Chronically The Sickest 70. Agoraphobia with Sarah Hendrickx @jesshendrickxautism
Jun 13, 2025
In this engaging discussion, guest Sarah Hendrickx, an autistic author and clinician, explores the intricacies of agoraphobia and anxiety. She reveals her personal journey with panic attacks, highlighting how public speaking affected her life. Sarah shares insightful recovery strategies, like tailored CBT and grounding techniques, to manage anxiety. Using humor and personification, she emphasizes that many face similar struggles and encourages listeners to take small steps toward recovery. Her experience and expertise shine through as she demystifies mental health challenges.
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Stress And Biological Changes Amplify Panic
- Chronic stress, travel, performance pressure and perimenopause compounded Sarah's panic.
- Constantly operating under-resourced likely made her system exhaust and lock into avoidance.
Surrendering After Repeated Exposure
- After repeated attempts to expose herself, Sarah surrendered and stopped travelling and speaking for years.
- She relied on her partner as a safe person and lived a very small life for a long time.
Living Constantly Under-Resourced
- Neurodivergent people often start tasks already depleted, making stress harder to bear.
- Long-term under-resourcing can lead the body to force rest via chronic illness or anxiety.
