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What is it about Walmart and my anxiety?

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Posted 8/7/2014 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
I can be doing just fine and as soon as I get into that store I feel weird, dizzy, and my face feels numb and it scares the heck out of me. I try not to avoid the place because in this small town there's not much choice. rolleyes
Posted 8/7/2014 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
I had to giggle at this post, because me and Walmart have been having anxiety issues for years. I typically have to go to walmart a lot, and it always seemed to be on Friday, and that is when I would have such severe anxiety attacks, once in the line checking out, the cashier saw how bad I looked and asked if she should call 911, thankfully my dad was with me and could finish my transaction.

Our walmarts are super centers and very big with a lot of people, I think that could be a problem, I always take a xanax before I go, I got better last year but went in one day and it had been raining terribly, I was walking through mens ware and next thing I knew I was on the floor, I slipped in the biggest puddle, I had a concussion and every thing, so now when ever I go and it is raining I walk like a duck in there.
Posted 8/7/2014 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Deb,
It's better that you do NOT avoid WM anyway! Avoidance only reinforces your fear (I should know!) I had a panic attack in WM one time, but toughed it out. I knew that PAs can happen anywhere at anytime. I kept reminding myself of that! I had a PA at a grocery store one time too. Same story! By not running out of the store, I did not create a fear of that place. My world would have kept getting smaller and smaller! :(
But my biggest victory was when I was first in the very worst grips of panic and such. We were on our way to town (lived in the boonies) and halfway there I had a major PA. My Dad offered to take me back home....I wanted to say YES soooo bad!!! But I knew that if I did, I would likely become agoraphobic. That was a scarier thought than having another PA, so I told him to keep going on.
So please try your best to keep toughing it out! You'll be glad you did!
jl
Posted 8/7/2014 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I do try to stay with it and not run. I used to go back to my vehicle but not anymore.
Posted 8/8/2014 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
It's the awful lighting in Walmart! It makes me nuts!!!
Posted 8/8/2014 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
I agree that the fluorescent lighting is to blame.

A lot of stores have fluorescents, but they must be particularly problematic at Wal Mart. (perhaps just the sheer number of them?)

This kind on lighting, (as opposed to incandescent) is constantly flickering at a very fast rate...but it is enough to trigger anxiety attacks in those who are prone.

It is not unlike how flashing lights can trigger some epileptics. (this is NOT to say that an anxiety sufferer will have a seizure...this is just a similar way in which triggers work to cause our issues to switched on)

This can be overcome. I used to have trouble in WM and certain other stores with fluoresceents. I forced myself to stay and shop longer than I needed to...and eventually became desensitized to it.:)

Hope you find the same thing happeing to you.

S.C.
Posted 8/8/2014 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
Here's a link for more reading on this:

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/88918/43465/underappreciated/


S.C.

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