Starting to become agoraphobic in lock down

We're in our sixties and continue to do our own shopping, despite our son offering to do it. He's a key worker and has a family to look after. We wouldn't burden him with extra responsibility. I'm glad though. At first I felt like I was in a germ soup in Tesco. Now I'm much more relaxed and used to it. If I had stayed at home since the lockdown I think I would now be terrified of going out.

The first couple of weeks were a struggle but it's now seven weeks since I was sent home from work due to asthma and a heart condition I go out for my daily walk and family get shopping for me .I am nervous of returning to work I miss my colleagues but to be honest I haven't found it that difficult as I enjoy my own company and I certainly don't miss the 6 o'clock alarm

I do walk the dog every day and get into the garden. My son dropped some things off yesterday and we sat outside in the cold having a chat, well distanced. It did make a change. It depends what happens after the lockdown is officially over as to when we venture into the world.

I go out almost everyday, either for a walk or a cycle ride and shop once or twice a week. I feel so much better being out, not sitting in the garden but doing some sort of activity. I am lucky that there is still a small cafe open doing lovely healthy type takeaways and coffee. So once a week we have one, sit in the garden and enjoy it. Its lovely not having to cook and plan a meal.

I have had 2 weeks more isolation, that the amount set by the Government, I have lost track of time as you can tell.. so I was isolated with a bad tummy bug 2 weeks before this started.

I usually need to get out,, I still need to get out.. I do my allotted half hour walkies first thing in the morning, few people about,, other than that, not seen anyone, other than delivery people...

I am thinking ,,, I am scared to go out in the car even..! certainly can`t see me going food shopping, will keep up with deliveries I think

Life is not worth living, other than for my kitty cat. I worry about dying and she will need feeding!

Had this condition after a traumatic event 27 years ago,wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.I have left my house twice in the last 50 days.
Lots of mediation, Audio books. Not a lot of news programmes and talking to GS age 13 when he brings milk he gets me 2 pint size so need 2-3 per week always makes me laugh . Keeping it at bay but the longer this goes on the harder it will become don't want to go back on meds

Although not quite in the vulnerable age group my OH is, so have socially distanced and used click and collect, every two to three weeks with a veg and meat del from local shops we always use. Went for a long walk the other day to pick up something from a friend and felt very vulnerable! Sleeping very well at the moment probably because i know my family is safe and locked down! Weird!

its been 4 weeks Friday for me. in theory my partner should have been home but i dont drive and he is self employed still working so no options. also i had for first time in 8 years a serious mental breakdown not so much to do with the current situation though it did not help but we have just had a really bad 6 months but we will get through it,
im not one to go out much anyway sometimes in the car with partner though dont get out so has not really affected me in the respect but would be nice to choose where and when to go out instead of being told.
oh yes and we had a few days booked away do that couple times a year due to our animals and that was cancelled which was annoying

It's bound to happen. I have fb friends in France and Italy and they are all unsure about venturing out at last, after perhaps complaining that they were like prisoners! They are horrified by anybody out without a mask, so I expect it'll happen here too. And who can blame them after drumming into us that we mustn't venture out!

If I analyse my daily routine I tend to be quite busy so not much time to dwell on Covid19.
Gardening, walking, jobs in the house, just cleaned my carpets a job which really needed doing, done some decorating.
Morning phone calls from and to friends and family.
Talk to locals in the village when I'm gardening out front.
I have managed to get mainly our food from deliveries with just a couple of click and collect.
Others purchases delivered so most things have worked out well.
We miss going out for our weekly meal and the monthly chinese take away but food wise we've always cooked ourselves.
I miss the grand children, we had originally planned on visiting during the Easter but that was cancelled.
My walking group was cancelled so go out with hubby some days depends on weather.
I'm also doing my family history research etc.
I have to say somewhat concerned about going out again into the shops, not shopped for must be near 8 weeks, hubby goes to click and collect I have health issues.

