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.

I suffer from anxiety too so I do get it but I fear about society even beginning to return to normal when people (at least those likely to be in the 99% who survive the virus even if they get it) are too frightened to go to set foot in a shop or drive a car after months of measures which have reduced the prevalence of the virus.

We've not been in a shop of any description since 15th march. Thankfully managed through various online deliveries and local groups.

Vulneravle group and more worried about everyone thinking its returnied to normal and in doing so being less careful so its less safe for us to go out.

@Sudokubook It's not the virus that worries as I've still been working, it's the social changes.

@Ahobbyaweek its definitely the build, which is always how my anxieties are, I overthink every situation before during and after the event.

I have got so much better at dealing with these but this is one I'm really battling with.

I don't suffer from any anxiety but don't fancy going at all. We've had delivery or click and collect throughout. Slots are easy to get now. I don't want to queue or stay 2m from everyone in narrow aisles!

I must say i am the same i have been opting for click and collect

I've been to a supermarket once since this started, otherwise I've been getting iceland deliveries, free over £35 and lots of brands which I like

I am not too worried about supermarkets, I am really worried about the school run (also have anxiety) I was struggling before the schools closed with getting to and from and now I haven't done it in so long, I think I am going to be starting from square one.

I was hoping for some more clarity on the rest of the school years today, as there seems to be some mixed messages. I am assuming he won't be going back till September, so we are going to start small and start walking 5 minutes and then 5 minutes back and see what happens.

I haven't been in a supermarket since 21st march. We've been doing click and collect. I have health anxiety and DH is vulnerable so it just doesnt feel possible right now. I wish I wasnt so frightened though.

I haven't been in a supermarket since just before the schools shut. I completely understand, I have no idea how it all works now and feel like anyone shielding or conservatively following lockdown rules are now weirdly behind the times.

I've not gone beyond my garden since March. So far I've been fortunate to be able to have shopping delivered. I will be very nervous if I have to go to a shop at some time.

I feel like the supermarkets are getting back to normal.

Yes - you’ll see people wearing masks/gloves, queues, signs about social distancing, Perspex screens at till points and staff cleaning more frequently but otherwise it is not as eerie as it was back in March. The shelves are abundantly full too (aside from ice lollies!).

Honestly it doesn’t feel that different to pre-lockdown. My local M&S has even opened up their clothing, home and beauty departments and are actively encouraging customers to browse. Same with Boots and Superdrug - they are no longer cordoning off certain sections or asking customers for the reason of their visit before allowing them in etc.

Main thing I would say is to prepare mentally for a very relaxed, slow, shopping session. You can't dash about and observe social distancing so take your time, wait for people to move, don't feel pressured to move until there is room ahead and pay attention to the arrows!

There will be oddballs attempting to dash about, going the wrong way up aisles and generally being twats. Best to just watch out for them, step back and let them get on with it. They are either entitled idiots or in such an anxious frenzy they can't make sense of the arrows - either way, pointing it out will achieve nothing.

But as long as you're relaxed about how long it takes to get around I've found it's not problematic at all. Except in Morrisons, which I avoid now. Pity, as I much prefer them generally!

Oh and in most places the shop staff themselves are pretty poor at distancing. So best to actively step out of their way - they often don't seem to notice they are too close. Possibly because they are mostly young and you will also notice the younger other customers, the more careless they are - so onus is very much on you to try to control the space you are in, even if that means stepping back as people encroach. It's very easy to forget to be vigilant when others are being careless so definitely worth being mindful.

But other than the arrows and going slower, it's pretty normal.

Ooh you are missing out! Our local Aldi is a treat! Hardly any queue, a lovely man to personally hand you a sanitised trolley, nice and quiet once you are inside and it’s all extra clean! I’ve been going out most days throughout this and I’ve never felt unsafe. The longer you stay in, the worse it will be. Enjoy the world!

I sympathise OP - I suffer from anxiety about new unfamiliar situations, and social anxienty.

