I struggled to find the right topic for my 1st blog post. (OMG THIS IS EXCITING!) I thought about doing a cute little intro, but decided to pass on that because it's boring and expected! Instead, I’ve decided to talk about something a bit more serious…

I’m claustrophobic, y’all! 

If you don’t know, Claustrophobia is “an anxiety disorder that causes an intense fear of enclosed spaces.” Being packed into an elevator, taking underground trains, and events with large crowds are enough to drive me to tears. To be honest, I haven’t taken the Metro in over three years. For the most part, my diagnosis doesn’t affect my day-to-day life. I WFH and use Uber or Capitol Bike Share to get around. And in the event that I HAVE to get on an elevator… I can, but I won’t like it!

Some of you might be thinking, “How can you be claustrophobic and live in a small space?” This is a valid question. And let me tell that pre-pandemic, I didn’t think much of it! Basically, when I choose to be in my studio apartment, I never have any issues with the size. 490-square-feet is a comfortable amount of space for a single person, but when your anxiety is agitated and there was literally no place to go (like in a global pandemic), my only option was to be at home… in a tiny box…alone! CUE THE PANIC ATTACKS.

Add that to people's obsession with trying to make “small spaces” feel bigger… UGH! Needless to say, I wasn’t in a good place. So I decided to call on the tools that I learned in therapy and found ways to distract myself. I started taking daily walks to Ace Hardware, got an emotional support dog (Hey, Sal!), and I started Imani At Home!

That's right, one of the biggest reasons I started Imani At Home was to distract myself from the stress of having to be inside. It gave me a reason to connect with others, share my love of design, and keep myself busy. My fight (and I’m not sure if that is the right term but w/e) with Claustrophobia has been long… about 7 years, but everyday it gets a little easier. I learn to cope, and sometimes I take an elevator without crying and that is what I call a success!

As you can tell, Imani At Home The Blog will be a more open and personal space. We will, of course, talk about design and obsess over the latest Target collection, but we will tackle more personal matters. I feel like it’s apart of my purpose to share my experiences and I appreciate you being here.

Until next time,
Imani