Blog #392: Holiday Shopping While Neurodiverse
- Jeffrey Snyder
- Dec 7, 2023
- 2 min read
When it comes to the holidays, one of the areas that many neurodivergent and sensory friendly individuals dread the most is holiday shopping. Usually, the gifts that people buy for the holidays end up not being used because of its value or true purpose. This is often the case with those who just want something just to say that they got that particular something.
This is often the case with neurodivergents who have to brave the crowds in order to get what their friends or family want. Holiday shopping can lead to numerous issues such as sensory overloads, overstimulation and disruption in the individual’s routine. Let’s face it, we all buy gifts for one another and that requires getting out of our comfort zone at times.
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However, in recent years, holiday shopping has turned into more of a nightmare than a dream. You’ve got people running over each other, turning savage and channeling their inner Gollum over something so popular yet so unnecessary and unvaluable.
As someone who has worked in retail as well as shopped in retail during the holidays, I have seen just how the holidays can turn retail stores into hellholes. Seeing people throw tantrums because they believe they are right or they are just miserable for the hell of it is something that no one wants to be around.
I will admit that there were times when I am working during the holidays where I have had near overstimulation’s because of angry customers, out of control little kids and bosses breathing down my neck for something.
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The good news is that recently several major retails are opening up sensory friendly hours for their neurodivergent customers. I do commend the retailers for reaching out to better support neurodivergent customers, but what about the neurodivergent employees? Well, it’s important that companies do look out for their sensory friendly employees on account that just because they are employees, it doesn’t mean that they are human.
The bad news is that some retailers and other customer service businesses are in it for the money more than the mental health of its employees, particularly during the holidays. I believe that if retailers are willing to be flexible and accommodating for sensory friendly employees and customers, then they should.
Furthermore, I would strongly encourage sensory friendly individuals to do their holiday shopping on sites like Amazon especially if you can avoid the holiday shopping overstimulation. The less overstimulation on holiday shopping the better.
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Finally, there is also the stress that goes into how many gifts to actually buy for your relations or friends. It helps to remember that you should only buy gifts for those whom you are really close to. If you have family or friends that are distant, just spending time with them during the holidays is good enough.
You might also have some people that really don’t have your best interests at heart and don’t even deserve a holiday gift to begin with. If you buy someone a gift that they won’t appreciate you for, then what good will that be in the end?
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Catch you all later!!
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