I’ve gone inside a shop in 4 months

[MyNameWas]

And now not very happy with my decision. We went into M&S all three in my family were masked and so were the shoppers in simply food. However the place was heaving and no social distancing was in place. I was there for about 10-12 mind , came home and washed hands/and the bits I picked up. Now I cannot shake the feeling that I might have picked something up...

This is the media’s fault. It would be extremely low risk that you have caught something.

I fear for the people have genuinely coming out of this with mental health issues. It’s awful.

Honestly I'm sure you will be fine xxxx

Thank you for the responses- it is reassuring to know that there are others who understand what I’m going through.

I really feel sick with worry...I don’t think I’ll be able to step inside a shop again...mask or no mask😔

I’ve been to shops many times since lockdown. Still ok! I do wear a mask and thoroughly wash my hands. I’ve not washed any shopping/groceries throughout the pandemic. I think the risk is properly low now.

The more you do it the more will become

I haven’t stepped in a shop in 4 months either. I’m sure you will be fine but completely understand your concern 🤗

Thank you. I suppose it’s the timeline...I haven’t gone to shops or work in 4 months. Have been working from home.
Today just felt scary if I am being honest...

I’ll try and dig up a link but I read that there were two hairdressers in New York who tested positive but not one of their clients (about 130) reported symptoms and out of the 60 odd who agreed to be tested 0 came back positive. It’s postulated that one caught it off the other when they took their masks off to have a break together.

Honestly masks make a massive difference and infection rates themselves are really low in the U.K.

It’s not impossible of course but it’s really highly unlikely. At the very least remember it takes an average of 5 days to start showing symptoms from the point of infection so if anything was going to happen you’ll probably know before the end of the week.

@MyNameWas I absolutely get your feeling! I haven't been in a shop since March either. No interest in doing so, no need to do so either. I do appreciate why the economy needs to open up, but I'm choosing to remain absent right now from anywhere I might intersect with people - not necessarily because of me/my family but because we want to see my parents (my father is on the shielding list) and my in laws who are elderly. To facilitate that, we're all abstaining!

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-hairdresser-salon-springfield-missouri-great-clips-infect-reopen-a9561691.html

Slight correction from New York to Missouri but I hope it reassures you.

Thank you for the link. I’ll have a read now.

It’s my husband..he was making such a fuss yesterday about how I’m closed minded and we should go into shops..atleast from a mental health point of view. When he saw the crowds he picked my daughter and stepped out..and I was stuck inside! The person who told him it wasn’t worth the risk!😡

What about people that have worked in shops throughout? We don't see huge numbers of cases in the retail sector, or else whole workforce's would have collapsed. Have you been to anyone's home? Maybe start small?

Now I’m sat here with high anxiety levels...

Iv been working full time in a shop (as have my 100 colleagues).... Non of us have caught anything yet.
We're in there 40 hours a week. Not. A. Peep.

Millions of people have been going to, and working in, shops over those 4 months. The majority unmasked. The majority didn't get covid.

The difficulty is that you've gone from nothing to full blast in one step. Most people out have been doing this all the time so are more used to it and have kind of built up to this point.

Your chance of having caught anything is incredibly slim, maybe next time just venture to a small shop which is less busy and build up from there.

No pepper- not been to anyone’s house. Don’t have anyone in the UK to go to anyway!

I've been going to the supermarket twice a week since lockdown began. I've never worn a mask, I will only wear them now they're mandatory. I pay with cash most of the time. I haven't caught anything.

Anxiety must be difficult but you are really overreacting.

If you saw it was too busy then you should maybe have avoided going in and gone somewhere else less busy. Choose your time carefully too and don't go in the middle of the day on a Saturday!

It was quite sudden how quickly it filled up...but yes don’t think I’ll do this again in a long time. Online shopping is the way for me I’m afraid...

Late afternoon is s good time to go. During the week is normally quieter than the weekend too

Try and think of all the supermarket staff working everyday all day throughout lockdown and most of them don’t wear masks

Don't stop going into shops as avoidance will just make it worse. Remember you do need to be able to pick up your life again once this is over. Go into your local corner shop/ mini market early in the morning - it will feel fine and will help you build your confidence. This is what I did back in May when i realised i was in danger of developing a phobia about shopping. I'm still cautious but it's become much easier.

I understand that I’m being irrational but I’m having a full blown panic attack now..I just need to go and shut myself somewhere...

Are you very high risk? I think this has been so bad for people's mental health. My usually laid back dad gets panicky now if he hasn't washed his hands every 5 minutes.
I've been in shops multiple times a week throughout lockdown and haven't picked anything up yet. I'm sure you'll be fine but if you have picked it up the chances are it will be mild and you'll feel better soon.