It seemed really surreal to me so I asked about it, apparently they have hours for people on the spectrum to make it more comfortable for them. As far as I know, I’m not on the spectrum but this environment was soooooo calming. It was like being at a spa. Is this not something everyone enjoys or should I consider getting checked out for autism??
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
It seems kinda counterintuitive to me from a business standpoint too. I feel like if people are in a better mood and relaxed, they would be more willing to buy more stuff? Or does the constant anxiety pressure people into buying more? I unno?
The logic I’ve heard is that people think less logically and are more impulsive when disoriented.
Some of the best paid jobs for psychologists are working for companies to devise surreptitious ways to make people buy more.
In advertising as well. I noticed quite an uptick in the ‘annoyance’ factor of tv and radio ads somewhere between 2005 and 2010. People were more likely to discuss bad ads, or ads with a quirk of some kind. Hate is an easier strong emotion to coerce with an ad so they fully went with it and somehow the negative attention equalled more sales.
It’s hard to imagine some business exec coming up with this research, it’s more likely a team of psychology majors who would rather earn more money than actually help people.
HEAD ON APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD. HEAD ON APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD.
Ha! That’s exactly what came to mind for me too.
I’m no psychologist but I’ve certainly avoided stores that made me uncomfortable because, well they made me uncomfortable
Yeah, if I ever catch a calm hour in the store, I’ll actually look through the aisles and check out products I wouldn’t normally buy. If the store is busy, I grab the usual and flee as quickly as possible.
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.
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.
By “current events” do you mean the chaos known as America right now?
Correct
As a Canadian, I feel sorry for you guys
Thanks! Don’t let your country become as fucked as ours.
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.
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.
should I consider getting checked out for autism??
do it because it’s much more common than people realize.
also, it’s called a spectrum for a reason; there are varying degrees of “strengths” and “types” of neurodivergence. (there’s actual words for them but my memory is useless before coffee).
There’s also over diagnosis where people want a reason for their personality traits and doctor shop. Sometimes people are just quirky as part of life experience, and not everything is a disorder.
