Anxiety & Stress
Agoraphobia
Fear of situations it would be hard to escape from or get help in: public transport, queues, open spaces, shopping centres, being far from home.
What it can feel like
- Anxiety about leaving home alone
- Avoiding buses, trains, crowds or bridges
- Needing a companion to go out
- Panic symptoms in trapped-feeling places
- A shrinking world as more places get ruled out
Not everyone has every symptom, and you do not need a label to deserve support.
Things that help
Rebuild a map, one edge at a time
Start with a short, low-anxiety trip and repeat it until it feels ordinary, then extend the distance slightly. Frequency matters more than distance.
Stay with the discomfort
Leaving at the first sign of anxiety confirms the fear. Stay a few minutes longer where you safely can, and let the level drop before you finish.
Plan an exit, then don't use it
Knowing a route home or a quiet spot reduces dread. The point is that you stay, not that you leave.
Want to actually do these? Save them to your practices and tick them off as you go.
Add to my practicesWhen to reach for more support
Agoraphobia responds well to CBT with exposure work. Speak to a GP if your world is getting smaller.
Often looked at together
Burnout
Exhaustion that sleep does not fix, built up from prolonged work or caregiving stress. Often paired with detachment from the things you used to care about.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
A persistent, free-floating worry that rarely settles, even when there is nothing specific to worry about. The body stays on alert, so rest feels impossible.
Health Anxiety
Persistent fear of being seriously ill, or of becoming ill, based on bodily sensations and reassurance that never quite lasts.