c/anxiety·Posted by u/priya_nair·1h ago

Why do grocery store aisles make me dizzy even when I'm not in a rush?

I used to fly through the store. Now I get this swimmy feeling about three minutes in, usually under those harsh lights in the cereal aisle at the ShopRite near my place. Nothing is spinning exactly. It's more like the floor is a half-step too far away. I start gripping the cart handle like it's a railing and then I forget what I came for. I do the same loop twice, grab whatever is closest, and leave with a weird mix of yogurt and pasta. Parking lot is fine. Inside is the problem. I even tried going at 9am when it's empty and it still happened, just quieter. I feel ridiculous because it's groceries, not a cliff. Does the fluorescent lighting do this to anyone else, or am I just mapping this onto cereal boxes?

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