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.

We haven't been to a big supermarket and I don't miss it . I have seen some of the lines and have an idea of what happens but for someone like myself who is a bit claustrophobic I hate the idea of it eg suppose I had to go to the loo and I'm at a loop where I can't get back . Yes it makes us too anxious - too many wankers about who disregard as well and H and I are in the vulnerable category .

I’ve been going to Waitrose once or twice a week. No issues at all.

Well done OP! 👏👏👏👏

I stayed put for 3 weeks pretty much from lockdown, I have had past lung issues, but elderly parent was very ill. I was in a hospital With them from second week of March and it terrified the life out of me as the staff were Absolutely bricking it. That plus a mild traffic altercation just before lockdown when a very angry man threatened to punch me having tailgated me for ten minutes, despite me trying to signal “sorry”. The short version is parent spent last week at home to die peacefully and I had to go out. I so so so did not want to, even though parent was dying. I crapped myself, but despite obvious home sadness, felt very proud of myself as it was all fine. Since then I’ve just gradually increased going to work every so often, plus funeral, and stopping in small shops when I’m out.

Like you if no queue I go in, if queue then no! Don’t hurry yourself I reckon, take it at your own pace. And try not to get yourself into a situation where you “have” to go into a shop any more than necessary so it’s always a choice and you’re comfortable. Coming out of lockdown will have to be gradual for many of us for many reasons and no need to feel ashamed or being careful or frightened. I’m a self confessed scardy cat, always have been, always will. It’s served me well in many areas of my life, so not gonna change now!

I haven't OP and i love Sainsbury's but i haven't been in a supermarket since the start of lockdown .Not because of queuing but because i work in community care .We are a small team in a rural area so we are all doing our upmost to keep our risk as low as possible. The only shop i am actually comfortable in now are our two village shops where everyone sticks to social distancing. Went in another shop and no social distancing couldn't wait to get out .

I am not in UK, so get groceries (and vino lol) delivered every two weeks.

Works great no contact, pay online and will never grace a supermarket again as long as deliveries continue. Wonderful service and the delivery drivers are so nice too.

Near me I like Tesco best. They have one queue for checkouts, down the stationery aisle (so an aisle that doesn't see much 'traffic'). When you get to the front of the queue a member of staff directs you to the next available till. If you only have a few items there is a different queue in another aisle for the self scan tills.

I tried Asda but they had separate queues for each till going down the aisles. People were trying to weave around the queuing customers to shop those aisles. And when you got to the front of your queue it wasn't really clear which checkout each queue was for.

I also tried Morrisons who have a single queue, snaking through the kids clothing section. In theory this works well but while i was waiting I saw at least two customers climb under the barrier and barge through the queue to browse the clothes.

So I guess it is a case of looking at which options you have locally and see where you feel most comfortable. I used to choose where to shop based on price and convenience. Now I choose based on the store layout.

I haven’t been to a supermarket since the panic buying started a couple weeks before lockdown. I managed to prebooked delivery slots before they all got booked up up til Easter and I’ve managed to get weekly ones since.

I’m a bit worried about ‘doing it wrong’ now too lol.

Are you in South Yorkshire @JustVisiting9? Your descriptions of supermarket queuing is exactly what we have.

I caught a likely case of covid-19 shortly before lockdown and we were lucky to get a slot about a week later when food supplies were running down. After that nothing for a few weeks so besides a morrisons box, we had quick dashes to corner shops where proper distancing was near impossible. 8 weeks after being ill I had symptoms again and was offered a test which came out as positive. So either a relapse where I was still shedding virus somehow after all that time, or I was reinfected at the corner shop since I went nowhere else. I've now managed to get a veg box delivery and some supermarket slots are available to me again, so I am sticking with deliveries.

Sounds bloody obvious but I recommend thinking carefully about what you are going to get and making a list in the order you'll go around the shop. This way when you're in you can move methodically around. If I start browsing or haven't got a clear idea in my head I'm more dithery, get in people's way and end up having to do more circuits to go back for things I've forgotten and that's obviously crap for everyone.

Someone very helpfully posted the layout of the Tesco aisles in our local Facebook page so I could write the shopping list in order.

DH and I haven't stepped foot in a supermarket since 15 March. I'm vulnerable, and at one point only narrowly missed the asthma shielding criteria so we have stayed at home bar the odd walk.

We've rationed all our food and got everything delivered by either a supermarket slot, a Morrisons box or Beelivery.

Been in the village shop twice to post stuff. Won't go again Cos people won't keep their distance. Not shops fault. Managed to get click and collects. Shopping for vulnerable in laws and 78 year old friend too. Am dreading going anywhere tho

I've not stepped foot in a supermarket or shop since the week before lockdown started - clinically vulnerable and DH has been going as little as possible.