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How do I overcome the fear of cashiers?

Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Jun 15, 2019
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I just think of it like their a schoolmate, I don't talk to them often but I still socialize with them whenever I see them. I find it easier to speak to people in general if I think of the world as a school setting because it help assure me that the people surrounding me can not cause me harm. It also helps me to relax while checking out to start a lighthearted conversation with the cashier. Things such as talking about the weather or even reporting something like a a water spill in one of the lanes in the store can help a lot.
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Profile: meteoritee
meteoritee on Aug 8, 2019
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I got ahead of my fear by slowly exposing myself. I started somewhere I felt safe, with a friend with me. Then I did it without the friend, then in a new shop with a friend, then without a friend. It took a lot of time, and I'm still working on it, but I'm getting there. It also helps that when you're struck with the fear all of a sudden, especially when waiting in a line, just to go over the options. Think to yourself, "what's the worst that can happen?" and remember to be realistic. Trying to figure out from where your fear came from can also be a huge help.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Aug 31, 2019
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as a former cashier, i promise you that they don't care. i don't mean this in a malicious way at all, but if you happen to be struggling with anxiety (or social anxiety, specifically) then i promise that you don't need to worry about cashiers judging you. they just do their jobs, and i promise that they have seen weirder things than however you're interacting with them. cashiers are people too, and if the mean little voice in your head decides to shout a little louder, try to remind it that it's being unrealistic. good luck!
Profile: melody06
melody06 on Oct 17, 2019
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Well I would have to say the first step to do if you want to overcome the fear of cashiers is to push yourself to go up to cashiers more often than you usually do. Also, maybe try communicating with the cashier, start a simple conversation by asking how his or her day is. By pushing yourself to to go to an cashier more often than usual will help over come your fear. Also, by trying to start a short and friendly conversation with the cashier will as well help you over come your fear by making you realize that they are just like you, just trying to get through the day. By the end results now you feel less feared of cashiers and wouldn't mind being around them any more.
Profile: laylajewelz
laylajewelz on Dec 26, 2019
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Practice! make extra stops buy coffee and gum in separate places, also when making purchases with more items like grocery shopping on your way to the register start calculating the costs before you reach the cashier so that you have a ball park for what the purchase should be you can even calculate the sales tax so this way the cashier is not telling you anything u didn't already know and the total should be just a confirmation of your calculations. That confirmation should reassure you and the prior calculating should ease anxiety smooth your check out. You could also try getting a part time job as a cashier if you become one of them it will put you in the situation to understand them better also you will have to interact with lots of different people, it could build you socially and eliminate social anxiety all together.
Profile: AlwinS
AlwinS on Jan 17, 2020
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I like to first look at the situation from the cashier's perspective, the job can be very repetitive. You have the opportunity to make their work shift a little brighter. They are usually happily surprised if you start a little conversation with them, it can be about anything! Even a 'Hey there, how are you today?' can lead to a positive outcome, a conversation or a smile on their face. Another benefit of practicing this is that you come across as a very confident person. It may be difficult at first, believe me, we all have struggled to start conversations, myself included! However, once you learn yourself to ask them how they are or how their day is going, you will gain the confidence you need and you no longer have to fear them! I am sure you guys all got this!
Profile: ShayMittal
ShayMittal on Jul 9, 2020
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Sometimes I have to remind myself that cashiers are just another individual running through their busy day, like me. I am here to shop, and they are here to check me out -- simple as that! When I initially used to avoid checkout lines or conversation, I instead began to plaster a smile on my face and pronounce a big 'Hello!". Over time, receiving a warm smile in return or a "How's it going" helped me rid the notion that the cashier in front of me is judging me. I am a small part of their day, just as they are a small part of mine. The least we can do is a small moment of warm greetings, but besides that, cashiers are not here to judge you :)
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Nov 10, 2021
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Start small. If you have a store, cafe, or otherwise place with cashiers that you frequent, try talking to the cashiers. By starting to form a relationship with the cashiers, it helps fade that anxiety. As you grow more comfortable, begin talking to cashiers at other places besides those you go to often. If you continue to practice, it gets easier. The phrase “fake it till you make it” definitely applies here; if you fake confidence, it will begin to become reality. After a while, you can overcome your fear of cashiers through practicing talking with cashiers and practicing confidence.
Profile: globalCandy1795
globalCandy1795 on Nov 24, 2021
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Understand that they are ordinary people just like you and try to approach them the same way you would like to be approached if it was the other way around, from there try make light hearted small talk as you are paying for your item to make both of you comfortable with each other and afterwards you will feel a lot more confident with talking to them and if that doesn’t work try to practice your social skills with your friends or family and maybe that might help you to build the confidence to talk to a cashier.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Dec 20, 2021
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With having such a specific fear, and knowing where your trigger lies, perhaps gradual exposure could be something you may consider. Gradual exposure is a technique of using small steps in building up to a goal of facing your fear. Perhaps, one day, you may simply walk to the front of a store. You could repeat this first step until you find it easier, and then next time take a step into the store. By gradually taking these steps you would be increasing your comfort zone, more than you think. In the end, perhaps you may feel you'd like to try and buy something, which would be the goal. This, of course, is simply an idea for you. Perhaps you could tailor this to your specific situation, if you feel it would suit you.
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