Stress Center Peer Support

Sometimes when my anxiety is bothersome I will go into a store or reallly if i am around a place with a lot to look at I find my eyes just cna't adjust. Like there is too much for my eyes too look at. Too much going on in general. It hurts and is confusing to look at a lot of items...anyone else get this? And if so what should i do about it? Thanks ~Erin

I can definitley relate and will be watching for response on this, thanks for posting, pinkee

I have this too. I also get so overwhelmed and have a hard time making a decision. Its like everything is coming at me and my brain can't process it all at once. I don't have an answer to make it stop, but I do find that if I have a list then it will help me get through the shopping more easily. Its funny how some days I don't get this at all and others I do. Before I had anxiety I never had this, now I get it half the time I shop. I used to love to go shopping.

Boy can I relate to this,making decisions and just sticking at whats at hand for the moment. I have ADHD which in itself causes anxiety by not being able to concentraite and so forth. If all else fails you might want to look at this condition. Since I had this all my life Im kinda use to this now. For sure you are not alone on this one. Best of luck to you and keep me posted on this one.

This happens to me on days when i'm more anxious than others (hi Erin!). So what I usually do, instead of letting myself feel overwhelmed is, I'll go into a clothing store - or it could be the grocery store or wherever, and I'll touch the things in the store. Feel what they feel like...pay attention to one thing at a time...
I have the biggest problem in stores like Winners because nothing is organised for me to see really...I have to be very patient to be in that store....I get to the point where I just want to leave! lol! But slowly I sort through racks and look at colours and textures and just try to be where I am at that moment.

I get the same way, but I think it's because there's just TOO MUCH STUFF in the stores. How many different kinds of bras do they really need to make? Don't they realize that people with anxiety get confused when confronted with too many choices! LOL I get so overwhelmed in the underwear dept. I end up leaving. One day I just grabbed a package of something and left. I was lucky it was actually my size, but I have a feeling I would have worn them anyway just so I wouldn't have to go back to the store!

Hi All,

For me it's about too much noise in stores, loud speakers really drive me crazy and I have left a store because of them being continuous. Also too many people especially the ones who block isles as they and 5 others talk together.I wasn't really sure if this was the right place to post this but what can it hurt...right! It felt good just to write it down. LOL

Thank you all so much for responding to my post. I am glad im not alone with the overstimulation. : )

I've had this same problem for years until I started working this program. Basically in the past I would walk into a situation as you described and try to control it all. I would quickly become fragmented then frustrated then overwhelmed then exhausted. I would leave with my mind spinning and confused. Almost dazed. What I started doing now is breaking down the situation or catagorizing the various elements of interest. Then taking a deep breath calmly and gently I make a plan to explore each area of interest. The relaxed breathing is important, I feel I'm being kind to myself. Not whipping myself into a frenzy. Then I causally begin covering all those areas in a mowing the lawn fashion. The understanding being I can only mow one strip of lawn at a time so I go through a department store or grocery store the same way. It's essentially making a mini plan or setting mini goals and this prevents me from being so overwhelmed as I focus on each strip of lawn or grocery isle so to speak. I don't worry or anticipate anything ahead, I don't concern myself with someone snatching something up before I can get there, I stay in the present as best I can. I hope this helps! Tune

Thank you so much for that suggestion I wasn't sure on how to help myself with it and didn't know what to do. I will try my best to put your tips to use!