Would an app specifically for agoraphobia help anyone?
Hi All!
I've posted here before asking if anyone uses apps to help with exposures, and I've decided to explore creating an agoraphobia-specific app. I noticed there’s already one on the market, but it has terrible ratings, and you apparently need a referral to access it or something...?
If this sounds interesting to you, please check out the prototype I made here:
https://forms.gle/gLDes3mMVp4j1z7v8
Here’s a bit about my story and what inspired me to work on this:
I’ve been struggling with, and partially recovered from, agoraphobia over the past 10 years after getting very ill in China. For a long time, I couldn’t leave the house because I was terrified of getting sick. Somehow, my anxiety and illness became so intertwined that every time I left, I did get sick, which triggered a panic attack, and the cycle kept repeating. I’m sure this will sound familiar to a lot of you!
I started seeing improvement when I forced myself to do things I felt obligated to do, which eventually led to intentional exposures. But my progress plateaued for a while, and it wasn’t until I began a specific CBT journaling process, before and after exposures, that I started feeling more like my old self. Reading stories and getting ideas from others in similar situations on here also gave me a lot of comfort.
This inspired me to create an app prototype that guides users through the journaling process I found most helpful. It also includes community features so people can share successes and tips that work for them. If I can get enough people signed up, I’ll move forward with building the app, hopefully with your feedback!
Posted Jan 4, 2025, 8:32 PM UTC