What to do if You Think You Have Agoraphobia
Last Updated on July 2, 2021
“A travel blogger with agoraphobia” sounds like an oxymoron or the set-up to a really wacky joke! But agoraphobia is no joke and anybody can experience it– even people who want to be travel bloggers! In this article, we’ll learn more about agoraphobia, what it is, and how you can overcome it so you can enjoy the career of your dreams!
What is Agoraphobia?
Like many mental health disorders, agoraphobia is often misunderstood. Many people who have heard this term before believe that it’s simply a fear of going outside. But that’s not necessarily true. In reality, agoraphobia shares some similarities with social anxiety because people who struggle with both of these conditions experience extreme anxiety when confronted with social situations. At the core, agoraphobia is the fear of being trapped in a situation that you can’t escape.
That’s a very simplistic one-liner that can help us get the gist of this condition, but it’s important to be aware that the symptoms and specifics of agoraphobia can be as unique as the people who struggle with it. For example, some people with agoraphobia may be afraid of small, enclosed spaces such as cars, stairwells, or elevators. Others who struggle with this condition may be triggered by large, open spaces such as shopping malls, movie theaters, or big-box stores where lots of people shop. For someone with agoraphobia, both types of spaces can be threatening in different ways.
To say that agoraphobia can be inconvenient for a travel blogger is putting it mildly, to say the least! As a travel blogger, you will often need to hop on a plane, walk through airports, or use unconventional travel methods to reach your destination. While traveling, you may also want to explore new experiences such as swimming, paddle boarding, or hiking, and all of these adventures can take you to spaces that may be uncomfortable for you. Jetting off to a fun destination or paddle-boarding on an azure sea may sound exciting, but agoraphobia can suck all the fun out of that experience. So, if you’re an aspiring travel blogger and you’re struggling with agoraphobia, you may want to seek help so you can enjoy the life you want!
Photo by Jeremy Perkins on Unsplash
How Can I Get Help For Agoraphobia?
If you think you have agoraphobia, taking the Mind Diagnostics’ Agoraphobia test is a good first step. This easy, free, and confidential test will help you evaluate your symptoms and learn more about agoraphobia. When you complete the test, you will receive some information about your results and what they mean. While this test is not meant to serve as a replacement for a professional diagnosis, it can help you learn more about the symptoms you’re experiencing and empower you to seek help in the future. If you feel nervous about speaking to your doctor or a mental health professional, you may feel more confident if you’re able to say something clear and concise like, “I think I have agoraphobia and here’s why.”
If you do decide that you want to seek help after taking this test, the test can give you a list of resources– such as licensed therapists in your area– who will be able to support you. The test can also provide some information about the next steps, treatment plans, and how to find the therapist who’s right for you. Seeking help for agoraphobia might sound like a daunting process, but if these symptoms are holding you back, it’s important to get help right away. If agoraphobia goes untreated, it can become so severe that many people feel unable to leave their houses. But that doesn’t have to happen to you! You can get help and reclaim control from your agoraphobia so you can jet off to a new adventure with ease!
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