Anyone else with anxiety struggling with people getting angry etc?

[Makinganewthinghappen]

I normally have anxiety problems I have had them for years - I take flouxitene and it is mostly under control as long as I stay in my routine.

I have been struggling a huge amount with the changes in going to the shops etc . I have been getting really upset and panicky about interactions with people rather than the virus itself.

This morning I went to the shop and was looking in the aisle for eggs - I realised they were behind me in the aisle so I turned to get them and a woman at the other end of the aisle started having a right go at me because apparently it’s a one way system . She had a mask on and sandwich bags on her hands and for whatever reason I feel really shaken by it!

I know it sounds pathetic but ISTILL fee shaken by it now.

I have tried just buying everything online but can’t get delivery slots so can’t avoid people totally. Two of my children are autistic and I haven’t dared take them out so the only place I am having to go is the shop But it seems I am now getting panicked even doing that!

Is anyone else struggling with this rather than fear of the virus itself?

Yes!! I'd be exactly the same as you. I'm feeling very anxious about knowing how everything works in shops, I went to Morrisons yesterday for the first time since lockdown and watched the people in front of me in the queue go up to the staff in the door way and use what looked like hand sanitizer - they definitely used it on their hands but I couldn't really see what kind of bottle it was. I was watching carefully because I get anxious about not knowing what I'm supposed to be doing. I got called in and it turned out to be a spray. I asked if I was supposed to use it and he snapped "it's for wiping the trolleys". I said I was just going by what everyone else was doing and he said "they're all doing it wrong". I was glad I did t have to go out the same door and could avoid him on the way out! Hope you're ok OP.

I'm autistic and have adhd. I often get muddled up over stuff in general and it's difficult to follow directions. I go to the shop in the evening as there's fewer people around. The woman on the till told me off for standing in the wrong place though.

It was just an honest mistake on your part. The lady behind should of reacted more calmly, but it sounds like she has anxiety battles of her own too if she was wearing sandwich bags on her hands.

Hope you feel calmer soon

I am so sorry but I laughed so hard at the sandwich bags on hands.

She sounds a bit unhinged, though absolutely no excuse to be rude to someone else! Sorry you are feeling this way, hopefully restrictions will start to ease soon and people will regain some of their manners.

On another note, I was really struggling to get delivery's and have realised that if you log into Tesco at midnight they release new slots. Might be a help :)