With approximately 709 million channels available on my television, I often wonder why on earth I can’t find something to watch. My carefree limited-choice childhood may have been a better way of viewing – four channels were easier to navigate even if it was more restricted.
But every now and then a series pops up that I feel confident indulging in.
Still Up – a new series on Apple TV – scratched that itch. The synopsis provided prior to airing explained the show as being based around two friends (Danny and Lisa) who talk to each other on the phone all night because they’re insomniacs. Anything I can relate to closely that has the potential to make me smile goes to the top of my playlist pretty quickly and being regularly sleepless made this series very appealing.
I’m 4 episodes into the series now and I’m really enjoying it, and i found myself even more engrossed when it was revealed that the male protagonist, Danny, hasn’t left home for several years because of agoraphobia. I wondered how well they’d portray the problem.
With that in mind, there are avenues I’d love to be explored that aren’t yet addressed. First, we still have no idea why they don’t sleep. Second, we still don’t know how they know each other. Third, we don’t know anything about the reasons for Danny’s long-term agoraphobic tendencies.
It’s good to see a wider spectrum of mental health challenges represented on popular tv, but if you’re going to touch on something so debilitating you have to treat it at least partly seriously.
Danny is the first person I’ve found who, like me, hasn’t left home for years. Although he’s fictional, to me it’s important that the snapshot of his agoraphobic life is shown in a relatable but honest way. They touched on the fear he has when opening the front door in the very first episode, and it hit a nerve for me. The thought that the world outside is closing in on you when you’re that afraid is something I’ve also experienced, and it’s terrifying. But later in the series he’s opening the door to strangers and the fear seems to be gone. For me at least, agoraphobia doesn’t grant breaks from the anxiety of my doors threshold and everything that lurks beyond.
Agoraphobia isn’t as simple as most people think. A fear of leaving home or a fear of crowded spaces are the most common misconceptions. Although these symptoms are true, there are many others that come as part of the package and they are often overlooked. Social anxiety is one of them. Never leaving home can create a fear of other people because you just aren’t used to human contact. Environment changes is another. Being sheltered for long periods means the outside world has evolved and you’re unprepared for what you see when you do eventually venture out. Finally there’s the panic that all agoraphobes know is waiting for them. If you’re afraid, then a panic attack could follow at any given moment. As the anxiety rises and you can’t breathe, the fear of the attack only makes it grow. It can be painful, exhausting and upsetting, so we avoid them as much as we can.
Saying that, the story of these two sharing a world that most people sleep through is portrayed really carefully. Scary trips on the night bus, visits to the midnight pharmacy for chicken pox meds, getting your slippers dirty while walking to the shops in them (because thats allowed at night!) – it’s all stuff that insomniacs experience in the darkened world that forms part of their abnormal, restless day. I like that they thought about these things and didn’t cut corners.
I had to wonder – if the production company thought so carefully about the world of an insomniac, why didn’t they think about the agoraphobic reality with the same care and depth?
As I say, I’m only 4 eps in, so more is probably going to be revealed soon, and I hope it touches more on the mental health of Danny and Lisa with a bit of humour carefully placed too.
If you are struggling with your mental health and need support, there is a comprehensive list of helplines, emails, chat services and links on my mental health and suicide prevention support lines page. These organisations can help, and they’re trained to be empathetic and kind. Don’t be afraid to make the call and take the first step.
Thanks for reading 💜
Creative Steph 