5 — Really loving this app! *2026-05-06* I’ve been getting in the habit of journaling, and I feel like I’m thinking more happier because of these prompts. And I’ve always listened to success stories to help me get out of bad thought spirals. Really glad there’s an app that aggregates all these stories ### 5/5 — Helps me take a break. *2026-04-29* Frequent reminders to stop and check on myself. Breathe a little and calm down. Love the stories of others who have conquered what I am going through. 10/10 ## Frequently asked questions about Lacen ### What is Lacen? Lacen is a wellness app that provides personalized recovery stories and guided journaling prompts to help users manage anxiety and depression. It focuses on positive psychology techniques and real-life accounts of overcoming challenges. ### How does Lacen personalize stories? After a short onboarding questionnaire, Lacen matches users with success stories relevant to their specific experiences, offering 5 new stories daily on how others have overcome similar issues. ### What kind of exercises does Lacen offer? Lacen includes guided journaling prompts designed to help users notice progress and build on strengths, as well as guided cyclic sighing breathing exercises, a Stanford-studied technique for calming the nervous system. ### Does Lacen use AI for advice? No, Lacen explicitly states it does not use AI advice. All stories are real accounts from real people who have shared their recovery journeys. ### What are the subscription costs for Lacen? Lacen offers monthly and annual subscription plans. The monthly plan is $7.99, and there are two annual options: $44.99 and $59.99. ### Can I cancel my Lacen subscription? Yes, you can cancel your Lacen subscription at any time. Both monthly and annual plans are available for purchase. ### Is Lacen suitable for all ages? Lacen has an age rating of 12+, indicating it is intended for users aged 12 and older. It is a wellness app and does not diagnose or treat any medical conditions. ### How often is Lacen updated? The latest version of Lacen is 1.3.3, and it was last updated on June 17, 2026. This suggests a consistent update schedule from the developer. ## Version history (last 4 releases) ### 1.3.3 — 2026-06-17 Fixed bugs regarding signing in and signing out ### 1.3.2 — 2026-05-09 * Added a new Accomplishments page. This includes a streak program and a contribution graph to view your progress! * Fixed a bug with journal streaks * The stories' font and spacing make it a lot more readable ### 1.1.0 — 2026-04-22 Added journal entries to your favorites list, so you can look back on what you've written ### 1.0 — 2026-04-17 No release notes. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-11.*