Agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder, is characterized by an overwhelming fear of
specific places and situations that evoke a sense of entrapment. Triggers encompass various scenarios
like public transportation, open spaces, crowded areas, and lines at stores. The focus here isn't solely
on the specific locations but on the fear associated with the difficulty of escape. Moreover, the
apprehension of experiencing panic attacks in public spaces accompanies this condition, intensifying the
anxiety associated with these situations.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Techniques
CBT stands as the leading treatment for agoraphobia, incorporating patient
education, goal establishment, exposure therapy, and skill enhancement. The primary objective of this
therapy is to empower individuals by equipping them with the tools to manage their anxiety and refrain
from avoiding situations they fear. Exposure techniques gradually acclimate individuals to their feared
scenarios, progressing from visualization exercises to confronting fears with support. This approach
involves experiencing a moderate level of anxiety while remaining in the situation until the anxiety
subsides, emphasizing a graduated exposure approach. However, this therapeutic method demands commitment
and effort, encouraging a shift in mindset from perceiving these challenges as markers of fragility to
embracing them as adventurous opportunities. It emphasizes action despite fear, illustrating that feared
outcomes are improbable and that individuals can learn to tolerate and manage panic.
Concept
The idea entails a mobile app paired with a smartwatch companion app. It focuses
on reclaiming personal freedom. Users can generate a grid-based map and aim to conquer each square by
spending time within those areas, revisiting them multiple times to achieve their goal.
Homepage
The homepage aims to highlight the user's achievements, boosting their sense of
self-efficacy. The initial section features a progress bar indicating the percentage of territory
conquered. Below, it explicitly shows the conquered area measured in square kilometers and the total
time the user spent outside while conquering territories.
The following section provides a bird's-eye view of the map, allowing users to visually and practically
observe the areas they have conquered.
Community Chat
For additional support when needed, there's an anonymous forum divided into
chatrooms, each with a maximum user limit. To access the community support chat, creating an anonymous
account is necessary due to technical reasons. The aim of the chat is to offer mutual support and
encourage users to continue their journey by sharing successful stories from others. This space fosters
a sense of belonging and encourages prosocial behavior, benefiting both members of the community and the
users themselves. As it's an anonymous chat, there's a reporting system available in case of any
misconduct by users.
Conquering a zone
To conquer a zone, users must select a square on the grid map view. Once a
square is chosen, they can view the requirements for conquering it. If the zone has been previously
visited, previous data such as heart rate from the previous session and any notes written will be
visible. After selecting the zone to conquer, the user can get directions to that area.
Upon reaching the area, a dialogue box appears, prompting the user to start the
conquering session. In "conquering mode," the user can monitor their heart rate (collected from the
smartwatch), track their current location within the zone boundaries, and observe the time remaining to
conquer the zone. This screen also allows the user to journal their feelings and emotions. It's
essential to include a button for immediate support, which automatically contacts the selected emergency
contacts from the settings. If the user feels uncomfortable, they can abort the session, receiving quick
directions to return home. In the event of a panic attack or when a high heart rate is detected, a
message is sent to the chosen emergency contacts, alerting them to reach out and provide support.
Configuring the Map Grid
The map grid configuration can be done during the onboarding session or at any
time through the settings page. Setting up the map grid involves choosing a central location that acts
as the grid's focal point. Then, by zooming in or out, the user can adjust the overall size of the grid.
Following this, the user can determine the number of squares within the grid using sliders for both the
x and y axes.
Emergency contacts
Users can effortlessly add emergency contacts by typing their names or numbers
into the search bar. These contacts can be called by the user while they're in the process of conquering
a zone.
Alternatively, the system can reach out to these contacts for support whenever
the user's heart rate surpasses a predetermined threshold, which can be adjusted in the settings.