I've been to our small supermarket a few times, and to our local convenience shop. It was absolutely fine, relatively empty, slow. The staff really appreciate a bit of empathy and politeness - I feel so sorry for them. I wear a mask, and disinfect my hands as soon as I'm in the car.

The two things that have triggered me:

1. Getting 'trapped' by other people. When trying to move around the shop, and someone in front of me stopped, then someone else came towards me, so I was caught in an impossible trap. Another time when I was waiting in line at the small shop, and some arrogant bloke came in, jumped the queue and then other people came in behind me, so again I was trapped. I deal with this by maintaining my distance, feeling slightly reassured by my mask, and just zoning out until the people move.

1. Going with DH. He's been doing most of the shopping, and is totally calm about it. I know people shouldn't shop together, but we thought it would be ok. But I got massive anxiety about him because he's not as spatially aware as I am. So I would see him standing in the way of someone but he wouldn't notice, and I would get anxious. Lesson learned - I won't go with him again.

On the whole, it's not a bad experience. And don't worry about the social norms - everyone is figuring it out as we go along.

It's pretty much normal now where I shop other than the obvious measures. Just go at a quieter time to reduce the chance of queuing. There was a minute back in March where it was grim, silent streets, everyone avoiding each other, queues for a mostly empty shop. It was a bit post apocalyptic.

My parents haven't been out at all since the beginning of the lockdown. But that's anxiety over the virus rather than social reasons.

I’ve only been about 5 times in the past year, I just hate it. Got to admit that they are much better now, less stressful than before... might also be that we have changed from a town centre Asda to a Morrisons in the sticks, I still prefer to sit in the car and chill whilst my partner does the shopping.

I haven’t been to a supermarket since January. I had a baby, started recovering from a c-section, and then lockdown happened.

We used Ocado pre-lockdown and, apart from one week when we couldn’t get a slot and ordered a veg box instead, just continued with our online food order.

We have to plan a little more than we did pre-lockdown to avoid shop visits, but we’ve got used to that now.

I haven't, we have had it all delivered since March. I haven't been in any shops.

If you have the choice of more than one supermarket locally, ask around to find out which is the best organised. There doesn't seem to be one retailer that is beeter than others, a recent thread praised and condemned pretty much each and every one.
My neighbour, who is a volunteer shopper says the layout of our local Waitrose (short aisles with a cross aisle) means everyone gets in each others way. Local Tesco has no cross aisles so people tend to follow the one way system.

And about 6 to 6.30 pm is a good time. No queues last couple of times I've been.

I'm definitely an anxious person, too. Because of work my dh does the shopping mostly.

A few weeks ago I said I would go, and we wer going to a different supermarket in the next town over as we joined it with a trip to Argos. Needless to say I was anxious the whole ride there. Luckily dh drove as we'd never been there before and that was even more worrying.

I got in and around the first couple of aisles, my breathing felt heavy and I felt like I was going to burst into tears. It was very empty and I just had this overwhelming fear. But it got better and I walked out pleased I had managed it.

I've since nipped into our local one once or twice at the end of the day, it's much quieter first and last thing, and I've actually been fine so I'm pretty sure once you're in there you will be okay. And just think, once you've gotten in there and over the initial shock, you will be okay.
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Good luck OP* we have faith xx

I've been going every week, but I do know what you mean. The first week I went to our big Sainsbury's because that's my usual and favourite, but it was awful. I think because it was new to everyone and the staff were on edge, I got it slightly wrong and felt very stupid and embarrassed.
So I left the queue, sat in car and had a strop (on my own!), and then went to Asda.

Normally not a fan, but it was better organised and has self scan so a lot easier to negotiate check out. Been going there most weeks late evening and it has almost been like normal. Especially since they started selling doughnuts again!

Once you've been a couple of times it will become the new normal, honestly.

I've been having deliveries since the start of march, before that I'd only pop in briefly for a top up on a Friday, I've always had deliveries. Anyway, I went to our local garden centre yesterday and it was so confusing, i need more practice before i go to a supermarket, I'll definitely get shouted at!