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Sensory processing disorder inside your local Dillons Marketplace - how hard is it?
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Too many colors, sights and sounds? Dillons Marketplace
Sensory Processing Disorder (Sensory Integration Disorder) is a very real issue for many people, both adults and children. A normal everyday trip to the local Wichita area Dillons stores can cause many problems for someone whose brain doesn't process sensory input like the rest of us. Often some or all of the senses are magnified to that person. What sounds to us like listening to your radio on a 4, is like a 12 to them. It is the difference to us of looking at one photo (and seeing clearly all the details) or a collage of 100 (but not seeing details of each photo) It can be simply overwhelming and uncomfortable to a person who has sensory processing disorder.
Lets take a look at what it might be like for a person who has sensory issues to make a visit to their local big box grocery store.
Vision - The sense of sight is one of the first to be assaulted when walking into a large market store. Too many colors, products and things to see can quickly overwhelm a sensory damaged person. When those items in a store are not arranged in neat and tidy displays, it can cause some discord also.
Audio - Hearing is often the first or second to be triggered thanks to the store's loud speakers. Too loud announcements, shrill alarms or generally repetitive noises are all triggers. The general din of customer's voices combine to make a nonsensical but loud noise that might be hard to think through.
Olfactory - Have you walked down the laundry isle at your grocery store lately? Even for those with little or no smelling sensory problems, this isle is full of strong smells. For someone sensitive to smells, it can be nearly impossible to do. While the smells themselves may not be unpleasant, they may be magnified and cause headaches or other neurological reactions. The chemicals used to make the scents can often cause allergic reactions to even those without smell issues. Another place within a store that may cause trouble is the fish section and the deli, depending on how fresh the fish are, and what they might be cooking.
Physical - This one can manifest in a few ways. First, look at the area of any given part of the store. Is is cramped or wide open? Either can be a problem depending on the individual. Are there many different textures, including hard, shiny, smooth, rough, or soft and non reflective surfaces? Any one of those can cause a trigger. Second, watch for fans blowing. The wind on a sensitive person's skin can cause either a positive or negative reaction. Third, sticky or wet messes inside a store can cause fear and trepidation from someone who might think they'll have to touch it.
These are all outside of any sensory input caused by what the person is wearing which is a whole other article topic.
So, what do you do when these issues make daily living or weekly shopping a problem? Try a new store each time you have to shop if you have more than once choice in your area. If you can find a smaller grocery, like many of theDollar Stores are now offering inside their facilities, it may be the better choice simply because they are often less overwhelming in the scope of sensory stimuli.
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