To be anxious about going shopping?

[QuestionableMouse]

I really need to go and get some food in. My fridge is literally bare. I've been putting it off because I feel so anxious about going out.

Aibu?

Good :-) Now you've been once the fear is broken and next week won't seem so bad.

I'm also dreading it. Haven't been yet. Planning to go Wednesday and dreading it. It's the queuing I'm dreading more than the exposure to other people.

Well done for doing it.

@bridgetreilly you presumably only read that bit of my post? Not the bits which said I have no car, and am fit and well, and am not going to take a delivery slot from someone who might actually need it? Not the bit where I said I do it all by bike, and there's a limit to what you can carry by bike?

Not the bit where I said I have teenagers? (Normally at boarding school, but now at home and perpetually hungry - though I didn't mention this first time round)?

What are you suggesting I do, then?

Starve?

Though I suppose that might just about satisfy some people on here.

celan it still doesn’t sound like you need to go every day Every 2-3 days at most should be manageable, surely?

@celan, you didn't mention any of that in your post, and besides which, I did say unless you absolutely have to.

Your whole post:
"I am going shopping for food every day. It's a miserable experience, in that they only let in a certain number of people, and it's completely unsociable. That upsets me as I live for social contact. But there's no shortage of anything in Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose or M&S other than ready-made sandwiches and conversation. No mask, no gloves. It's bad enough living in isolation without going down that route."

Celan you didnt say any of that !

In fairness having no car means you can't physically get a weeks-worth of shopping home in one go - particularly when you have hungry teens. We have a 14 year old who is eating every hour on the hour at the moment and if we didn't have a car we'd probably have to shop every other day at least.

I was nervous like you OP but it was actually fine! Very quiet, 10 minute queue to get in, only one person per trolley, everyone kept their distance, no blocking aisles with trolleys, no crowding at the tills. It was well stocked, only a couple of items missing. I felt able to browse in peace and got everything I needed. In fact I think I prefer it to normal shopping!

You will be fine, OP.

The supermarkets were a nightmare a couple of weeks ago, but they are completely fine now with plenty of stock of almost everything. Anecdotally, Sainsbury’s appear to be struggling for stock more than the rest. You will probably have to queue to get in, as the stores have a maximum capacity at which they can effectively maintain social distancing and when that is reached, it’s one out, one in.

Not planning on going back soon tbh. I bought enough to last a month 😂😂😂

I queued for about three minutes to get in, followed the one way system, lots of food (and loo roll!) on the shelves. Driven mad by people walking past me though, often in the wrong direction, or couple who would stand one each on either side of the aisle so you either had to wait (me) or walk between them (everyone else).

I last went shopping about 12 days ago, that was the first time I'd been shopping since the lockdown started and I was very anxious about it; kept putting it off until I was seriously running out of things to eat.

I went to Tesco and was so impressed with the staff, the way it was organised, and with the amount of stuff on the shelves.

I did a big shop because there were a lot of basic store cupboard suff that I was very short of as well.

I need to go again, but I'm also trying to put it off because I feel nervous about it.

I'll probably go tomorrow, and although I know it'll be fine, because it was last time, I still feel a bit apprehensive.

You'll be fine OP, I'll be fine too, but I do understand how you feel.

You're not being stupid at all. I'm going once a week for 3 households as im rhe only adult witjout an under lying health problem. I get nervous before hand abcit feels really strange in the shop but supermarkets are following all rules and being really careful. As soon as I get home I put all clothes in the wash and go in the shower before I go near the kids, makes me feel better. Good luck

Went shopping today - first time in a week. Did v large shop at Costco and Morrison’s enough for a month except perhaps milk and bread. Cashier said they get the same couples coming in every day for a small bag of groceries. Why why why are people doing this and risking spreading disease- why are they shopping in pairs.

My mam and dad shop together - mam's not able bodied enough to manage on her own and dad would come back with 17 bread buns, a pint of milk and an egg. 😂😂😂

I've offered to do theirs but they won't hear of it 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

I felt the same last week and forced myself to go in the queue at Sainsbury's to get some shopping. It was well managed, shoppers were very mindful of each other and maintained good distance but it was actually the staff who were lacking in awareness of giving shoppers space.

Staff shouldn't really be shelf filling during the day as they just didn't seem to be aware who was around and would carry on as normal, getting quite close actually when I was browsing fridges etc rather than standing back waiting til i'd finished.

I normally like to rummage for best dates and read product labels before I choose things but I felt if I touched the packets I'd have to buy it, so that was strange, not touching things.

The tills were screened off but the packing part isn't so I felt the staff weren't fully protected.

There was plenty stock of everything when I was in and no signs of silly stockpiling.

I used hand sanitizer before I got in the car.

I have not been out once. Not for shopping. I shopped online. If you sit up most of night you will get a delivery slot. I have one on 8th April and another on 17th April. I don't go out to excercise. I do sit in garden and use excercise bike and rowing machine at home. I don't allow child out either. He can play in garden as much as he likes. He also goes on excercise bike. I am asthmatic but why take a risk if you do not have to?

I can barely get online delivery on a normal day unfortunately. It was fine, and I bought enough that I won't need to go out again for a while.

I’m finding the longer I’m stuck in the more anxious I get about going out!

Op google fruit and veg/food/meat wholesalers best you. A lot of the ones near me are delivering next day, they’d usually supply restaurants and pubs etc so it’s keeping them in business too.