Shopping Trips!

[pandora]

I find that now that I am a bit further in my healing. If I have extra funds and I know it will not make me short anywhere else...a day of retail therapy ( on a good day) can boost my spirits. As long as I do not go overboard and not use money needed for bills!

 

[WorkingThruIt]

I hate shopping. I try to go during weekdays because it not crowded. If I have to go on the weekend, I go early in the morning so there are not as many people. If something crazy happens and I need something during a peak shopping time, I always regret it. It stresses me out and drains me.

I have this terrible habit of moving very fast when shopping. I say terrible habit because I walk so fast that my leg muscles burn and hurt. I try to slow myself down, but I end up speed walking again in a few seconds.

I was having a particularly agitated day recently but had to go to the store. I was having trouble getting the carts apart because the kiddie seat belts of two carts were tangled. Some man behind made a rude comment and I was yelling obscenities at him before I had the time to think about it. It was a good reminder about why I don't shop while agitated.

 

[her_indoors43]

:hello:Well what a shop day I had today. Didn't go to town...but ducked up to the local to grab a couple of things: a birthday pressie for hubby's mums which we heading off tomorrow now an not today.

The local dress...this little lady's having a look and her hubby comes in to find her. I'm nattering to the sales lady and the other women...only us 3 in the shop...as we picking out some bargains. He joins in the convo, and next thing him and the sales lady are off talking about nam. My ears pricked up...sales lady saying how she lost her brother too...think she said motor neuro...and she blamed it from nam.

Then off they go nattering about all the side effects from nam and all that. I pipe up and go hey cool your a nam vet mate that is so awesome. I chat to some wonder nam vets online everynight. Well his eyes light up...

So off I go telling him about this site. I said get online check out ptsd site...it's full of nam vets and iraq/afghan vets...and all sorts. There's a great group of people and a lot of great information...and I said all that stuff you just talked there's alot of info on there. So him and I had quick chat...he was really cool. :rolleyes:anyhoo.....

 

[BethRSA]

So nice to know that I'm not the only one--others hate shopping too.

I go early so there's not as many people there. When the kids are out of school for holiday, I try to go even less. Stocking up helps. If I want to try a new shop (like when I moved), I gave a friend from church a lift so that I wouldn't be alone. She thought that I was so thoughtful and I was glad for someone's company to help me think of something else.

 

[Jagged Angel]

Shopping trips are horrendous things. And I used to love shopping so much! I have gotten to the point where I can cope if I am with someone (usually my partner), because I can talk to someone and concentrate on pushing the trolley. I find that if I have a trolley to push in the supermarket, I am not so bad.

I went and did the shopping alone last week as an experiment. It didn't go well, I had panic attacks all the way through the supermarket and had myself convinced I was about to drop dead of a heart attack (according to my Dr, there is nothing wrong with my heart, so it shouldn't be a concern!). This was the first time I had done the shopping on my own in years.... The thing is, I was so tempted to just leave the trolley in an aisle and run off home...but I didn't. I was determined to get the shopping done and get all the groceries home myself.

I was so proud of myself that I managed to get everything on the list, pay for it, and take it home by myself! A year ago, I would never have even contemplated doing this.

I don't know if we ever get rid of this completely, but we can move through stages of it and cope and manage things to the point where we can function in society.

 

[WorkingThruIt]

I work as a nanny and decided to take the baby to the zoo yesterday. I opted to take the Metro (transit train in DC) because I didn't think it would be crowded with everyone off of work for the July 4th holiday. I'm not really sure why I thought that mass transit into the nation's capital when everyone was off for a patriotic holiday would be a good idea, but that is for another thread.

Anyways, the zoo was crowded and the metro ride was packed with everyone shoulder to shoulder. It was seriously stressful. I was sweating profusely and talking very fast when I returned the baby to his parents. I'm sure I seemed about as calm as a crack addict needing a fix. Hopefully, they will let me take care of him again next week.


I realize that this is not entirely on the topic of shopping. It is about dealing with crowds and strangers and didn't quite seem worthy of a new thread.