Starting to become agoraphobic in lock down

I quite enjoy it. I find I can shrug my shoulders with a clear conscience and not do things I would have felt obliged to do.

This is my 9th week as I started early due to having asthma and other health problems.

I do wonder if I will ever feel relaxed enough to go out again, even though I miss all the groups I used to belong to.

I've mentioned this to several friends and they all feel the same.

I think I am starting to feel like that. Been out to supermarket today for big shop and will now stress for a week or more in case I've picked it up. It is now the only place I come across 'many' people as I avoid humans on walks. Oh well, c'est la vie.

Yes: it worries me, too. Especially as, although I’m someone that is quite happy with my own company most of the time, I’ve always enjoyed chatting to people when out and about. I’m not sure that I’ll ever feel comfortable doing that in the future....at the moment I don’t even go into my front garden for fear of the neighbours trying to start up a conversation with me.

I went to the bank today. It felt strange. I wasn’t worried but it felt strange.

A friend and I decided we were becoming reclusive. I have online shopping and I walk in a place where there are very few people but I am quite happy and I feel safe.

I do miss my family and friends but keep up with them all by text etc.

I think it will be very strange when we can go out and about normally again as I don't think that will happen for a while.

I think that it will be a real concern as the lockdown is lifted. I can only imagine that there will be advice on the safest and best way for different groups to proceed. I guess that we will have to try to move forward together. Hopefully there will be local groups to help. I think though that getting out will be a process rather than an event.

Rosalyn I didn't know banks were open. I really need to transfer some money.

I've got so used to not going out I feel it will be a real effort when I can. I'm not wearing make-up and haven't worn any of the clothes I bought for our holiday the first week of April.

It's strange isn't it. We think we SHOULD want to go out and about, but we know it is safer inside. For many of us, being inside our homes for weeks on end isn't so bad (I do realise that for some it is horrible), and not as bad as we thought it might be. Our homes are a safe refuge where we don't have to worry about viral particles floating around.

When we are given the opportunity to get back on the bus or train, attend Church etc - it will be scary. I am just thankful that I can stay inside for the time being - and am so very thankful for those workers who venture out every day on my behalf.

I used to love food shopping in the supermarket but now feel it's a bit of a chore. The enjoyment has been taken away.

However, you can input your postcode online and find out how many covid-19 deaths there are in your area, which I did. Guess what, a big fat zero. 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!!

I'm not sure agraphobic is how I'm feeling but I almost feel bad saying it -and even considering I've had a mild dose of CV and worrying about DCs working frontline -but for the first time probably since a teenager with the long summer holidays ahead I have had time just for me.In the daytime DH has been working in his home office.I have read,gardened,slept a lot when ill and watched a lot of birds and clouds go by.Nothing each day but a blank canvas. Of course I miss the DGC and haven't been able to go near my elderly mum for 3 weeks
But rather selfishly its been good not to be a carer just for a while
It may take some readjustment when normality resumes.!I fully intend to have more 'me' days in the future.

I can’t say I have felt like that probably because I have continued going out to the supermarket when necessary as well as going out for a walk each day, sometimes twice a day if I fancy it.

In addition a few times we have had a run out in the car mainly for a change of scenery and a different walk.

Much as I love our home and garden I can’t imagine feeling reluctant to venture out.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.