Starting to become agoraphobic in lock down

Hetty58 Like you, living alone,I do need that 'chat'
As we are limited to where we can/cannot go /who we see I have to feel sorry for the guy who helps with my garden needs and politely puts up with my 'chatter.'From the required distance I must add. Could the endless cups of tea I provide help?

Having always led a busy social life I am surprised not to find myself frustrated at the limitations we now have. However, I’ve always been one of those ‘take things as they come’ sort of people. I don’t worry about something until it actually happens. Even when the doctor found a lump I didn’t think that it was cancer. It turned out not to be, but serious enough for 5 days in hospital, but I just assumed that I would get better, and did.
I am sad that my visit to Oz for my new GS’s arrival has been scrapped, but otherwise life goes on. I don’t worry about being in the over-80 group, and supposedly very vulnerable. I take a long walk every day, chat to the neighbours, and anyone I meet. I go shopping about once a week, and it doesn’t worry me at all.
I suppose that I will feel rather nervous when it comes to mixing in with a lot of people at close range again, but I will probably take it in my stride, like all the other things that life has thrown at me. I feel very sorry for those of you who are finding things difficult. Please try to get out of the house every day, even for ten minutes. Covid is a virus which is passed on by close contact, not a ravening monster just waiting to leap on anyone who sticks their nose out of the door!
Be brave, but be sensible.

Like so many of you I am comfortable with the present situation and hope Boris doesn't say the over 70s can meet up soon cos then i'll have to either go back to the Choir I belong to or be considered a wimp for not doing so!

I think agoraphobia is probably overstating the case but certainly reclusive. I enjoy my solitary walks ( with dogs) and don't really want to talk to anyone. All things being equal I can go back to my voluntary work at the end of May so better get my head around socialising again.

I once spent 2 years not even peeping my head out of the door. Please if you can manage it, try and go outdoors every day, even if its just a 200 m walk. Agoraphobia has a way of creeping up on you and once you start being afraid to go outdoors, it's very difficult to overcome the fear.

I had agoraphobia for 16 years where I could not leave the house, even to hang washing on the line was a fete in itself, I've never really recovered from it, but made myself go out daily , got a job, and pushed myself to go out for fear of becoming house bound again, now I'm at home, I have started to not want to go anywhere again, and I'm scared that it will escalate into not wanting to leave the house ever again, if you have ever had this you will understand my fear. If anyone has this I'm totally understanding the anxiety that this causes, push yourself to walk around the block every day, it helps to make you feel better

I'm feeling less like going out as the weeks go by.
After the birth of my first child I had post natal depression and avoided going out as much as possible. This all feels very familiar.

I agree I think this will be an issue for lots of people. It’s cosy staying in and you get so used to it you will have to push yourself to get out when it’s all over . I definitely think I will feel like that myself.

Lots of people are becoming terrified to go out
Lots of people are loving it
Lots of people are happy to be getting money for sitting at home
Lots of people are going to suffer in the years to come
It’s going to be an interesting study into human nature and the British psyche in years to come

I fear I could become acrophobic. I was never one for socialising - have always been a bit of a loner. I didn’t mind supermarket shopping and browsing clothes in M&S etc. but I don’t think I’ll enjoy these things any more. I do a supermarket shop every 7/8 days for myself and OH, my elderly mother and elderly neighbour. Last Friday, I had to queue nearly 20 minutes at the supermarket. It was soulless. Nobody interacted with other, just stared into space or stared at their ‘phones. When I eventually got in (following the one way system) I grabbed whatever I needed and got out as soon as I could. I didn’t browse as I used to. I even felt nervous driving - couldn’t wait to get home.So grateful for my small, bungalow in a nice area. I feel for those who are worse off.

I think most people will be surprised at how soon we forget lock down and will soon return to 'normal'.

Once more people return to work, more places start to open up, and egged on by the people who were never really locked down to begin with, the fear of missing out will soon overcome the fear of going out.

For those who think they were locked down for no reason - you've done your bit to stop our hospitals being overwhelmed. You should be proud, I am. I'm not used to taking a backseat, I usually like to be in the thick of things, but for once I accept I am more likely to be a hindrance than a help if I get ill. If all those people who gathered in hordes over Easter had done the same the death toll may have been a lot lower by now.

