Walmart

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I practically have a meltdown or panic attack when I need to go to the grocery store. Food City is 3 miles away but is not as stressful. Walmart is a half mile away but is sooooo anxiety producing. I get so amped up by the time I get out of there and only spend about 30 minutes. I hear people say they hate going to Walmart. But could it be this bad? Is it me? Is it harder for autistic people. What do you all think?

I'm guessing it's the crowd or bright lighting that bothers you at Walmart?

Personally I prefer shopping at Walmart because it means I only have to go to one store if I need more than just groceries. It means less human interaction by staying at one store.

For me all stores cause problems because of bright lights and crowds. I get around this by wearing sunglasses and a hat to reduce light exposure. I also try to go in the morning to avoid the crowds. This time of year, I avoid the stores all together. I'm only going for the necessities until early January.

Not all Walmarts have bright lighting--I've been in a few that cut down the use of lights.

Most stores have very long hours--which means that you may be able to shop at an hour when the store isn't busy--usually when they first open. Around here, 4PM on a weekday also tends to be a quiet time--assuming you survive the commute.

Some of the bigger ones can be like a maze or a labyrinth
that you can get lost in,
it feels like you can walk forever and never find what you're looking for,
and you have to ask a worker
what aisle something's located in.

A lot of the other stores around here have closed or are in the big shopping mall that I can't stand, so I'm forced to go to Walmart every now and then. I don't like going there because of all the noise and the bright lights and the crowds. However, I rather go by myself than with somebody there because I like to find what I need and get out of there as quickly as possible while other people I know like to look around a little bit.

Many stores have a main walkway for quickly getting to a particular part of the store. Usually a large rectangular or square path.

I'm betting that you are taller than I am.

I hate the hugeness of Walmart because it takes forever to get what you need but it does provide some cover. In Walmart there is so much space even if there are a lot of people you can usually maneuver away.
However, even though it is so big, it still feels like a single beast. The tension is often palpable.

Walmart didn't bother me until the one I usually go to installed super bright lighting. It is like as bright as those lights construction crews use at the side of the road to do road work in the middle of the night. I still don't like talking to cashiers regardless of which store I go to.

I can't stand Walmart either: lights, people, chaos. I avoid it at all costs.

Unless, I have ordered a car pick up from Walmart. That's pretty fantastic, actually.

Even so, I still get grumpy with the products from Walmart. I've found that the exact same product box from Walmart and Target yield different experiences.

An example is Crayola markers - 8 count. The box looked the same from both stores. The Crayola markers from Target had caps that fit on the ends of the markers. The Crayola markers from Walmart had caps that didn't fit on the ends--but were cheaper.

Even though the Walmart markers were cheaper, they would cost more over the long course from kids losing the caps...then you'd have to buy a new set.

I'm waiting for a grocery store vending machine experience. Order everything from an app and machines fill the order. You show up and enter your name and pin or whatever and your choices arrive through a large pickup slot.

I don't have autism and shopping at Walmart is difficult for me to.

Like someone else said, it is like a huge maze, and there is something mentally exhausting about having to walk so much, then find and choose what I need from a huge selection, especially with displays everywhere catching my eye and employees in my way stocking 24-hours per day.

Well than why not go to the less stressful one, I know its a little further but if getting groceries at Walmart stresses you out that much it would probably be worth the slightly further drive.

I'm 5' 2". The odds of that aren't particularly good, but it is possible. About 15% of the females in my age group are shorter.

Yep, I'm shorter. And every bit of height helps when you're trying to find your way around aisles that tower over you like skyscrapers.

The thing that I hate about Walmart is the fact that the employees are engaging in small talk for ages while I'm standing at the cash register, waiting to make my purchase.

I would recommend trying Walmart to go. You order your groceries online, go to the store, and an employee brings them out to your car. Also, if you live near a King Soopers, you can order your groceries online and they will deliver right to your doorstep at the time of your choosing. I used to work in Walmart's bakery, and would wind up with sensory overload every single day. I bought tinted glasses because the constant fluorescent lights made me nauseated and extremely irritable. Even now I don't go in there if I can help it.