How do I stand in line at the Grocery Store?

IAteSAForBreakfast

IAteSAForBreakfast

New member
I'm having great difficulty doing this. SA is preventing me from doing even the simplest tasks...
I'm at a grocery store and I'm near the cashier, the cashier is scanning my groceries....this takes about 1-2 minutes. During this time, I feel a rush of anxiety and I feel like people are watching me. In fact, I have no idea what to do...where to "look" or how to even stand. I will "crouch" up instead of standing straight and I will start looking everywhere because I'm unable to make direct eye contact with the cashier.

That was my experience along time ago, I never goto any store because of this.

Does anyone else experience this?
 
IAteSAForBreakfast

IAteSAForBreakfast

New member
It's making eye contact the hardest part. Do I stare at the cashier??? Do I read a magazine? I don't want to stare at the cashier because I don't want them to think I'm insulting them or anything.
I don't want to read a magazine either....because then how do I know when the cashier is done??
LOL.
 
SilentType

SilentType

Banned
I get the same way. I'm so happy to see the new self-checkout lanes in some of the bigger grocery stores nowadays. :)

What about the non grocery stores tho that don't have self-checkout lanes? I haven't figured that one out yet. I just find the shortest line and pick up a magazine or something to make myself look busy, but inside the panic attack is ripping at my soul. I take clonazepam and propanolol to control the attacks and it definitely helps me chill out in the grocery lines.

Peace
 
PhantomPod

PhantomPod

Well-known member
I have definitely experienced what you've described. I usually just stare at the screen and watch the prices come up as the cashier scans my things.
 
Dviln

Dviln

Member
My thing is I can't stand still. I think the cashier and the people behind me think I have to go to the bathroom cause I'm moving so much lol.
 
dottie

dottie

Well-known member
yes! so awkward! this is where panic elevates. i usually grab a magazine or pretend to be very interested in the covers. or i will look across the other side of the store so that my eyes are busy. you know what is really awkward is when they need to do a price check on one of your items and they start helping other people. you are stuck standing there waiting, feeling like a sore thumb.
 
Sacrament

Sacrament

Well-known member
What's the big deal? Seriously. You just have to realize that everyone goes grocery-shopping and that people have better things to do than looking at every single movement you make. When people go shopping and are waiting in line, they just want to get it done and go home. Just pretend you're looking somewhere else and do what you have to do: Put your things in bags and pay.
 
Siberdib

Siberdib

Member
I have the same problem, as sacrament states it should not be a big deal. Thats the thing about social phobia though summed up really, things bother us that are not even considered by most people. But that dosent make the situation any better, I usually try to focus on something in the distance, or pretend to be deep in thought about something, anything to make me seem well basically "at ease". Although really im extreamly aware inside that people could be watching me, and judging me. Its stupid really if you think about it, but I just cant help it.
 
Predacon

Predacon

Well-known member
I've never really had a problem waiting in line, I usually just ignore the people behind me and just focus on something else.
 
M

maggie

Well-known member
IAteSAForBreakfast said:
I'm having great difficulty doing this. SA is preventing me from doing even the simplest tasks...
I'm at a grocery store and I'm near the cashier, the cashier is scanning my groceries....this takes about 1-2 minutes. During this time, I feel a rush of anxiety and I feel like people are watching me. In fact, I have no idea what to do...where to "look" or how to even stand. I will "crouch" up instead of standing straight and I will start looking everywhere because I'm unable to make direct eye contact with the cashier.

That was my experience along time ago, I never goto any store because of this.

Does anyone else experience this?
Click to expand...
ahh yes, i know that feeling, and you described it well, it's the same for me. This is what i have been doing lately, to make it easier- go really, really early in the morning, like just when they've opened up, hardly anyone in there..and the staff is still kinda getting ready for the day, and preoccupied :wink:
 
H

hyp-hi

Well-known member
It can be a little uncomfortable sometimes. I usually just watch the screen that shows the items being scanned, or I just get some coupons ready, or get ready to pay. It doesn't take that long. I agree, don't think like everyone is watching you. There are not that many people in line and they all have their own groceries to take care of. You shouldn't let it prevent you from going to the store.
 
M

MelissaQu

Well-known member
Gosh I go through the same thing every week at the grocery store. Some days are ok, some are not. I feel rushed, like people are looking at what I bought, and then I feel pressured to bag the groceries quickly so that I can sign for the credit card and move so someone else can start. It's just the worst part of shopping!

Some things I am working on are standing up straight, no more crouching! Realize that people shop for most of the same things, toilet paper, tissues, etc It's not like you're buying something so crazy.

I hope it eases for you, I know what it's like! Could you possibly go shopping at a less busy time? Like during the day, or if it has to be at night, a week night?
 
B

blackcap

Well-known member
IAteSAForBreakfast said:
It's making eye contact the hardest part. Do I stare at the cashier??? Do I read a magazine? I don't want to stare at the cashier because I don't want them to think I'm insulting them or anything.
Click to expand...

Definitely don't stare at the cashier, or anyone for that matter! That would be creepy. Just look around at the other cashiers/queues, or just stare into the distance towards the exit. I usually do my shopping at night when it's not too busy, so there isn't a long queue behind me (often there's nobody). Having a long line of people waiting would make me a bit anxious.
 
okkamsrazor

okkamsrazor

Well-known member
supermarket_checkout.jpg


I agree CheckOuts suck, especially in large supermarkets. For normal people its only a series of moments and aside from the cashier do you think they really want to be there? I found out the average human in the UK spends around a year of their lives queuing, A YEAR (in some other countries its more)!! 8O
Thats CRAZY.
IMO having SA has made me become a very conscious consumer. Meaning I dont buy all my groceries in one big supermarket. I shop around and choose smaller stores = I feel more comfortable and im doing good to support local businesses :) **gets off soapbox**
 
hotsauce

hotsauce

Member
I find that pretending to do things until you can say have a clear que helps so maybe check the veg out and pretend your looking for a specific item.

Secondly even though this sounds ridiculous practice standing up straight chest out and good widish stance, I am well over six foot and had real bad posture for a while and walked with my head down but by the power of mind I now ball it around near everywhere.

Thirdly just dont make eye contact with them, if needs be pretend to be interested with some leaflet etc, then gradually as you hopefully start to get better manage to look the person in the eye.

Anyway post back and tell us how your next trip to the fun world of grocery stores goes.
 
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