Asklemmy

Hi I'm AuDHD (autism ADHD) it is not inherently autistic to find places like grocery stores discomforting, as they are meant to be discomforting, as your decision making is heavily reduced when you're overstimulated, and thus customers buy more product, or the wrong product so they have to come back and buy more, etc.

I do get overstimulated and sometimes overwhelmed by grocery stores, yeah. If you have any questions about this, or autism, or ADHD, feel free to ask!

Have a great day and be kind! :D

It's not autistic to enjoy or prefer peace and quiet. It's autistic to be unable to function without it. If you were capable of grocery shopping before, I wouldn't worry too much.

It's so weird that these days you have to almost bring a note from your doctor if you don't want a constant barrage of sensory overload

I want to shop at this grocery store. Don't get checked rn because of current events. I'm autistic if you need help or something.

I really wish this was the norm. I never understood why the lights have to be so damn bright, why the music has to be loud and repetitive and just general noise. I remember having gone to Wal-Mart when they once were 24/7 and going in at 2 in the morning to shop was pure damn bliss. Much better than the times I've gone in and people are stupid, noisy and in your way all of the time.

I too enjoy some goddamn peace and quiet.

Hello, I work in retail in Australia. The shopping malls I'm at all have "quiet time" for "people with sensory issues" every Tuesday morning from 9 to 11:30 am. It is as you described, and I agree with you.

Now I'm not sure where I stand on the spectrum but I've heard colleagues say they also prefer the quiet time, so, there you go. I just don't understand the point of bombarding people with music all the time especially for Christmas.

Sadly, I shop with my minor children in tow so no shopping environment will ever be calm or quiet for me.

I can't answer about whether you should get checked out.

However, I've always found shops to be a fairly hostile environment.

They're crammed with products, and every single one is trying to convince you to buy it.

The very lay out of the store is not designed with your interests in mind, but rather to extract money from you.

Wish we had this where I live 😭

Guess many people "not on the spectrum" but with afflictions like unspecified neurodiversity, being old, depression, anxiety, ADHD, ... can benefit from those calm environments.

I feel like nobody I know really likes grocery shopping, at most they tolerate it. I don't get why the store managers don't make it an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Nothing weird about enjoying that. I enjoy it too.

Although I am Autistic so my opinion means nothing here.

FWIW I wear active noise canceling headphones when shopping and it also helps improve the experience.

Its always better if possible for you to go shopping as far from "peak hours" as possible.

There's a store in the next town, which has only organic foods. Rather expensive to shop there, but I still go there more often than I need to, just because everyone's friendly and relaxed.

Maybe if I suggest it to the local grocery store, they'll do the same...hm.

The store I go doesn’t have the dimmed lights nor is it spa level , but it sure isnt the barrage of lights and sounds you are suggesting.