Please tell me I'm not the only one who hasn't been to the supermarket

[Snuggles81]

So the last time I stepped foot in a supermarket was March 20th on my way home from work, before all the social distancing changes happened in stores.

Since then my DH has done all our shopping and I have now got myself all stressed and anxious about going to one.

It's not the risk of catching the virus that worries me (I'm still working in school, going out for social distance walks etc) but the change and rules on the supermarkets and some of the way people have be treated.

I suffer with anxiety anyway and always overthink new situations.

I've now made going to the supermarket this big issue in my head.

Am I the only one feeling this way? Such a silly thing to worry about but the thought of going shopping of any kind worries me.

In the title it should be *hasn't been

• [Message from MNHQ: we've edited the title now]

I haven’t, though I’ve picked up bread and milk from our tiny local shop which only lets one person in at a time.

We’ve got a baby and my car died so DH has been going on his own.

No you're not, same here! I have no fear other than the worry of getting the new social conventions wrong. Going to go for the first time this weekend and hope it won't seem so weird after that

It’s not silly at all. I felt a bit like this after being at home for a month, but when I eventually went to the supermarket and walked around it a bit, I realised I needn’t have worried. It hasn’t changed a huge amount. I’m sure lots of people feel the same way.

its a bugger

Best shop ive been in is marks and Spencer, obviously some of that can be pricey but their own brand can be good and its easy to shop

My local co op is nice and calm as well

The local small tesco is ok, very helpful friendly staff

Don’t like asda anymore

I haven't either..

First time I went during lockdown, I had a panic attack and ended up crying. But it's got easier, I try and go when it's quiet and do lots of breathing exercises as I go round.
It's fine honestly, just taking the first step.is the hardest. It gets easier.

Hello i have been the same too don't worry. I have changed my whole routine opting for click and collect instead. Its the only thing i can deal with right now. Do what's right for you until you feel better about the ever changing routines

Oh god, are you me? I could literally have written this word for word, right down tk the date. I feel so silly, but I’m nervous about not knowing what I’m supposed to do or getting it wrong (it’s the same feeling I have about going to a new swimming pool for the first time).

You are missing out! There's never been a better time to go to the supermarket. Ok so you queue to get in (not for long), then once you get in:-

• there's plenty of trophies
• there's plenty of produce
• there's plenty of space
• there's no queues at the tills

Seriously. It's the one thing I'd keep in all of this. I wear my headphones and listen to a podcast as I shop. I linger. It's actually a pleasant environment atm.

I haven't, we thought only one of us should go and it ended up being DH for the first couple of weeks then online deliveries started opening up (we've always shopped online prior to this) we just went back to an online shop.

I've been to the corner shop a couple of times but apart from the owner wearing gloves you'd never know anything was different in there!

You are not being silly shopping is definitely a stress..as others have said smaller shops are easier to deal with. I have discovered the joys of Iceland and Co.op.....

Trolleys not trophy!!

I was a bit nervous first time going to the supermarket but really ot is very relaxed, you line up and move on in an orderly way and theres a staff member at the entrance telling you where to queue to check out etc. Around here everyone is trying to keep their distance even though it is impossible at all times but most are very mindful.

It’s a bit wierd yes.

I’ve been going to my local Sainsbury’s and it’s been fine. Had to queue outside, but once inside it’s been relaxed and spacious and use the smart shop app and no silly one way systems.

I’ve got myself comfortable with my new normal and don’t fancy going to another store anytime soon.

DH in the other hand has been told off for not following the one way system and then exceeding the Apple Pay limit forcing the cashier to do 2 separate transactions

I’ve not been either- and what’s worse I’ve not been behind the wheel of the car🙈!!
Need to start returning to the real world soon 😬

I stopped going to local supermarkets.

The Asda had 2 sets if arrows pointing in different directions. No one social distancing inside. The aldi was horrendous. As well.

So I drive to a big Asda 25 min away. Its lovely there. They are really strict and you have plenty of space and time to browse.

I was getting anxious at the local ones. But I have found a compromise. Maybe you can too.

We haven’t been in a supermarket since this all began. We have a fortnightly Ocado slot and a local corner shop for bread milk etc

Thank you all so much for the reassuring comments. It's also good to hear other people feeling the same.
@countchocula hope it goes ok, keep us posted on how it goes.

It's definitely all about the new rules and changes. I know once I've done it a few times I'd be ok but its finding that motivation.
Shopping used to be something I loved to do.

No, I've switched to shopping in local independents - baker, butcher, greengrocer etc. I pass a list in on a Monday and pick up an order from each on Tuesday, all social distanced. It's about the same price but much better quality so I'm never going back!

I went 79 days without going to a shop but when I went it was fine and the one in/one out meant there was plenty of space.

I have recently been diagnosed with social anxiety and going to the supermarket is one situation at focus in therapy at the moment. I have been going instead of DH throughout lockdown and there have been a few panic attacks and upsets after it. That being said I take each time as it comes with music or podcasts via headphones and it is a victory when I do it myself.
It is not that in actuality but the build up can be bad in my head.

Did you go in March? The virus is swilling around much less since then. I’ve been going at least weekly and never caught anything (yet!)

I haven’t set foot in a shop since the 16th of March. I came down with a chest infection the day after, and was advised to self isolate, and then lockdown happened. I’ve been getting shopping via deliveries or click and collect, and, apart from my elderly shielded father, have only met one friend twice for a dog walk and have seen nobody else. I’m not terrified of me or 14yo ds getting the virus (I’m overweight and mildly asthmatic, but otherwise pretty healthy, as in no diabetes etc), but I am terrified of passing anything on to my dad who’s got severe COPD, so I’m not planning on going anywhere anytime soon. I am going to have my cousin and her husband over for a bbq next weekend - we’ve already discussed that I’ll get the bbq going, provide paper plates, and we’ll bring and cook our own food, plus I’m putting the toilet tent and portaloo up as that can be hosed down easily.

I've gone regularly to the supermarket - they were awful at the beginning but not now. I tend to go in the evening (we have quite a few open until 10pm) and they're deserted, no queue and fully stocked (except Sainsburys, stock seems a bit random but not the empty shelf thing that was happening before). M&S is probably the best and they seem to be opening up some of the non-food bits a little bit if they're easily accessible. I've found all the supermarkets to be really organised and much calmer than they were before any of this started.