Christmas Shopping Trauma
 

I went to finish the last of the Christmas shopping today with my brother. While I felt rough, typical symptoms, I wasn't struggling too much to follow conversation or with the hustle and bustle of festivity, which I've always enjoyed.
However, when my brother and I went our separate ways to get each other's presents before meeting up for a meal... I felt lost within 10 minutes of being left on my own. Where we were shopping is an town which I know like the back of my hand. I've been shopping there for the last 14 years, near enough every week, so feeling lost and disorientated in such a familiar place was scary in itself. Within half an hour, and presents later, the noise of people and buskers and the lights on the buses and christmas displays became overbearing and terrifying, I found myself wandering around, aimlessly, like a little old woman... I almost got hit by a car which I hadn't been aware of. My limbs felt slow, heavy, my reactions dulled and my head clouded and my vision filled with flashing not existent lights.. I was on the point of breaking down, when my brother called me, I wasn't sure where I was, but I felt better when he found me near the restaurant we planned to eat at.

Has this happened to anyone else? I feel truly scared now to venture out of the house alone, or even be alone at all..
Thank you for reading, any advice would be greatly appreciated

This sounds like a classic Christmas sights and sounds over-stimulation. I have not ventured out during the Christmas season in years. I know that I will have problems.

Your familiarity with the town has no bearing on your inability to navigate the town during this time.

First suggestion. Carry a small note in your wallet that states that you are recovering from a brain injury and may get disoriented from time to time. It should also list how to reach someone who can come get you. Put this note right in front of your identification in an obvious position.

Otherwise, you may get hauled off as drunk or such.

Second, if you must be out alone, some areas are quieter and less crowded first thing in the morning, except for the next few days and the first of next week. Wear foam ear plugs to help with the sounds. Even sun glasses can help.

I hope this helps.

My best to you.

This happened to me in Walmart the other day. I was doing fine and then I suddenly felt like everything around me was unfamiliar, even the people I was with. Everything you described is the same thing that happened to me. It lasted all the way until I got home and in the comfort of my own room.

This happened to me in a Bed, Bath and Beyond store. My husband just had to stop in for a "moment". We walked in and the store was packed. It smelled so strong from candles etc.

My husband veered off and went to the mens room and didn't tell me. I was looking around for him and started to get out of whack and scared. I knew where I was but It was too much. I went to the quietest corner of the store and just waited until I saw him.

When he saw me I was shaking. He said he was so sorry. I told him NEVER to do that to me again. He didn't know this would happen.

Yes, in strange places with two much stimulia my head reacts for sure.

Been there, like yesterday
 

Just yesterday I went clothes shopping with my daughter. She drove, and I could tell I was easily distracted then. She asked if I wanted to go home, but I said no since she really needed longer jeans (teenagers!). We were in a changing room and I tried on a skirt. When I took it back off I couldn't find the jeans I wore in. Or at least that is what I thought. There was a pair of rumpled jeans thrown on top of my purse and coat, but I picked them up and did not recognize them at all. I looked over the jeans and the pockets, I would swear I had never seen them before in my life. They were my jeans that I had taken off just three minutes earlier. We went home after that. I can laugh about it now, but I am so thankful my daughter was right there in the changing room with me. I don't know what I would have done if I had been alone.

"PCS moments..." :D

Thank you everyone that has replied, I feel reassured that I'm not completely insane, I told my mum when I saw her and broken down in tears, I felt so stupid. She seemed completely baffled and didn't appear to understand even though I tried to my hardest to explain. It's so nice to hear that I'm... 'normal' I suppose.. Thank you :)

I read these posts yesterday and I STILL went to the mall today. It was a quick errand, but while I was waiting for someone to help me, I definitely started to feel foggy. And now I have a headache.

This must be why God invented online shopping. ;-)

I went to Walmart again tonight and also to a clothing store with my sister. The whole time I had glasses on which seemed to help a lot. I got a little dizzy, but no confusion or any other crazy symptoms this time. People were looking at me like I was crazy, wearing glasses indoors at 7pm. Hahaha. Oh well.

Wondering if the glasses helped :)...

I was going to say... :D