Anyone else feeling a bit "agoraphobic" now?

[GabrielleChanel]

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?

Yes! We are shielding. My dad popped some shopping on doorstep and I wanted to give him his Father's day gift. We were more than 2 meters away but I am still petrified of picking something up. I don't know how I am going to leave the house. I am petrified.

It is hardly surprising when the whole emphasis has been on staying at home and being made to feel there is something dreadful on every corner should you dare to step outside the door. Add to that the hysteria in the media, online and in social media, and it is small wonder that a lot of people are scared to venture out.

I think it will take a few weeks of others going out and about with little or no ill effects before others start to feel comfortable with even leaving home let alone going further afield.

@MinesaPinot

It is hardly surprising when the whole emphasis has been on staying at home and being made to feel there is something dreadful on every corner should you dare to step outside the door. Add to that the hysteria in the media, online and in social media, and it is small wonder that a lot of people are scared to venture out.

I think it will take a few weeks of others going out and about with little or no ill effects before others start to feel comfortable with even leaving home let alone going further afield.

I completely fall into this category. I like hearing of people going out and about and not picking up anything after a couple of weeks. I find it more comforting that friends who were as scared as I was are now starting to venture out. I am not ready yet though. We are lucky we have a garden for kids. I used to be very sociable and I am doing ok staying at home right now. Before lockdown I had to get out if my home every day otherwise i would feel restless.

It’s still the same place out there, just looks a bit different. The virus doesn’t roam the streets. It’s increasingly being shown to be hard to catch outside & infection rates in the community are pretty low. It’s quite likely on a trip to say the shops or a country park, no-one you pass will have it.

I felt a bit strange on the first couple days it all started easing. But now, it’s fine. I don’t wish this new norm to continue forever but I’m used to it now. I take my daughter to & from nursery. There, I have to wash my hands several times, go in a certain door & distance from the adults. But otherwise not much has changed. I queue for the shops, which is annoying more than anything. I see family in the garden 2m apart but to be honest, that really doesn’t feel abnormal. We aren’t a family to sit on top of each other. I’ve been for picnics in the park with friends. It’s a bit odd having to spread out but again, I’ve just accepted it now & it’s oddly normal!

The first step is just to get out. Once you realise that actually, it’s perfectly fine, it’s the same world, you don’t get immediately ill and in fact probably don’t get ill at all, then I think all will be well 😊

@onemouseplace

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!

Totally understand. I have only been going out when absolutely necessary which is maybe once a month. Other than that, I just go into my garden and that's my exercise. I had lost 2 stone before lockdown and despite my 'lockdown.. brilliant! I'll do this, and I'll do that - weight will drop off!' - none of that happened. So all the weight and more has gone back on and now the thought of going out, feeling breathless due to being so bloody unfit fills me with so much anxiety. Plus it's going to be so warm this week.. ugh. I hate myself intensely for not taking advantage of this time and using it for my benefit. (I've got a good treadmill at home - I think I've used it 4 times during lockdown.)

I have been going out daily but only to the local park and to small local shops. I can’t imagine going somewhere crowded like a shipping centre or getting on a very crowded tube or train. I am sure I will eventually but at the moment happy to keep away from crowds!!

No as been working right through it and in my days off I love being at home

Yes, I feel safe on my dog walks every day (outside and quiet areas) but I haven’t been in a shop since the week before lockdown started, DH Has asked if I want to pop to the local shop to pick up milk etc between deliveries and I just can’t bring myself to go in I’m worried about what will happen when DC are back at school.

@PersonaNonGarter

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.

A little and this sums it up. I find being out in nature is best where things are most normal and people are happy and relaxed.

I'm very good at putting my blinkers on and doing what needs doing, sometimes, but one day last week I felt frozen by anxiety and couldn't leave the house. I think it was hormonal issues being exacerbated by the unnaturaleness of this situation. I was ok the next day.

I'm making a point of going out and about as much as the weather allows and I'm trying lots of public spaces to see which are most comfortable.

I'm going out every day for a walk or to the shop, but I haven't seen anyone other than DP since March. I'm in Scotland so we're behind in terms of restrictions being lifted, but I feel like my chat will be so crap after months of just working/reading/watching TV that I haven't wanted to meet up with friends - I feel like I have no social skills any more and wouldn't know how to behave.

I misread a previous post as I'm very good at putting my knickers on and doing what needs doing

I need to put specsavers on my list of places to visit...,

I feel the opposite actually.

I've been out in big open spaces daily since lockdown started on walks etc and now I find I'm claustrophobic indoors around people (I live on my own). I don't like it if I feel someone's getting close to me and the thought of going into a crowd panics me.

Yes here too. I have only been to DM's garden, the stables to ride my horse and the local garage since end of March. I have avoided any informal "distanced" gatherings here in the village and lockdown has yet again served to show me I am very fond of many people but I have no desire to spend much time with them and my life generally is quite small and that's ok.

Yes, definitely.

I’m now having lots of people visiting our home, in the garden but I have left the house a maximum of once a week since March, sometimes less.

Next weekend, we are visiting a friend’s garden & I am quite jittery, especially at the thought of maybe needing to use their loo.

I can’t imagine ever getting the train / tube to work again, would feel so dirty.

Completely.
I'm on the outskirts of a busy city, and will not be venturing there for at least another 6 months. The thought of busy shopping centres horrifies me, I'm quite happy staying at home.
Not quite agoraphobia, but very very anxious.

So good to hear am not alone in this
Meeting a friend tmw for coffee

Yes totally. And I think it's totally understandable and reasonable given everything we've been exposed to. Is making me wonder if I'll be able to take the kids on holiday (if holiday permitted)...