AIBU to think I will struggle going out?

[MamaKarmaLlama]

I’ve been in lockdown so long (we self isolated early due to bad coughs) probably haven’t left the small village I live in for 6 weeks. I haven’t really seen anyone except my immediate family to talk to for ages. I don’t even drive so haven’t been to shops. I’m starting to feel very anxious about life returning to ‘normal’. I can’t imagine having to get on a train and go somewhere or hang out in crowds or socialise. I feel like I might be developing agoraphobia or some form of it. AIBU to think this must be happening to many other folk? I’m genuinely worried about how I’ll cope after lockdown as this is the new ‘normal for me’.

@2outof3Mightbebad I think there are many many out there now.

It's only been 6 weeks or so, once normal life resumes I'm sure you'll get back into the swing of it quickly.

We have been told not to leave the house for any unnecessary reason so only feel like we’ve been following the lockdown procedures. We go out for walks and go shopping but only one at a time.@Drivingdownthe101 you make it sound like if you are not in the risk group you should carry on as normal but that’s not the case.

I didn’t make it sound like that at all . I’m not in an at risk group. I go out for daily exercise and a weekly shop, as is permitted. I said there were people in not at risk groups who aren’t leaving the house at all.

Lots of us don't live in small villages and lots of us can drive so we are going to the shops weekly and see lots of life continuing as normal on our daily walks.

Also, lots and lots of people are still working.

I said there were people in not at risk groups who aren’t leaving the house at all.

Its bizarre isnt it. Why would you not.

I am feeling more and more like this as time goes on.

I used to go for a long walk every day, but got fed up with people hemming me in, walking straight at me when I couldn't cross due to traffic, runners coughing as they passed me, that kind of thing. It made me too fearful to go out really and now I try to avoid it.

I feel safe in the car though. I can do a click and collect no problem.

I am worried I will have a panic attack next time I have to get on a train or tube....

I am worried I will have a panic attack next time I have to get on a train or tube....

Maybe you need to get out more and be around people from a safe distance. This lockdown hasnt done the mental health of a lot of people any good.

Yeah, I agree userxx but I am finding that so hard. I have tried to be out and about and around people from a safe distance but I get people coming really close, brushing shoulders, coughing, not social distancing at all and that is what has caused my problem.

To be honest it isn't a problem really at the moment. My MH is better than it has been for ages under lockdown. Way less anxiety than usual. So I could argue that lockdown has had a very positive impact on my MH.

It's lifting lockdown and getting back to normal that will be the problem.

I will give it another go this weekend (am working from home weekdays) and hope no fucker gets too close to me.

I can see it would be quite easy to feel like that. To my surprise I'm quite enjoying lockdown and not having to do things all the time. And wondering if I'm getting rather comfortable and almost institutionalised.

But I'm making myself go out for some good exercise, for mental health as much as physical, and because, I live in a busy place, I pass a lot of people. I find it encouraging that, as a PP said, people are out and about going about their business. They look well and happy and I think that the chances of any of them being a threat to me are very small. There are quite a lot of narrow points round here and I've passed within a couple of feet of people occasionally and I'm none the worse for it.

I've also seen a few friends, from a distance or online, who have been very ill with Covid and recovered. They look good now. And there's Boris, of course.

So I have plenty of evidence that most people are either not getting Covid, are not very ill with it, or recover eventually. Anything could happen, but the odds are in my favour, so I mustn't let fear do damage that the virus probably won't.

Yes,maybe my view is coloured by the fact that I know four people who have died from it

Two colleagues in their forties, no underlying health issues, not overweight. One male, one female.

One female neighbour in her 80s with underlying kidney issues.

One friend in his fifties with existing heart problems.

I understand. Don't build it up to be a big thing before it's happened. When we're allowed out again, start off with a 5 minute walk and build up gradually. You'll be ok

Thanks @B0bbin

I will address it. I worked in London throughout IRA bombs and latterly through the current terror threat. I am not usually a scaredy cat

I'm feeling the same. I haven't left my village in 5/6 weeks either. We ordered food to click and collect from a local farm shop on saturday and I said I'd go and collect it, was quite looking forward to getting out for a drive by myself and singing along to the car stereo but then I started freaking out and made oh go instead.

I think this not wanting to go out may have been becoming an issue for me before the whole Covic-19 business, I'd been very withdrawn since Christmas and not wanting to go anywhere or see anyone, I don't even know why really but getting worried its going to be very difficult for me to get back to normal when this has all died down.

I'm dreading the bloody noise returning. All the cars, the buses, the lorries, the planes, the people, the fucking pubs and clubs. And the stench and litter of them all.

I could do with a trip to Boots or Superdrug

Boots are doing home delivery, free on orders over £30