To ask if anyone else feels unwell/confused in shops and supermarkets?

[hatetheshops]

Nearly every time I go shopping I seem so find myself feeling really unwell and confused. It's hard to describe but I feel dazed and disorientated like I can't focus on what I'm doing. I'm young and otherwise healthy... I first noticed it happening in large supermarkets/shops like Tesco, B&Q, Costco. But now it seems to be every shop. I'm wondering if it's anxiety, although I don't think that I feel anxious in shops and there's other situations I find a lot more anxiety-provoking that don't cause the same effect?

Does anyone else relate?

Sensory? It’s bright. It’s loud. There’s a lot of different things to look at. People all over.
I always feel almost dizzy in shops. Only go to quieter ones alone now.

Yes. But I'm autistic.

I'm the same. In my case it happened after being seriously ill and I think I was left with some sort of sensory issue..

They are often very noisy distracting places. I have to really try hard to focus in Aldi, sometimes I literally have to close my eyes and breathe deeply.

Have a quick Google of "supermarket syndrome" - It's a thing!!

It could be anxiety, I find sometimes anxiety hits where you least expect it to.

Have you ever had any seizures? I only ask because my first couple of one-off focal seizures happened in one particular aisle of one supermarket - I assumed it was something to do with the frequency of lights or something. It was unlike anything I'd ever felt before that point; total disorientation, unable to speak properly or explain what I was feeling. I've since been diagnosed with epilepsy (not based on those two one-offs; it later developed into seizure clusters), and since being medicated, I can be in that aisle with no issues.

I get that too OP, I think it is anxiety. I absolutely hate it, and can feel my heart rate go up - so many people, bright lights, queues, loud music, the urgency of finding everything I’m looking for, constantly bumping into people etc

I’m not ND or anything like that, and don’t get it anywhere else

I never used to but I do now, peri menopause I think, sensory overload

Bloody music everywhere also

Long aisles without clear signage does my head in

I like Lidl and Aldi, small, no choice.

Yes I get this in shopping centres and in my case I have found it’s usually dehydration. I drink a full large water bottle of water and feel better and can concentrate again.

Oh I never thought about it being sensory overwhelm... I'll have a look into supermarket syndrome and epilepsy too - thank you. It's awful as if I'm on my own I really struggle to shop, even with a list I struggle making decisions and concentrating on what I'm doing. When I'm with others they notice it too and say I'm very dazed - sometimes I have to go wait outside/wait in the car as I just don't feel right!

Yes, but like PP, I'm autistic.

I get migraines and have even vomited on my way home from a shopping trip before. It's horrendous.

Hypersensitivity. Try going shopping on Austisic evening just to see if it makes a difference. I can only do click and collect. Btw. Ear buds in and book or music does help.

Yes, mainly due to the price of everything.

This...

Yes, am I avoid them at all costs. We have whoosh here. £2.99 delivery with Tesco Clubcard prices. Game changer.

I think it’s the bright ceiling lights in some shops coupled with their bright flooring.

I don’t feel like that in every shop but there’s some that make me feel disoriented.

Oh my goodness OP you've described exactly what happens to me. It never used to happen but is pretty bad for a few years now.

I mostly get food shopping delivered now, because I become almost totally unable to take a decision on what to put in my trolley, even with a list. I can only bear it for half an hour and then I just seem incapable, confused and a bit panicky.

I’ve just vomited thankfully outside of Lidl but for me it’s POTS

I have noticed this over the last year and assumed it was just about getting older. I increasingly find supermarket shopping stressful because of over stimulation.

And don’t get me started on the checkouts, one question after another, ‘have I scanned everything’, ’do i want a bag’, ‘how do I want to pay’, ‘have I scanned my Nectar card’, would I like to make a Charity donation’, can I swipe my Nectar card in order to redeem my points’, can I insert my card rather than just tapping it’, ‘do I want a receipt’. It just goes on and on, when all I want to do is pay.

I have no idea how elderly people can deal with all the checkout nonsense, it leaves my head in a total spin !!

Didn't know this was a proper thing ,thought it was just me .Had a severe episode of anxiety and depression and suddenly just couldn't cope with supermarkets. Literally left mid shop .I built myself up and started just getting 1 thing then a 2nd .Still yrs later I avoid the larger supermarkets and never buy more than 2 bags worth ,just seems to be too loud busy airless and hot whichever one you are in.

Yes, for me. But only in shops where I can hear the electric whine of lights/fridges/freezers etc.
At it's mildness it gives me a fuzzy head where I struggle to concentrate/recall what I need/easily confused.
At it's worse it physically makes me throw up (home bargains staff were amazing at looking after me when that happened! )

I know which local shops I can only spend 5min or so in while feeling very queasy. It sucks...

It happens to me in our local Asda bright lights and crowded.
I know shop in Morrisons as it's not as bright if I'm on my own.

Can't stand the Trafford centre that's too bright, too hot and the crowds.

Absolutely. I get in there and my vision starts to blur and I feel dizzy. I think its partly 'real' because of the lighting and visual onslaught and partly psychosomatic because I'm waiting for it.

I can only go to supermarkets on a weekday morning because otherwise it's overwhelming (I'm ND). I didn't realise, but when I used to have to go shopping in Aldi on a Saturday years ago, I would joke that I always had a post shop breakdown in the car park, because I would burst into tears. I never knew why. Now I get shopping delivered as much as possible, especially in December, when I do not step foot in a supermarket at any time.

There is also one branch of Superdrug that instantly triggers a migraine aura for me. Something about the lights absolutely everywhere, including along the edges of the shelves. I can't go in there any more.

Yes. I am autistic.

I feel so ill after being in them.