Having spent a busy week out in the sunshine, I got to thinking about staying at home and those for whom this has become a preference, or should I say a mental necessity. Although we typically think of agoraphobia as being a fear of open spaces, it is medically described as a fear of being in situations where you believe you will be exposed, in danger, or cannot escape.
Pre-Covid agoraphobia affected around 1-2% of the population (slightly more women than men). However, the impact of the pandemic on that number appears not to have been accurately recorded as yet. We all know of people who seem to have ‘disappeared’ from public life, and a number of US newspapers are reporting that there has been a “surge in cases of agoraphobia” (Dr Gary Grosel), and the American Psychological Association believes we now have a mental health crisis with repercussions likely for years to come…yet there are no stats available and, worse, no apparent focus on the problem.
I like to make these blogs light-hearted usually, but I wonder if we should all be dragging our stay-at-home colleagues and friends back into the light, and the office, and the pubs and restaurants, before they become utterly house-bound – not literally dragging of course, maybe use biscuits – to help ensure they don’t become part of the ‘missing’ workers.
As someone who is almost the opposite of agoraphobic (is that possible?), I am still very much aware that many of our friends are suffering. Go find them!