How this pandemic is adversely affecting my "super power":
- increased anxiety and social distancing measures are limiting my exposure therapy. Therefore, I'm losing progress I've spent years building up
- I can no longer reason against my agoraphobia: outside IS scary
1/ https://twitter.com/CalculatingMind/status/1248299828091764736
- increased anxiety and social distancing measures are limiting my exposure therapy. Therefore, I'm losing progress I've spent years building up
- I can no longer reason against my agoraphobia: outside IS scary
1/ https://twitter.com/CalculatingMind/status/1248299828091764736
- services I depend on are now busy and less accessible (i.e. online groceries, crisis lines)
- constant discussion about what people are going to do "when this is all over" is personally disheartening. I will almost certainly be less capable of leaving home than before.
2/
- constant discussion about what people are going to do "when this is all over" is personally disheartening. I will almost certainly be less capable of leaving home than before.
2/
- a significant increase in panic attacks due to external factors is causing me to feel less secure at home than usual. Typically I can count on feeling safe at home. Not right now.
- I'm lacking usual supports and doing worse, while also having to offer more of myself.
3/
- I'm lacking usual supports and doing worse, while also having to offer more of myself.
3/
One major challenge is how people are talking to me. People have every right to be shaken right now but it is hard to stomach it when people ask me questions like, "how do you do stay home all day without going nuts?" Or say things like, "I couldn't live like you for years!"
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The assumption that this situation is easy for people who are agoraphobic is misguided. Not everyone with agoraphobia feels safest at home. And for people like me who are, this situation poses unique challenges.
Like most people, I am struggling more than usual. Be kind.
/end
Like most people, I am struggling more than usual. Be kind.
/end