HEALTH AND SAFETY

Health and safety

Please read this before you use the app.

Seizure warning

Do not use ZenTrain Studio if you have epilepsy or have ever had a seizure, unless your doctor has said it is safe. Pulsing sounds (binaural beats, isochronic pulses, rhythms) and the moving light of Focus mode can, very rarely, trigger seizures in people who are sensitive to them, including people who have never had one. Stop at once and seek medical help if you notice dizziness, twitching, altered vision, confusion or a loss of awareness. If you are sensitive to light, turn off Focus mode's moving effects in Settings.

Not a medical device

ZenTrain Studio is a sound tool for relaxation, meditation, focus and sleep. It is not a medical device and it does not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or condition. It does not replace a doctor, therapist or medicine: never stop or change a treatment because of it. Research on brainwave entrainment and binaural beats is still limited and its results are mixed; effects differ from person to person and none is promised.

If you have a health condition

Most people can listen safely. If you have a mental health condition (for example psychosis, bipolar disorder, a dissociative disorder, PTSD, severe depression or panic attacks), a sleep disorder, or take medicines or other substances that affect alertness, check with your doctor or therapist first: deep relaxation and meditation can sometimes bring up strong feelings. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian should decide and supervise.

Never while driving or when you must stay alert

Do not listen while driving, cycling, operating machinery, swimming, caring alone for someone who depends on you, or doing anything else that needs your full attention. Sessions can make you very relaxed or sleepy, and can slow your reactions for a while afterwards. Wait until you feel fully alert before you drive.

Breathing exercises

Breathe gently and comfortably, and never strain. If you have a heart condition, a pacemaker or another implanted device, very high or low blood pressure, asthma, COPD or another breathing problem, or are pregnant, ask your doctor before trying breath holds or faster breathing patterns. Breath holds (for example in Box or 4-7-8) are always optional: skip them or make them shorter. Practise sitting or lying down, never in water.

Protect your hearing

Keep the volume just loud enough to hear clearly, especially with headphones. Listening loudly for a long time can damage your hearing for good. If your ears ring, hurt or feel blocked, stop and rest them. If you fall asleep listening, use a low volume and the sleep timer, and consider a speaker instead of headphones.

Sleep and night use

Keep your phone on a stable surface, not under your pillow or covers, and never while it is overheating. Keep your usual alarms. Sessions for deep sleep or lucid dreaming can bring vivid dreams or, rarely, unsettling experiences such as sleep paralysis; if this happens, stop those sessions.

Stop when something feels wrong

Stop listening at once if you feel unwell: dizziness, light-headedness or shortness of breath, headache, nausea, palpitations, anxiety or panic, strong emotions you cannot settle, or anything else that worries you. Seek medical advice if it does not pass.

In an emergency

ZenTrain Studio cannot help in an emergency. If you or someone else is in danger, call your local emergency number. If you are struggling or thinking of harming yourself, contact a crisis line or emergency services now.