I have just left the house for the first time in 9 months

[Mixedupworld]

Due to being clinically extremely vulnerable I started self isolating mid February. Covid rates have been continually high where I live and I've been terrified to go out. I think I've developed agoraphobia. I have made myself go out today. I live in a sort of housing complex, all flats. There is a large courtyard that all the flats overlook. I saw that nobody was out there and I have made myself go out. I'm in a wheelchair so I took myself to the door nearest to my flat that goes out to the courtyard, opened the door and just sat there for a few mins breathing in the fresh air. It took me 20 minutes to pluck up the courage to actually go outside and I was only out for few seconds. I was feeling sick, shaking and sweating but I made myself do it. I'm back in my flat now.

I think you posted the other day and I was wondering how you were doing. Well done for getting out. That's brilliant. Take it easy.

That's impressive, well done!

Try sticking with it, it's so important for you.

You rock OP. Well done, that must have been so hard.

Well done. Please come back and tell us all about the rabbits and guineas when you make it there.
Make sure you aim to go outside at least once a day x x

Well done.
You've got me quite curious about the rabbits.

Well done OP! Take it slowly!

Well done OP, it's not easy. Let us know what's in the cage.

That’s great OP. Deep admiration for challenging yourself to overcome this. Little by little and I too am interested in the rabbits

Well done, OP.
I have a friend who lives alone and has a number of problems - physical and mental. He'd been ill at the beginning of the year, and finally was well enough to go out in February but was wary of being in people's way walking slowly, so took a night walk. He was attacked from behind and sustained a head injury and hasn't been right since. It took him four months to feel well enough to go out, and combined with lockdown and various other issues, has been out about 6 times in total since then.
It is a case of 'face the fear and do it', but that is far easier said than done.

Hopefully today's positive experience will make the next time a little less stressful for you.

Well done
It is scary, I think i became a little bit agoraphobic during shielding well done on taking the step

so well done, onwards and upwards x

Great achievement, well done. You've done it once and you found it was fine so hopefully you'll find tomorrow's trip less stressful and the fresh air and feeling of freedom will improve your mood further.