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poodle99
Butterfly
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Joined: 11 Nov 2025
Gender: Female
Posts: 14

11 Nov 2025, 4:42 pm

One thing that I struggle with a lot with autism is walking somewhere crowded or a narrow street where there are lots of people and they do not always move out of the way. It makes it super challenging for me. I am also always worried I am in others way and hate people being in my way. When I take the bus this happens a lot because the walkway to the freeway station bus stop is narrow and often others will be walking the other way who got off the bus going the other direction. You cannot go around without going in the street and getting hit by a car. Its like people do not know to yield and walk to the right. I loudly have been like excuse me so people get the hint, its not that hard to walk to you're right and make room for both directions. I get angry and mutter angrily to myself. Bussing to the city on a game day can be super crowded and I get so annoyed and frustrated and mutter things under my breath that others can for sure here like stupid soccer fans, get the beep out of my way idiots, etc. I know if the wrong person heard they would not be very happy. I hate when slow people are walking in groups and don't get out of my way and have been known to rudely pass them by walking super fast around them aggressively. The grocery store is a nightmare for me when others are always in front of the item I need or I am taking my time purchasing items as I do not like to rush and then I feel like I am in others way. I cut people off when walking a lot and do not mean to but you can see they are annoyed. Its just so hard in crowds not to cut people off walking. I definitely lost my temper at these people standing and chatting in front of the milk fridge and I rudely walked in front of them and got my milk and did not even wait for them to grab theirs and close the door and leave. I was just fed up and muttered expletives under my breath. I know this is not ok and I should've said excuse me and been patient. Its just so frustrating and people leave their cart in the middle of the aisle and don't move. I am just trying to buy my groceries and go home to make dinner and a crowded store already triggers my anxiety. I know I need to be patient and control my anger. But I want advice on how to handle crowds besides never leaving my home which is not feasible. I want to be able to go to grocery stores and not feel anxious and worried if I am in the way or if someone else is in my way. I know I can just say excuse me and be patient.It is my right to shop as it is everyones. What do people do to handle crowds and how do you pass other people when you need to get by?



BTDT
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Joined: 26 Jul 2010
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11 Nov 2025, 5:38 pm

I wear high heels when grocery shopping. The noise gets people attention and some of them will move out of the way.

Can you get up early and shop when the stores first open? They are usually much less crowded at that time.

I also pick days when the stores are less crowded.



Carbonhalo
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Joined: 26 Nov 2007
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11 Nov 2025, 6:00 pm

I love a crowd. For a while.

I tower over most people and they generally get out of my way, but being gangly I have to watch my elbows.
I can see how the gaps in the mob form and move, and I'm quite adept at threading through tight packs.

* Note.
For advanced threaders in a hurry... past a certain crowd density it is FAR quicker to drop to your knees and fists (gloves preferred) and squeeze past everyone's knees, but it may piss people off.



poodle99
Butterfly
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Joined: 11 Nov 2025
Gender: Female
Posts: 14

11 Nov 2025, 6:03 pm

Thats the hard part because the main only time I have is after work on weekdays and thats the busiest time. I wish I was a morning person and could wake up at 5am and go before work at 8am but I struggle enough to get up on time for work. Weekends are my days off to sleep in but those would be the busiest days in a grocery store anyway during the day so I avoid grocery stores weekends. Only reason I don't do instacart is my mom would scream at me for ordering anything to the house and thinks I have a problem with overbuying. Plus I like to shop around and see what items the store has physically in store. The heels thing is smart if I could walk and be comfortable in them.

BTDT wrote:
I wear high heels when grocery shopping. The noise gets people attention and some of them will move out of the way.

Can you get up early and shop when the stores first open? They are usually much less crowded at that time.

I also pick days when the stores are less crowded.



MartineRomy
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Joined: 24 Sep 2025
Age: 50
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Posts: 213
Location: Belgium

12 Nov 2025, 3:51 pm

Coworker described my walking busy streets as the opposite from the Bittersweet Symphony clip...
(office at that time was on one of Antwerp's busy shopping streets)
And the more stereotyped (way before I knew...) I do stop walking on red lights. Also when it just turns red and no cars around. 5AM brussels, pouring rain... I wait... Apparently that is crazy.

When I became aware of this, tried walking in a straight line or just stop and make THEM move... Doesn't work... Seem to be invisible. Sometimes explained by 'telepathy', allistic people do signal were they go... I just don't get it.

Busy isles in stores I can't cross... We have a supermarket (colruyt) that actually has arrows to follow, would be so much easier if everybody actually did. Ikea Style grocery...

off topic but... Living with 2 poodles.