Today I went inside a Walmart for the first time in four years. It's been a pretty big fear of mine for a while now, because the last time I was in one I had a really, really bad shutdown. The worst I've ever had to date. I've been afraid that going back to one would result in the same reaction. Going in, it was pretty bad for a while. There was so much visual stimulation that my vision started blurring and I slid into pre-shutdown mode almost immediately. Couldn't focus my eyes on anything, couldn't reciprocate conversation. But I seemed to adapt after a few minutes, and it was a very short shopping trip. Overall, it was okay and a very interesting experience, if nothing else. For me, it's pretty rare for sensory overload to de-escalate the way it did. I haven't figured out what I did right this time, but I'm hopeful that I will eventually and can use it in the future to avoid shutdowns.
_________________
I have not the kind affections of a pigeon. - Ralph Waldo Emerson