Hallo-blog Day 3

 Welcome back to day 3 of Hallo-blog! As you know, not only am I celebrating spooky season, but it's also my 5 year blog-aversary! So I'm reviewing my most read blogs of all time. Today I'm recalling my 3rd most popular blog:

Agoraphobia This blog was written and published by yours truly on October 16, 2017

What's agoraphobia? 

Official definition is: Obsessive, persistent, intense fear of open places.

PubMed (which is the U.S. National Library of Medicine and all articles are peer reviewed a.k.a. factual and legit science or at least pretty darn close) elaborates on this definition:

People who have full-blown, repeated panic attacks can become very disabled by their condition and should seek treatment before they start to avoid places or situations where panic attacks have occurred. For example, if a panic attack happened in an elevator, someone with panic disorder may develop a fear of elevators that could affect the choice of a job or an apartment, and restrict where that person can seek medical attention or enjoy entertainment.

Some people's lives become so restricted that they avoid normal activities, such as grocery shopping or driving. About one-third become housebound or are able to confront a feared situation only when accompanied by a spouse or other trusted person. When the condition progresses this far, it is called agoraphobia, or fear of open spaces.

Early treatment can often prevent agoraphobia, but people with panic disorder may sometimes go from doctor to doctor for years and visit the emergency room repeatedly before someone correctly diagnoses their condition. This is unfortunate, because panic disorder is one of the most treatable of all the anxiety disorders, responding in most cases to certain kinds of medication or certain kinds of cognitive psychotherapy, which help change thinking patterns that lead to fear and anxiety

This blog is a discussion on social anxiety and severe depression disorder and how it affects out ability to leave the house and get things done in public. Perhaps this subject is now more important than ever as we have become too accustomed to staying indoors during quarantine and now may have an impact on how easily we re-integrate back into the world. Here's some information on that topic from the health news today website:

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, people with agoraphobia who have more severe worries during the COVID-19 pandemic may have them for several reasons.

For example, a person with agoraphobia may experience more worries during the current situation due to:

• support being less readily available
• the fact that certain COVID-19 symptoms, such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, may be similar to those of a panic attack
• the fact that hearing words such as “quarantine” and “physical distancing” may trigger fears of being alone and cut off from help
• the general public anxiety and uncertainty about the future
• the increased risk of social isolation and potentially depression
• having even more anxiety than before when out in public

Frightening media stories about COVID-19 also add to the sense of fear that many people with agoraphobia experience. The fact that not all people who have COVID-19 have obvious symptoms is another reason that many people feel more nervous at this time.

These issues are important to pay attention at this time. Please look out for your loved ones as well. Here's some ideas of ways you can help yourself or ideas you can offer to others:

• trying to avoid triggers, such as caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco products
• getting regular exercise
• getting enough sleep each night
• practicing relaxation techniques
• fighting one’s personal inclination to avoid all anxiety-provoking situations

and let's remind ourselves of ways to take care of ourselves in general during this difficult time:

• not following media sources that can increase feelings of anxiety
• joining an online support group or connecting with people digitally
• breathing slowly through the nose when a panic attack is starting
• stretching or meditating often
• eating healthful meals
• getting regular exercise
• getting a full night’s sleep
• setting time to unwind
• engaging in activities and hobbies that reduce anxiety
• setting goals and priorities, which allows routine and enables a person to see what they have accomplished

 Try focusing on the facts, because by understanding the actual risk, people can make the pandemic seem less stressful. There are many good websites for more information about this. I like this page of useful information from the National Institute of Mental Health.

Thanks again so much for stopping by today! Please, feel free to share this blog post online or with your friends and family on social media. You never know how important this information could be for people struggling right now. I'll see you back here again soon!

stuck inside with no way out