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Original poster

Anyone else feeling a bit "agoraphobic" now?

42 replies

GabrielleChanel · 21/06/2020 18:03

With absolutely no disrespect meant to anyone who is a genuine sufferer of this - I have only been out a couple of times since the lockdown started. DP goes to get supermarket shopping.
Once last weekend to a friends where we then took her dog for a walk
Once to a farm shop where I felt stressed as people weren't social distancing.
And that's all. Not sure how I will be able to get back to "real life"- we are meant to be going on holiday next month if they unlock the airbridges or what ever they need to do.
Is it just me?

OP posts:

AppleKatie · 21/06/2020 18:09

No not just you. I have been ‘out’ more than you but only barely. Days on end are spent with not going further than the garden.

violetscone · 21/06/2020 18:11

I’ve really struggled with this since before lockdown when I started having panic attacks when I tried to go out.

Advice from my lovely GP is that you need to try to give yourself permission to feel uncomfortable - as it does get easier the more you do it.

Midrangecolours · 21/06/2020 18:11

I find I don't want to go out as much as I thought I would.

SpeedofaSloth · 21/06/2020 18:11

Yes, totally. I have worked throughout at a District General Hospital where I feel safe, and home feels safe, as do my local walks and my neighbour's garden. Everywhere else scares me. I went into my local shopping centre today, I couldn't get out fast enough.

Destroyedpeople · 21/06/2020 18:12

Yes in the true sense of the word 'agoraphobia' means 'fear of the marketplace' and I have given up milk and now bake my own bread so that I don't have to go there.
Also when I am out I feel like I shouldn't be.....
I do hope this will be over soon...

DomDoesWotHeWants · 21/06/2020 18:15

Very much so. I'm vulnerable so we haven't been out much at all.

We got the wheelchair out and went to a local park last week and I found it really difficult to go out of the front door. We're going to try to go out once a week because I can see it could become an issue.

PersonaNonGarter · 21/06/2020 18:16

I completely get this, although it is partly habitual and partly brought on by mild shock.

Shock at how all the fun places are closed or just weird, and nowhere is how I remember it, or full of people as before. All the mask wearing is menancing and there is an air of paranoia.

I hate that there are so few family groups or couples or gangs of friends etc, just individuals. It is all pretty dystopian out there. But by contrast my house is homely and friendly and just like it has always been.

Helpmyhair2019 · 21/06/2020 18:16

Yes! I’m fine in our village but any further afield or in a shop or supermarket I feel very uneasy. Tired of it all now

violetscone · 21/06/2020 18:18

I think it hasn’t helped mainly been seeing the world on TV and the news (as I’m vulnerable and haven’t been to supermarkets etc) which has made me feel really disconnected / like the world is a dystopian show I watch on telly. If that makes any sense...

ImNotWhoYouThinkIam · 21/06/2020 18:20

I rarely went out anyway due to social anxiety. Have only been out twice since lockdown to the patch of grass opposite my house to socially distance from my mum. (Park is too far for me to cope with).
There was a stabbing 10mins from my house yesterday. I'm terrified to leave my house now :(
I'll be asking if I can be bumped up the counselling list and looking into online cbt to help.

missyB1 · 21/06/2020 18:22

Yes I need to go into town tomorrow for a couple of specific items, I need to go in two shops. I feel really quite stressed at the thought of it. I haven’t been into town since March, I used to go in a couple of times a week!

WhispersOfWickedness · 21/06/2020 18:23

I was saying this to a friend of mine recently, I am pretty convinced that the rates of people with agoraphobia now are going to shoot through the roof.
I'm already an anxiety sufferer, so I'm used to managing panic and stressful situations, so I'm on top of it, but I can see how easily it can take hold of people, especially in this sort of situation where even the government have been endorsing staying in your home to keep safe. It's got to have massive psychological implications for a lot of people. I'm really having to push myself so I don't go the same way.

