I found I coped quite well during our states Isolation lockdowns, I’ve always liked my own space and I’m not super social.

Now that things are getting more back to normal, I am apprehensive of leaving my house, going out or just having to talk to people is stressing me out, anyone else going though something similar?
thanks.

Hi Okyllek, me too me too! You are not alone. But I know once I'm back in the routine, I should be fine again. I often find the worries beforehand to be much worse than the actual experience. Try not to think and just focus on the action - put on your shoes, open the door, walk out of the house, lock the door, get into the car etc.

Hi Okyllek and welcome to the forums.I absolutely understand your apprehension about getting out more after the lockdowns.I am still getting my groceries delivered was going to go back to the shops bit decided I like having them delivered and O don't go out.I think as time goes by it will get easier to start venturing out and socialising back to how you were before.If you still feel you are struggling with getting out maby it will be worth seeing your GP in and talking to them about your anxiety.
Take care,
Mark.

Hi and welcome to beyond blue forums.

I have 2 answers to your questions and then some...

I cannot remember if it were a meme or not but somewhere I read it was an introverts dream. Funny or not. Not for me to say.

There are some for whom it became their normal and decided they did not want to venture out. Whether it was a want or not was another thing. Some feel they have to stay away from other people.

My only thoughts on the matter are that after a while isolation is not ideal. I was working from home for too many years and that isolation does wear you down. So some form of interaction with the public helps keep me sane at least and I mean to that with sincerity.

Also being outdoors is good for us if not just for physical health... Thinking about walking in this instance.

We are constantly evolving, and can adapt to almost anything if given enough time.

People generally have a habit of creating "comfort zones" in which they eventually become "uncomfortable" leaving (obviously). If they spend too long never really leaving these comfort zones then leaving them becomes beyond simply uncomfortable... it becomes fear inducing and even potentially traumatic.

Comfort Zones are not just places BTW. They are also routines, behaviours, the ways we do things, the routes we take to go places. They are systems we put in place so that we can predict outcomes and minimise unexpected surprises. Spontaneity, whether good or bad do not exist in comfort zones.

I have noticed this in particular regarding the elderly. Completely confident when dealing with the things they know, but they become confused, panicky and even petrified if ever forced to do things outside of their normal routine.

The problem is that given enough time you can adjust so well to "comfort zones" that anything outside of them instantly overwhelms us. We can't "go with the flow" or "roll with the punches". Often we just freeze up and desire to flee back to the "familiar"... to where we feel safe.

But this is not really living. When nothing changes, nothing really can happen. Nothing can stimulate or inspire us. We can't evolve or improve or feel our experiences. Live in the moment. Every day just becomes interchangeable with any other.

A feeling of safety is good... even necessary. But if it can only exist at the expense of everything else required to feel alive. Then it is a heavy price to pay.

Fortunately as I said before. Practising and learning to enjoy things outside of your comfort zone is much easier, once you understand that comfort zones are not necessary just places. And once you re-develop that talent... things outside of them become far less scary again.