A bridesmaid with a rare form of agoraphobia spent 15 hours travelling to and from a wedding in rural Scotland, unable to stay overnight due to her condition. Lucy Jollow, 29, developed an intense fear of sleeping anywhere other than three specific houses, making the wedding at a Perthshire castle a personal nightmare.
Initially promised an informal Edinburgh wedding, the event became a formal affair at a remote castle. Jollow planned an elaborate escape route, flying from Luton at 5am, taking a train to Perth, and a taxi to the venue. She then left six hours later to catch an overnight coach from Dundee, returning home after a gruelling journey.
During the ceremony, Jollow used a mental trick to stay calm, repeating 'pretend you're a sheep' to zone out. Despite serving canapés and champagne comfortably, she was plagued by anxiety that her transport might be cancelled, even considering offering her entire overdraft for a 470-mile drive home.
Jollow's story was part of a BBC Ouch storytelling event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where she performed alongside five others with disabilities or mental health issues. The event was hosted by Lost Voice Guy and broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Two.
