Hi
I was just wondering if anyone else was struggling more than usual with basic things like going out to shops due to covid. I don't go out a lot - I do my weekly food order online, my husband kindly fills my car up with petrol for me; but occasionally I cant avoid the fact I need to go to shops. Today was the Vets to pick up my dogs prescription and the Post Office/Shop to get stamps and biscuits for my elderly aunt. I looked at the text the vets had sent yesterday to say the medication was ready and the instructions "ring and pay over the phone first", then "let us know you have arrived in the car park and we will bring the medication out to the table under the gazebo for you" ... I looked at the message yesterday and several times today before I sat down and made myself ring and pay, then I dithered about actually going out, but the thought of coinciding with school runs forced me to get in the car. I'm not worried about covid and say catching it from going into shops its just my normal fear of being in a shop and paying at the till etc is ramped up a gear with the rules and regulations - like one way arrows on the floor, keeping your distance, standing on the cross on the floor till a cashier is free, not to mention the panic of hearing and processing what is said paritucarly hard with face masks on. I managed the Post Office/Shop ok for a change and then drove to the vets, turned into the carpark and it was hideous - cars everywhere and people and I found myself trying to reverse into an awkward spot and stalling the engine, then I looked at the gazebo - the people - dogs, owners, vets and I just couldn't do it, couldnt work out which bell to press, where to stand while I waited etc etc! I panicked and drove out again ! And now i have to go through all that tomorrow ...I'll probably end up parking some way away and walking .. and that will solve the parking issue and I'll just have to deal with what bell to ring, the gazebo, all the people, where to stand etc !!!!!!
Sorry to sound so stupid - I just wondered if anyone else is struggling more than usual with processing the signs, the rules etc only I found it hard enough before without all this ! I'm currently going through the assessment process but am pretty sure i will receive an autism diagnosis, however being 52yrs and dealing with my limitations and anxieties all my life I've no idea what is normal anxiety or autism related ..or maybe they are one and the same !! Sorry for the long post ! Agatha
