SSSH

As of April 7th of 2025, we host a weekly Sensory Sensitive Shopping Hour at The Co-op from 7-8pm every Monday night. We like to call it S.S.S.H. for short. 

When people receive the support they need, the difference is night and day. With this adoption we are able to serve more shoppers; promoting wellness and prosperity. We want to provide easier access to the heart of the community, and this is one way we are making that happen. 

So where does the term ‘Sensory Sensitive Shopping’ come from anyway? 

Well, sensory sensitivity is an umbrella term for many forms of discomfort stemming from outside stimuli. One form is called over stimulation. External factors like bright lights, colors, loud sounds, and strong smells can activate it.  Once someone becomes over-stimulated, the task at hand switches from simple to complicated. 

There is also under stimulation. This can happen when your brain isn’t experiencing enough ‘feel good chemicals’ to make a task feel worth doing.  Becoming distracted by something more exciting, feeling bored, or too tired to complete your task are normal during under stimulation.

If you’ve played a few video games it might be easier to think of it like this: two people can be playing the same game, and trying to achieve the same goal, but some are playing in “Creative Mode” while others are playing in “Survival Mode.” Neither party gets a say in how they play the game, but they can develop different tools to make playing their version a little easier. We see this disequity as an opportunity to improve our environment to make the game of grocery shopping enjoyable for everyone.

Who experiences sensory problems?  

The short answer is everyone. And all people are valid in their experience. That being said, neurodiverse individuals and people with disorders like Anxiety or PTSD are more likely to experience it. Children may also face sensory issues more frequently than adults. Find out more here: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sensory-overload  

What goes on during the hour? 

The most noticeable differences are dimmed overhead lights, no music, and reduced register volumes. That’s not all though, not even close.  We have created interactive worksheets for both under and over stimulation like store maps (one muted & simple and one colorful & fun map), shopping lists broken down by store department, non-verbal communication sheets, and breathing exercises. These sheets are downloadable via the links below. And the cherry on top is a basket full of fidget toys, wrist weights for grounding, and plushie comfort buddies. 

Thank you for reading. We hope this post was interesting, affirming and/or informative.