Question 1

**What is In The Zone?**

Accepted Answer

In The Zone (ITZ) is a bipolar support app that helps people living with bipolar disorder stay connected with their trusted support circle, such as family, partners, friends, or clinicians. Unlike most bipolar mental health apps that focus only on individual mood tracking, ITZ focuses on shared care, helping people notice mood changes earlier and reach support with less hesitation.

The app was co-designed with more than 200 people with lived experience of bipolar disorder, alongside loved ones and mental health experts. In The Zone is supported by GGZ inGeest and KenBiS, the Netherlands’ largest mental health network and bipolar expertise center.

Question 2

**What does it mean to be "In The Zone"?**

Accepted Answer

Being "in the zone" refers to a more stable period between mood episodes, when your sleep, energy, thinking, and behaviour feel closer to your usual self. Clinicians often call this the euthymic state.

People with bipolar disorder can spend significant time in this stable zone through treatment, routines, self-management skills, and social support. The goal of bipolar care is not to eliminate all emotions or mood changes, but to help people maintain, or reliably return to, a stable baseline.

Question 3

**Is In The Zone free?**

Accepted Answer

Yes. In The Zone is currently free during the pilot phase.

There are no advertisements in the app, and ITZ does not sell personal data to third parties.

Question 4

**Who is In The Zone for?**

Accepted Answer

In The Zone is designed for:

-   people living with bipolar disorder who want a simple way to ask for support
-   loved ones who want clearer ways to notice and respond to mood changes
-   clinicians and care teams who want better continuity between appointments

Only the primary user, the person living with bipolar disorder, can manage their "tribe", their support circle. Loved ones and clinicians can only join by invitation.

Question 5

**What is a "tribe" at In The Zone?**

Accepted Answer

A tribe is your trusted support circle inside the app.

People living with bipolar disorder can invite up to five trusted people, such as a partner, family member, close friend, or clinician. When someone shares that they are “not OK,” their tribe receives a simple signal and a clear way to respond.

The goal is to make support easier to activate early, before situations escalate into crisis.

Question 6

**What can tribe members see and do in ITZ?**

Accepted Answer

Tribe members can see information that helps them understand how you are doing and respond when support is needed.

They can see:

-   your current mood state
-   the date of your last check-in
-   your full mood history / mood calendar
-   the initials of fellow tribe members

They cannot see your profile details, medical information, or the full names of other tribe members.

Tribe members can support you by sending a check-in or a supportive message.

They are not expected to be clinicians, diagnose, treat, or solve everything. Their role is to offer timely human support when they can.

In The Zone is not a crisis service. If someone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services or local crisis support.

Question 7

**What does ITZ not replace?**

Accepted Answer

In The Zone is not a crisis service and does not replace therapy, medication, psychiatric treatment, or emergency care.

The app is designed to complement existing support by helping people communicate earlier and more easily between care moments.

Question 8

**What if I'm in a crisis? Can In The Zone help?**

Accepted Answer

In The Zone is not a crisis service.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 112 (Netherlands/EU) or your local emergency number.

For suicide prevention support in the Netherlands, contact 113 via phone or chat at 113.nl.

The app is designed to help people reach their support circle earlier, before situations become emergencies. It does not replace crisis lines, emergency services, or psychiatric care.

Question 9

**How can I support someone with bipolar?**

Accepted Answer

Start small and specific.

Support is often most helpful when it feels clear, consistent, and easy to access, not only during a crisis.

Helpful ways to support someone include:

-   agreeing on a private signal they can send when they are struggling
-   checking in regularly, not only when things seem bad
-   learning their personal early warning signs
-   asking what kinds of support feel helpful, and what does not help
-   reducing pressure to explain everything in the moment

In The Zone can help create shared signals and regular check-ins which helps increase communication and identify early mood shifts. More clarity, shared expectations, and earlier communication can make support feel less overwhelming for everyone involved.

Question 10

**Why do people with bipolar disorder struggle to ask for help?**

Accepted Answer

It is often not about “not wanting support.”

During depression, even sending a message can feel exhausting. During hypomania or mania, a person may not fully realise that anything is wrong. Across both states, many people fear being judged, misunderstood, dismissed, or worrying the people around them.

Many people also describe feeling tired of repeatedly explaining bipolar disorder to others who do not fully understand it.

This is why low-friction, pre-arranged ways of signalling support can feel safer and easier than having to explain everything from scratch in the moment. In The Zone helps make it easier to reach out and get support sooner, without saying it all. With clear signals, you can help your loved ones know when to step in.

Question 11

**Where is In The Zone available?**

Accepted Answer

You can download the **In The Zone** app in the [Apple App Store](https://liveinthezone.eu/go/faq-for-apple-app-store-br50) and the [Google Play Store](https://liveinthezone.eu/go/faq-for-google-play-store-glv1), in English. We are considering other translations at the moment!

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