I started experiencing panic attacks in my early 20s. I'm 44 now, so it's been a good 20-plus year journey of understanding, learning, managing and improving my mental health.

Two decades ago nobody was really talking about panic attacks and anxiety disorders, so it was a very scary time and I wasn't able to get the help I needed, which of course made everything worse. I eventually got to the point where I feared getting a panic attack in many situations, so I started to avoid most places outside of my comfort zones.

agoraphobic-traveller-photos-2.png Some of the remarkable images Jacqui has captured on Google Street View. Left, synchronised camels in the United Arab Emirates; centre, a man with a bucket walking past a green wall in Peru; right, a cactus in the USA.

I couldn't even walk to the back isles of my local supermarket, so I knew I needed significant help. I was eventually diagnosed with agoraphobia. My biggest fear was that I'd find myself in a situation where I couldn’t escape easily and panic would take over, leading to catastrophic thoughts.

I started to get weekly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and many years later I also started practising mindfulness which helped me immensely. Over time things got better for me but it was still very challenging at times.

Streetview Portraits

A couple of years ago a company that I had co-founded had to close its doors. This was a stressful time for me and it left me feeling like a huge failure. I knew I needed to do something about my negative thoughts as they were forever present at this point. So I thought I'd try my hand at a creative project to help keep me focused and this was the beginning of my journey as The Agoraphobic Traveller, aka @streetview.portraits.

I began clicking through Google Maps to navigate to faraway countries like Mongolia, Senegal, and Chile. I loved finding remote towns and dusty landscapes, vibrant architectural gems, and anonymous people, all frozen in time. I was completely taken by the strange and expansive parallel universe of Street View, and took screen shots to capture and preserve its hidden, magical realms. I realised that these images could be as beautiful and emotional as traditional photography.

More of the images that Jacqui has captured on Google Street View. Left, a scene from Mongolia; centre, ladies outside a mosque in Senegal; right, dogs playing in Chile.

I was able to experience places across the world that I had never explored, and in the process I was able to develop my own unique view of the world.

Once I found images that I loved, I decided to put them up on Instagram and also use the platform as way to share my bigger story. I was incredibly nervous about opening up about my mental health and, of course, worried that I might be judged for it.

However, I found the opposite to be true and it has been nothing but a positive experience for me. It has shown me just how supportive and amazing people really are. Not only was I able to express myself creatively but I was able to connect with people from all over the world who wanted to talk about their own experiences with mental health. I didn't feel so alone with it anymore.

Confidence

My project gave me the confidence to take on more challenges and, before I knew it, I was giving interviews with journalists from all over the world. This was something I never would have had the courage to do a couple of years ago. From there it made me more determined to venture further away from my comfort zones.

Jacqui Kenny has been on an incredible journey, despite having a diagnosis of agorpahobia Photo: Diana Simumpande

I was lucky enough to have a solo exhibition with Google in SoHo, New York and I've found some very beautiful places on my Street View travels that I hope to experience for real one day. It's opened up a whole new world for me.

It's still difficult at times but I feel like I've taken huge steps over the past couple of years. I feel so lucky that I now have a community of wonderful people who have supported me throughout this journey. I really hope to be able to give back one day and offer the same support to others. I think it would be great if we could face our fears together.

I don't know what the future will bring but I'm excited to see where it will lead. I would love to exhibit my images in more places around the world and I would also love to exhibit at schools and get the opportunity to share my story with teenagers. I’m also really excited about continuing to use modern technological infostructure and culture to find new creative opportunities. It has been such a great journey and hopefully this is just the beginning.

Follow Jacqui on Instagram