Chickpea Brownies, Agoraphobia & Many Side Tangents
Chickpea Brownies:
Ingredients:
• 2/3 cup | 145 g olive oil
• 180 grams dairy free chocolate chopped finely or in chips
• 1/2 cup | 120 ml aquafaba (the watery brine from unsalted cans of chickpeas)
• 3/4 cup | 150 grams sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon imitation almond extract
• 1 1/2 cup | 150 grams GF flour (Bob’s Red Mill 1:1)
• 1/4 cup | 32 grams unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 325°F/150°C. Lightly grease or line an 8x8inch baking tin. Set aside
2. Place the olive oil and chopped chocolate together in a microwave safe bowl. Melt in 30 second increments whisking after each segment until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Once melted set aside to cool.
3. In another large mixing bowl beat the aquafaba and the sugar together with an electric mixer until thick and shiny. Mix in the extracts and the melted chocolate mixture.
4. Stir in the gluten free flour, cocoa powder and baking soda, and spices/seasonings. Mix until you have a thick, fully mixed batter. (You can stir in an additional 1/2 cup chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or nuts at this point if you’d like!).
5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking tin. Bake for 30 minutes and then check for doneness. Insert a knife or tooth pick into the center of the brownies - if it comes out with a wet batter it needs more time. If only a few moist crumbs remain on the knife/tooth pick it's done. If you need to cook the brownies longer check every 3-4 minutes until it's done and then remove from the oven.
6. Let the brownies cool in their tin completely before slicing into.
**You really do need to let them cool, otherwise they’ll fall apart instantly.
**I used Enjoy Life chocolate chips as they’re the most reliable when baking.
What IS Agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia is a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or that help wouldn't be available if things go wrong.
Many people assume agoraphobia is simply a fear of open spaces, but it's actually a more complex condition. Someone with agoraphobia may be scared of traveling on public transport, visiting a shopping center, or in some cases even leaving home.
If someone with agoraphobia finds themselves in a stressful situation, they'll usually experience the symptoms of a panic attack, such as:
rapid heartbeat
rapid breathing (hyperventilating)
feeling hot and sweaty
feeling sick
They'll avoid situations that cause anxiety and may only leave the house with a friend or loved one. They'll order groceries online rather than going to the supermarket. This change in behavior is known as avoidance.
What causes agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia usually develops as a complication of panic disorder, an anxiety disorder involving panic attacks and moments of intense fear. It can occur by associating panic attacks with places or situations where they occurred prior and then avoiding them.
A minority of people with agoraphobia have no history of panic attacks. In these cases, their fear may be related to issues like a fear of crime, terrorism, illness, or being in an accident. Traumatic events, such as death of a loved one, may contribute towards agoraphobia, as well as certain genes inherited from your parents.
Treating agoraphobia
Lifestyle changes may help, including taking regular exercise, “eating the rainbow”, and avoiding alcohol, drugs and drinks that contain caffeine (such as tea, coffee, and cola.) Self-help techniques that can help during a panic attack include staying where you are, focusing on something that's non-threatening and visible, and slow, deep breathing. I personally use the 5-4-3-2-1 technique and it has improved my anxious thoughts and onset of panic attacks tenfold. Linked below is DeStress Monday, a wonderful site for support and coping mechanisms to help the start of our week be less daunting
If your agoraphobia fails to respond to these treatment methods see your GP. You can also refer yourself directly for psychological therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), without seeing your GP. Medication may be recommended if self-help techniques and lifestyle changes aren't effective in controlling your symptoms. You'll usually be prescribed a course of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are also used to treat anxiety and depression. In severe cases of agoraphobia, medication can be used in combination with other types of treatment, such as CBT and relaxation therapy.
Outlook
Around a third of people with agoraphobia eventually achieve a complete cure and remain free from symptoms. Half experience an improvement in symptoms, but they may have periods when their symptoms become more troublesome – for example, if they feel stressed. Despite treatment, about 1 in 5 people with agoraphobia continue to experience troublesome symptoms.
You should always seek out help and a support system, as you are NOT alone. Many people go through not only panic disorder but living life with agoraphobia. Do not be afraid to reach out to people and key them in as to what’s going on. We can never fully know what is going on within another person’s brain, therefore we begin to fill in the context for what we don’t know - and this (contextualization) is dangerous. By telling people what’s going on, you’re allowing them to know where you’re at and how to help, versus just guessing or assuming you’re okay.
Resources on Agoraphobia:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/agoraphobia/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/what-is-agoraphobia
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/agoraphobia.shtml
Helpful Videos on Agoraphobia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFtZUvf1K74&ab_channel=TEDxTalks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1pt7X0aanc&ab_channel=BrainStuff-HowStuffWorks
Baking-ish is a podcast produced and edited by Fahrenheit Co., a U.S. based entity run and organized by Ren Newman.
**I am not a mental health professional. Please talk to a healthcare professional before doing or changing anything within your daily life. These experiences and opinions reflect only my personal experiences.