I have had Agoraphobia since I was 20, and although learned to function so that people are not aware, the feelings do not go away, in my case.
In the 1980s, when I was a young Mum, I went from housebound, to be able to go out, uncomfortably. some Drs and Therapists were unkind. I was made to feel lazy, cowardly, and even accused of enjoying my illness.
I went back to work in the 90s, but the guilt feelings for how I felt never went away.
This is my long way round of explaining that I appreciate this lockdown. I am better in, better away from places and people. I don't have to wear my brave face. I have not had attacks of IBS, the feeling of impending panic. I am in my safe place and am not guilty for being so.
it is going to feel weird after this lockdown, but with repeated visits out, we will adjust again. Just count your blessings that you don't feel ill days or hours before an event, or feel panic and horrible discomfort when you try.
It is difficult to over come. I feel it always stays, however much you do again.
Apologies for being a black cloud.

It reminds me of when I had my first child, not permitted out for two weeks, and when I first took my son out in the prom I couldn’t wait to get home to my cocoon. Everything seemed louder somehow.
I have a feeling this isolating will have the same effect on me.
That said, I am enjoying it really.

Same here Davida even down to the trip to visit our overseas family!

I'm perfectly being happy being at home with DH (we go out daily for a walk, and less-than-once-a-week for shopping). We're fortunate in having a retirement income and an "easy" home and garden in a quiet area, with good neighbours. It's everything else - our families, the rest of the country/world - that I am worried about. (I'm now fully resigned to being unable to see our overseas family until 2021, even though that'll be three years since we last saw them.) In due course I'll be very happy to return to "normal" (whatever that may be) but in the meantime I'd rather play it safe.

I haven't left the house in 5 weeks - I can't exercise - most I could do is have other half push me in the wheelchair! I can garden, craft, read and write my books, and am fairly happy at home, but miss my U3A groups, WI etc,

I am finding that the less I do, the less I feel inclined to do and friends I talk to on the phone are agreeing with this feeling. I think this is probably what we are all experiencing, as this becomes the new 'norm'. It is worrying me and leaves me wondering what the future holds.

In the country where I live there isnt a lock down, just a few restrictions,distancing for one, but I dont go out as often anyway.I imagine if we had lock down it would be very strange to be able to go out again and I would be wary of meeting people.After shopping I hand sanitize as soon as I get into the car, I have a botttle of sanitizer in the car,I wash my hands as soon as I get home,I feel I cant do more,people in my age group are very good at obeying rules, sad to say not the younger generation, thats why we havent reached the peak yet,why dont people obey rules?

Cheneslieges 132 that photograph could be my DH.
As for me , I am happy in my own company and am fortunate enough to have a lovely garden which we both tend,a radio the internet and books plus two cats and a lovely visiting moggie who hasn’t heard of social distancing,?
That suits me.
As Theoddbird says I too feel sorry for those who have no access to a garden and are maybe self isolating in a high rise flat or sharing a small place with others.

I am happy at home as well. I shop once a week. This coming Saturday I have a click and collect...quite relieved about that. I accept the situation but feel sad for those who don't have any outside space. I feel blessed that I do and also can walk along the riverbank without meeting anyone.

It is interesting that the Government don't appear to have had much trouble locking us all down but it does look like they are going to have a lot of trouble getting us to engage with the outside world again. We are visiting only a couple of small shops and ordering the rest online from local small businesses. We walk everyday except in pouring rain and I am enjoying returning to being a teenager and doing what I please, when I please.

Missing family (although we do see them once a week when, delivering shopping, they wave and chat from the drive) but otherwise loving not having to be anywhere or do anything.

Could easily become quite anti-social....!

This sums it up perfectly!

I'm happy staying in and in no rush to go out and catch the virus . As long as I can get my shopping delivered there's no reason for me to go out .

No I'm the opposite and feeling very claustrophobic.

I’ve done 2 supermarket shops and one click and collect. I felt vulnerable at each one and have decided that it’s time just to go into the back of my cupboards and start eating all the store cupboard items that are there. This may lead to very boring meals, but hopefully make me more keen to go out when this is all over.