The lights, the shine reflecting off of surfaces, the perfumes, the chatter of little children, and mothers who are not watching them. The bright colors of the packages, the people pushing into you so they can get to whatever item is behind you (doesnt matter where you stand, someone wants to tuck up next to you.) the coupon sorting, and remembering the list in your head.....AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!! I swear I have such melt downs in the grocery store.

Standing in the middle of the shampoo isle the hubby says "do we need veggies?" Um.....no idea! Blank look on my face, clearly the lights were on but no one was home. DH said "i will get them, just stand here. I will be right back." by the time he came back I was a tiny bit better, but clearly struggling.

Am I going insane? Why cant I shop? Shopping used to be a pleasure. I used to think of all the recipes I would make and try, and think of others that I could adjust. I was a champion at coupons, and knew how to match the sale price to the coupon price, and bla blah....now....I cant figure out how many ounces I need of this product to qualify for the coupon, even tho it says it right there!

I froze, standing near tears clearly lost, ready to start shouting "GET AWAY FROM ME!" to folks that passed by too closely. They are going to lock me up some day.

anyone else get this way? Do I need to go be checked into an insane hospital?

Deijbo-

Yep, there is a definite "grocery store affect." The lights and the cans of soup and the canned music all together plus the walking, even w a cart, on days when I am vulnerable to this, will put me in my bed.

Hang on girl. Get delivery if you can until you are sure you can take it. It is a negative for some of us at least some of the time.

ANN

Before Paxil, Yes. After, enjoyed shopping more. I would have panic attacks and have to leave at once, leaving my sometimes full cart at the door..

Since I no longer drive I'm limited as to when I can go to the store. If I use a taxi service, which I have a few times, I can go early in the day and it's not too crowded. But......it's way too expensive for me to use it too often. I usually wait for one of my boys to take me.

Sunday morning is the best time.....like between 8-9 AM. I do get easily overwhelmed and can't do too much at once. Like keep track of my coupons, list, recipes......I just can't anymore. I give all my coupons to my son and his girlfriend. They're thrilled to have them. I hardly cook anymore so most of my purchases are frozen foods and fruit.

The lights and piped in music are annoying so I really try to have my list prepared and don't linger looking at stuff. I try to get what I need and get out.

I just cannot do Saturday or Sunday afternoon there anymore. Too many kids and people rushing around. I love kids and have two of my own but I always made them behave and act like human beings......not crazed monkeys at feeding time at the zoo! Honestly, what are people doing??

I'd love it if the grocery store would have delivery. I'd use it exclusively. How do we get them to offer it?

Kitty,

Well, for a start, you could tell them in an email that you want delivery. Maybe they have plans or a sister store that delivers.

ANN

I've heard this referred to as "Walmart Syndrome"--too much going on at once, the sights and sounds and commotion. That happens to me after church, in grocery stores, etc.

I could NEVER shop without a list these days. I used to write some general things, such as "something for dinner" or "dessert for Saturday" or even "lunch meat". No more. Now I have to decide ahead and write it down. I just can't do that thought process amongst all the confusion and activity.

One grocery store bothers me more than the other; I'm not sure why. It isn't busier necessarily, so it must be the lights, the sounds...?? I avoid that store unless I only need three or four items.

The last time I went to a potluck dinner at church, everybody was talking at once, kids were running around (being good, but being kids)...I was like Bambi in the headlights. I realized somebody had just asked me a question, and I couldn't frame a response...the best I could do was think, "I'm supposed to do something now..."

That was my last potluck dinner, and I LOVE potlucks after church. Nuts.

I go to the grocery store website to print out my shopping list from the weekly ad. Saturday mornings before 10 are most easy for me. I used to like late night but afraid to drive in dark. Used to shop on lunch hour but fatigue put a stop to that. Grocery shopping was something I didn't mind but now I would rather go hungry than wind up face down in aisle 7. They do not deliver to home or office. I've tried and refuse to use an expensive service like Seattle Sutton. My kitchen looks like I should be on Doomsday Preppers. I live alone but I have a deep freezer.

I went to see Godspell Saturday night, and overall I really enjoyed the music and the play. But I thought I was going to lose it for the first five minutes. They had the whole cast walk out individually, and they all started talking about different things. Chaos! I guess that was the point that none of us are listening to each other. I took some deep breaths and closed my eyes and was okay. But I really understand the sensory overload thing. I still go to movies, but sometimes the sound effects and music are overwhelming. I stay away from malls, and just go to a few individual stores that are accessed from the outside. I stay from Wal Mart as much as possible.

No wonder everyone who frequents Walmart dresses/undresses funny. They are all nuts and are there to drive us nuts!!!

It's a conspiracy I tell Ya..

That's the one thing I love about Walmart......I could show up in my pajamas and running shoes and nobody would give me a second look!!