I'm having a 'distancing' get together in my garden tomorrow.
There are 5/6 of us who meet once or twice a week outside. I'm well and truel peed off with leaning on a garden wall while trying to act as if it's normal. I put it to 'the girls' and all were very happy to walk down the side of the building and into my beautiful garden.
It will be the cheapest garden party I've ever given. I won't have to supply a thing ?

I am not agoraphobic but have become so socially phobic I'd like to wear one of those Muslim face veils when I will have to go outside and meet strangers.

I've always joked that I could be a recluse. We have lived in an isolated area for many years and it suits me fine.

But....Knowing you can't go out even if you want to reminds me of that 'trapped' feeling I used to get if the car was in dock for a few days. It might sit in the driveway for days on end because that's my choice but when it's not there you feel really cut off.

I'll never be agoraphobic though because I love the great outdoors.

As an agoraphobic for some years, I fully understand the feeling of being comfortable at home, the danger is you could
still be housebound for years.

Natural to fear going out now, a rational fear , but agoraphobia
is an irrational fear and very, very difficult to overcome.

I've always had dogs to walk and I've continued the morning stroll. I just don't feel right until I've stretched my legs.

Today, I chatted to three familiar locals and felt really happy - until the after lunch slump. I feel guilty about not doing enough. I'm content on my own but do need the occasional chat.

The only thing I have done in the past 6 weeks is go out for a walk most days. We have some lovely places to walk where there are hardly any other people.
DH goes to the supermarket once a week and does a big shop. I have a few medical issues and I'm probably more vulnerable than he is.
I don't mind not going out, although I am missing my daughters and granddaughters.
I feel very nervous about starting to go out. DH may have to go back to work in the next few weeks and he often has to go to London on public transport. I'm very worried for him and terrified he may bring the virus home with him.
I know he gets cabin fever at times but I also know that if he does have to travel for work he would rather drive than use public transport.

No I go out every day either a walk or the allotment or the beach I ve felt it very important to make sure I do go out and only a few bad weather days that I haven’t been out I ve been to the corner shop a couple of times but for the most part not gone to any shops and that’s what I m really looking forward to
I can’t imagine people saying they are enjoying been in four walls

As I don't go food shopping ( haven't for years) don't watch/listen/read the news, for the most part of the day I forget it's happening.
I suppose it helps that that I'm not a frightened nervous person and have always believed when my numbers up, my numbers up.

quizqueen In fact, less than 10 in the whole constituency of 70,000+, so I've been in lockdown for nothing other than the government seeing how easy it has been to control my freedom of movement!!

But there might have been hundreds of actual infections when people felt terribly ill, and if all those people had been mingling, there would have been a high risk of more deaths.

We didn't go out much socialising before lockdown but we did go shopping and to visit places. I ought to want to go for a walk but, frankly, I don't particularly want to go out until we can go to visit the family (5 hours away). We do venture out very locally a couple of times a week, otherwise it's just the garden (which we're fortunate to have).

DS and DiL are working from home and have no desire to go out either.

We're all very happy staying home!

Its worth being aware of.

Its worrying how many parents are saying they dont let their children out to exercise due to their own OTT CV anxieties.

Having some insight is the first step to preventing it getting out of hand

Yes I have felt from the beginning that I might become very reluctant to go out again. . I've always preferred to stay at home and now that I have the excuse I'm enjoying it too much!

Not really for nothing Quizqueen. If you hadn’t done lockdown, there would probably have been lots more deaths.
It has and continues to be worth it surely.

I certainly feel " on edge " when I go to the local shops and can't wait to get back for a wash and brush my jacket down. Even getting kitchen roll with Dettol for underneath my shoes.

I actually keep holding my breath inside the shop and shallow breathe until I'm in the air.
Hope I don't stick like it.

Yes we carried on walking as we live in a quiet village but I don't like the idea of supermarket shopping now. It would not be fun with the queues and worrying about other people there. Gone are the days we just popped in for a couple of extra items!