Do you feel sick in big stores?

https://leminal.space/post/13477106

Do you feel sick in big stores? - Leminal Space

Big box stores, Walmart etc. After 10 minutes I feel like I’m getting the flu. Weak. Headache. Fuzzy. I hear it from other people too. They attribute it to the lights, security system, plastic fumes… We used to joke that they have a giant soul-sucking machine in the basement.

Nope, can’t say I’ve ever heard of this before
Yes… Because I have anxiety stemming from being around crowds of people. That’s why I only shop at places like that when they first open in the morning and nobody is there and they aren’t playing music/ads hella loud yet.
Walmart depresses me with its new bare concrete floors, and dystopian looking decor. The sheer amount of stuff to look it is overwhelming, too. So yeah, I don’t like going there.
I feel overwhelmed at stores especially when they’re busy. I found that shopping with noise cancelling headphones/earbuds helps massively.
I’m not affected by the visuals afaict. I do wonder about the air. I always wear an N95 respirator in any store and that helps filter pathogens. I haven’t brought a CO2 monitor or anything like that though. I have been wanting to do that.
I think you may have an anxiety disorder. You should talk to someone professionally.
Replies like that are a sure sign of something.
I wouldn’t say sure, but worth exploring. I’m not any kind of professional. But I know people with similar experiences.
I got like this in shopping malls, and some big box stores until my early 20s. I’m sure it’s related to some type of social anxiety or overstimulation.

Just to mix things up:

No, I haven’t experienced such a thing but I’m also barely ever in a big box store

I bet you don't even own a TV.
I don’t get it but thanks
I’m now just thinking of Chuck McGill in Better Call Saul…
The lights bother me and something makes a high pitched sound that bothers me (tho this is getting better as my hearing goes).
Sounds like anxiety, possibly social or stimulation. Do you get like this in other super crowded locations that are not enclosed (think open air malls, concerts, etc.)? What about in a location that has constant background noises, but you’re alone or with very few people?
I’m impressed. Most people would hesitate to diagnose a stranger’s experience from a dozen words.
Dude. You gotta calm down. No one is diagnosing you with anything. You asked a question, and we’re all answering it. No need to be a dick. We’re all mares here.
Lol I liked the question and your answer, then they have you that response like wtf
Lol! Yeah, I don’t know. To be fair, their username is infinite_ass… troll maybe hahahha

I can diagnose you with poor reading comprehension. Do you know what a simile is? You said “I experience XYZ …” and the commenter replied with “Sounds like ABC …” and then asked a bunch of clarifying questions. They didn’t diagnose you.

Now, I’ll allow you might have lumped this reply in with the others who did say you have some kind of anxiety, so fair enough. But consider the other people who replied with variations of “I experience the same thing and it’s due to my anxiety.” Are you unwilling to consider the possibility?

Look up supermarket syndrome. It’s a thing apparently
No but being in one ranks highly on my not want to do list.
Yeah but my crazy mother spent 15 hours every Saturday and 15 hours every Sunday, to shop for herself and buy the barest of the bare minimum for the kids while skimping out as much as she can on them. I went consecutive years never sleeping on Sunday night because of her. I never shop in person anymore, if I’m in a store it’s for an online pickup order or exactly one item. One time my online pickup order was lost and took 20 minutes to be remade and I had a panic attack and was on the verge of vomiting. Fuck target and I hope every C*stco becomes an Amazon warehouse. Even better if Mario went for the ceo to impress his brother.
Yes. I get sweaty and kind of panicky. I usually do curbside pickup for thjs reason, but if I have to go, I plan out my path and keep my head down.
i feel anxious sick there, but not sick sick

Lights, general dystopia, annoyance at zombie like customers juts roving the lanes impeding my existence, never having what I actually went there to get.

Yeah. Big box stores are a fucking. Nightmare all the goddamn time.

I felt like that last week at the farmer’s market. I hate it.
OP, please reword to be an open ended question.
Wear an N95. Nearly all the fumes will be filtered.

Correct—you’ll have lovely pure fumes with none of those nasty larger particulates.

Seriously, read up on what N95 filters out. It most certainly isn’t gaseous fumes, vapours, or VOCs. If you’re using them for things like paint spraying, good luck.

I would never use an N95 for paint spraying. They do work great at filtering perfumes and the smell of the laundry aisle.
If I spend too long (30minutes) in one of these big stores like shoe or clothes shopping I do get sick, headache, stomach feels weird. Does not happen in grocery stores though.
Not really. It’s not the location that’s the issue for me but rather the other people there. I get uncomfortable in big crowds. Not overly so but I don’t particularly enjoy it and at times it feels a bit suffocating.
The rows of flourescent lights make my eyes tired and sometimes hurt my head.