Anyone have trouble going to the supermarket?

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I'm okay with Bi-Lo and stores like that, because they are usually quiet and free of crowds.

But not Wal-Mart. That's a true chore. It's the long lines and the overall grim atmosphere. Now Target is almost as bad. Those two stores nearly kill my entire day.

Once upon a time back when I was a housewife shopping for several people, that kind of supermarket shopping was what (I know now) was my Special Interest. I spent enormous amounts of time, much of it alone, getting the Sunday and Wednesday papers (the ones that had supermarket ads and coupons and recipes) and certain women's magazines, cutting out and filing coupons, trading coupons by mail with other people who could use one kind and not another, salvaging and filing Proofs of Purchase for refunds/rebates, considering which supermarkets had Double Coupons then with the shopping itself (I did try to pick low traffic times), scanning the shelves for more rebate and coupon offers, including the labels of things for coupons printed on the labels. A Triple Play was when I could get something (that we'd use) absolutely free, or even make a profit on it, with a coupon from the paper, doubled, a coupon on the label I'd use later, and a rebate by mail (carefully including the cost of the stamp, envelope, and gasoline to the store. It was a great game, but I did tend to get overstocked on things, even if they were things we'd use eventually (another factor in the game: whether something would go bad before we'd use it).

I'm usually alright. But sometimes I can't even leave my bedroom, not to mention go anywhere with random people present. So having to move about through busy bodies and all that noise (and my auditory issues are rather mild) will send me into tears. There have been many times where I'll go out for a day-trip and immediately have to turn around as soon as we reach our destination. I always feel like some spoiled brat - and probably look that way to others around me - but I just HAVE to leave.

When my car was working, my preference was to shop at grocery stores that were open all night (not convenience stores, but big grocery stores) so I could avoid crowds, traffic, noise and other sensory overload triggers.

Unfortunately my car has been broken more than three years now, and I have to take what transportation is available. I have a helper now with a car which is much better than taking the bus (especially in hot weather when perishables go bad before getting them home).

Supermarket's are a nightmare for me, I hate flourecent lights and people. Bingo, the double whammy!

ME TOO! I can go if he's with me, but I have a time limit, and when it's starting to get too much, then I don't care if I'm done or not, it's TIME TO GET OUT! gah! I go all week without groceries, and he comes home to an empty 'frig' but I can't help it. Going after hours is better, I agree with that, but the lights are still bright... and anything in the deli case has been put away. Night is better but not great, obviously

I hated supermarketing so much that I developed a superefficient supermarketing routine. It involved knowing all the things I was going to buy, knowing where they were located in the supermarket, and supermarketing them in orderly order from one end of the supermarket to the other before self-checking-out and GingTFO of the radioactive/biohazard zone.

I struggle when I'm on my own in a supermarket. I must come across as 'shifty' or up to something. This morning, I went in for some milk and muffins. I used the self-service check-out, which often drives me crazy with orders to do things I've already done or to hurry up. After scanning the items, with no problems, I went into my pocket to get my keys with the clubcard on it, to find a paper hanky (which I'd used to dry my glasses) entangled around them. I eventually managed to get them free, all the while I was thinking that the check-out was going to time-out (I don't even know if it does that).

I've been thinking about this topic a bit lately, mainly because I don't really have a problem with supermarkets. I've come to the conclusion that this is because I live way out in the middle of nowhere!

Most supermarkets don't bother my sensory issues. Hobby Lobby typically bothers me more, just because the products are so huge, detailed, and right in your face. The aisles are big enough in supermarkets that the products aren't right in my face. They're also not that loud, and they're aren't that many people in them, probably because I live in the middle of nowhere and keep odd hours. For instance the grocery store in the beginning of this vid would probably be hard for me to deal with! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UviCfQC8Uzk&NR=1) But the supermarkets around me are never, ever that crowded. Even the closest mall to me is rarely that crowded. (And the one time I've been in it when it was, I freaked out a little.)

Maybe some of you Aspies who find supermarkets rough should move out to the country! XD

Anybody have trouble with the "new" style supermarkets more? What I am talking about is that it the style of supermarkets nowadays is to build them with open ceilings and exposed beams, versus using acoustic tile ceilings. The ceilings are typically much higher, and the lighting is mercury vapor floodlights, which I find make an annoying buzz and a harsh blueish light. I tend to like older, more traditional supermarkets that have lower ceilings with acoustic tile installed. These supermarkets usually have fluorescent lighting which is better than the mercury vapor, but can sometimes be a problem if the lights are not maintained, and the bulbs flicker. Older supermarkets are usually quieter, less crowded, and much to the mystery of my NT acquaintances, I prefer more