I created an Anxiety Lamp. When someone is having an anxiety attack, the best thing they can do is take deep breaths. My project is a tool that will guide a user through square breathing. Square breathing helps with stress reduction and anxiety management by focusing on your breath and rhythm. Square breathing is done by breathing in for four seconds, holding for four seconds, and then releasing the breath for four seconds.

I have created a lamp using a frosted glass sphere and an Arduino. The outputs are lights and sound. The lights will start off and then slowly grow brighter, hold for four seconds, and then dim again. As this is happening, the speaker will have a soft clicking sound to keep the rhythm and indicate the seconds.

Supplies

Adafruit Circuit Playground Arduino + necessary cords
Battery pack
Glass globe shade (https://tinyurl.com/4a3ms7e9)
Conductive thread
Mini popsicle sticks
Silver paint
Paint brushes
Scissors
Hot glue gun + sticks
Scotch tape (not pictured)

Step 1: Assembling the Base

I began by creating the base of the lamp. I traced the bottom of the shade on a piece of paper and used it as a guide for my popsicle sticks. Then I placed the popsicle sticks around the circle and glued them together first as groups of three, and then glued those groups together to create the basic structure.

Step 2: Reinforcing the Base

After I was satisfied with the shape and height of the popsicle sticks I reinforced them together. I cut popsicle sticks in half and glued them in every large gap. I wanted the base to be tall enough to fit the battery pack underneath so I placed the shade in to test the height and if it could bear the weight. Then, I reinforced it more with hot glue on the inside. I did two thick layers of glue to make sure the popsicle sticks wouldn't break apart with the weight of the shade.

Step 3: Painting the Base

Next, I painted it. I chose metallic silver paint because I wanted it to look similar to metal and I wanted the conductive thread to somewhat blend in. I did two coats on the whole base, inside and outside.

Step 4: Creating the Shelf

Next, I used scotch tape to create a shelf for the Arduino. I wanted the Arduino to be inside the shade so it lit it up brightly. But, I wanted to be able to remove the Arduino to program it again. I used several layers of tape to cover 3/4 of the opening. I left enough space open so the Arduino could easily slide in and out. I also put tape the opposite side of the tape so that it was not sticky inside of the shade and the Arduino wouldn't get stuck.

Step 5: Adding the Arduino and Conductive Thread

Next, I attached the conductive thread to the Arduino. In my code, A4 controlled the light and A3 controlled the sound. I wrapped the thread 4 times around the loop to make sure it would always be touching the metal. I then weaved both sides of the thread around the opposite sides of the lamp base wrapping the thread around the popsicle sticks. I made sure the two threads did not touch each other.

Step 6: Finishing

I slid the Arduino onto the tape shelf and carefully turned it right side up. And there we go! We have a lamp.

Touching one side of the base (making sure you're touching the conductive thread) will make the light turn on and touching the other side will make the sound turn on. When no hands are touching it, the sound stops and the light finishes its cycle and then remains off.

You can customize this lamp by painting the base a different color or making an entirely different base. You can also change the color of the light. I chose blue to make it feel calming, but the Arduino provides several color options.

Step 7: Code

Here is my code. (https://makecode.com/_7xD2Lo6hRgYd)

I have timed out the seconds of the light cycle and the sound. With this code, when A3 and A4 are not being pressed, the light and sound are off. However, you could alter it so the lamp remains on the entire time while the battery pack is on.