grocery stores and panic attacks??

[Tinalouise]

OH my! Why is it that grocery stores bring on panic? The aisles all start looking wierd, like they are coming in on me and i start to get dizzy. I have had to run out a few times leaving my cart and all. I once heard that it may have something to do with the flourecent lighting?? Any ideas anyone?

[Sarah44]

I have definitely had grocery store anxiety! I never left my cart, but I sure wanted to. I agree that the lighting and the aisles, the product displays all contribute. For me, there is more to it as well- the feeling of being burdened by the contstant chores of family demands, having to be very patient with other customers (I tend to fly around practically ramming people with my cart), having to wait to pay with slow-moving clerks. This is not in the front of my mind at the time, but I really feel it adds to my unease in an unconscious way.

It's not so bad for me now. I try a few things. Try not to be in a big hurry-shop when you have time. Shop right after you exercise.  Buy a few things just for fun, products that you want to try. Think about the other customers-they might suffer from panic attacks or be in pain. We all have to grocery shop anyway! Breath, Breath, Breath. Be in the moment and distract yourself from panic. Smile and wave to a cute kid. Grab a magazine in line. Read the ingredients on a package. Try to make it as fun as possible!

Hope that helps!

Sarah

[Eva62]

I had this when I first moved down to Georgia.  My husband had to take me to the emergency room one time because I thought I was having a heart attack.  Try to Breathe through it.

Eva

[michelle1970]

 It happens to me too. I have to go more frequently and be in there for less time. otherwise I ask an assistant to watch the shopping trolley while I have a walk outside. I usually feel better when I come back in the store.

[aussiegirllost]

I've had the same thing, those fluroescent lights do it for me everytime, I hate them!
I've really wanted to drop my basket and run out of there, but I somehow push through it and make it out okay, and now that I've done that, I find I am ok most times when I have to go.

[pippip]

Its kindof like the vast display or products when there's a million of them that freaks me out i think. Once you break the cycle and can go a few times without panicking it gets louds easier. Maybe it would help to give yourself a time limit like 10 or 15 minutes to go in and then give yourself permission to leave, or if its the long stretch that bothers you go in for a couple short sessions, if you can. And like everyone else said breathe, you won't die or pass out and nothing dreadful will happen, really.

[Dave89]

HAH! I have a story for you all!

I just came back from two stores, Barnes and Noble and Pathmark.

I have never felt that scared in my life. First the drive there. I panic every time i drive. I dont show it, but im nervous as hell some thoughts when driving are: "Oh god this guy is close to me is he going to drive throug the back of me???" "woah i heard a noise (swear on my life i think this one) did someone just shoot me in the back and i couldent feel it?????? *touches back and looks for blood* no, no blood, i think im ok".

Then im in barnes and noble, its about 400 degrees and im wearing a jacket, a sweatshirt, long johns (both pants and shirt) and a pair of sweats, i was sweating and i was nervous as hell, i was thinking "Oh god are people looking at me?!?!?!??!" and stuff like that. I was so tempted to pick up a book about anxiety disorder but i saw people around me and thought they would think im weird, and the clerk at the register might laugh. Every time i bent down it feels like my heart was working at its full possible potential (To bend down, OK???!! And im 17!). I finaly escape that place, drive to pathmark (Oh god not the drive again)

At pathmark: Oncei  got in there isaw people my age and thought "Oh god are they looking at me??!?!!" im walking down the aisles, my hearts racing for no reason (It always does this even when im not anxious, does that count as part of my anxiety??) the lights are making me see weird (I have dperesonalization/derealization so that makes it 10x as worse for me). I went to get something and i felt embarassed about it, so i dident even get it!!!!!!! Because i felt embarassed!!! I finaly walk fast out and get in my car and drive home only to come home and talk about it. Point of story: ...There really is none. This stuff just sucks.

[Tinalouise]

Thanks everyone who helped out.. now i dont feel so alone! This stuff does suck!!

[Sarah44]

Quite a common problem-Listen to this from my morning paper in an article about Paula Deen-Food Network's Face of the South:

"Some days I could get to the supermarket, but I could never go too far inside," Deen said. "I learned to cook with the ingredients they kept close to the door."

You are definitley not alone!
Sarah 

[Tinalouise]

WOW~ thanks Sarah.. i did see that Paula had agoraphobia and panic on her biography on the food channel... sometimes it is nice to see how other people handled their condition and can live a normal life .. i wonder if she is on any medications though to help her?