DoTheNextRightThing · 21/06/2020 18:25

I had agoraphobia years ago as part of my anxiety disorder, but I'd managed to beat it.

Until now 🙄

ForeverRedSkinhead · 21/06/2020 18:26

I've felt like this op. I'm making an effort to go to the supermarket a couple of times a week and it's getting easier though.

A few weeks ago I would look out of my window , see people pass by and decide it was too busy to venture out. There's no space for social distancing in London and it was making me panic. Now I mask up and head out.

dontrecycle · 21/06/2020 18:27

I had to drive on a motorway at the weekend as my hands were visibly shaking.

1moreRep · 21/06/2020 18:27

not at all, my life has changed very little,
as a key worker i am out and about 5 days a week, plus the school run and excersize.

Techno56 · 21/06/2020 18:33

Definitely, and (fortunately or unfortunately, not sure!) the only way to get past it is to go out for a short time as often as you can and increase from there. I've been working (but on a rota so still lots of weeks not going out anywhere) and that helps, plus having to get my son out of the house has also forced me to go further and for longer and it does get easier.

I still haven't queued for a big supermarket/shop though. Making do with local smaller places. Wasn't a fan of queues even before this never mind the monsters that have developed now.

goodwinter · 21/06/2020 18:35

No, but then again my life hasn't changed much - was already WFH most of the time and am still out walking the dog at least once a day. I think the dog walks have helped massively as I haven't just been in my house 24/7 - can you start by getting out for a walk in your local area? Outdoor spaces are low-risk and it might be helpful as a kind of exposure therapy.

Actually there was a point where I got really anxious on a walk - it was a couple of weeks after lockdown started, and the first time I'd seen a lot of people out and about, and there were several people/couples walking towards me and my dog. I froze for a second staring at them and genuinely felt a bit like I was in a zombie movie. Luckily I've not had that feeling since!

goodwinter · 21/06/2020 18:36

Just to add that I'm generally an anxious person (diagnosed GAD) - I really do think I'd be much worse off at this point if not for leaving the house every day.

Catastrofuck · 21/06/2020 18:40

No, but my FIL really is

However I find myself much more excluded from places now as I have tiny children and they are not welcome anywhere

Planetzog · 21/06/2020 18:43

Not at all, I love going out. Not at all dystopian or scary round here - south west London. I go out for a run or walk every day, takeaway coffees at the local cafe, been to the shops, the parks are full of people having a nice time in smallish family groups. The risk of infection is so low outside. I would start going out every day to get used to it and build your confidence.

morelikeaclubsandwich · 21/06/2020 18:44

I find all the social interactions really stressful tbh. I'm not very worried about catching anything but I find people around here are all pretty miserable.

I went in a couple of well known high st shops this morning to look for a present for my dad.
At one the young woman on the door with sanitiser was pretty friendly but the person on the other shop door seemed anxious/stressed. I don't think the retail shops will be making much money as it's a pretty unpleasant experience. I don't recommend it, I'd stay at home a bit longer and go out once other people have got used to it

Puffinhead · 21/06/2020 18:48

Yes, I was talking about this to my mum yesterday. I can cope with driving into work once a week (I’m on my own) and a supermarket (it’s not a busy one) and that’s about it. I’m going to dread the school run once that starts up again.

onemouseplace · 21/06/2020 18:56

I've been feeling like this - I'd be telling myself that I need to get out of the house everyday and then put it off so long that I was going out once a week, if that. And when I did go out I'd feel really stressed about other people's actions - people not social distancing etc.

I need to get out more, if just to get my daily movements up as I have PILED on the weight in lockdown - this has also made me feel anxious about going out as nothing fits and I really don't want to see anyone I know!

titsmcgee · 21/06/2020 18:59

Yes, I get out once per week if that, get super nervous now in crowds, and haven't stepped foot inside a shop since lockdown. I'm generally extremely sociable, have to travel loads for work, and this is so unlike me. I'm not sure what needs to change in order for me to adjust my behaviour back to normal. I'm aware this is all totally irrational.

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