How Discontinuing Products Hurt Autistic People

I'm Olivia Hops and welcome to my channel! I talk about all things Autistic, mostly focusing on women and adults.
In today's video, I talk about how discontinuing products, whether it's soap, laundry detergent, food, toilet paper- anything, can hurt autistic people.
Why does it hurt us? Often times, autistic people are extremely highly sensitive and change is very difficult for us. Scents of products can be very overpowering for our brains and cause us to have meltdowns, so if we find one product we like and then it suddenly disappears, it can be very hard for us because one, it's a change, and two, because we may not be able to find another scent we like. Same goes for food and anything else.
I know talking about this makes me sound like a big pain in the butt and very entitled, but I have no control over my brain's response to these things. If I could deal with any product just fine, I WOULD! Because who would choose to have meltdowns over their soap being discontinued on purpose?!
Thank you for all of your support! Please like and subscribe! God Bless!
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[@RickyMaveety]

I needed this. I always thought I was just brand loyal, but it is not that. It’s my autism. Had a minor meltdown recently because I found out a type of cookie I was craving had been discontinued. I’m 70 and it never gets any easier.

[@duikmans]

I feel ya. Same with me: I don't know of any sensory issues (but you never know) but simply the change itself drives me crazy. Being out-of-stock for 1-2 weeks is enough for me to get minor anxiety attacks.

[@kbeautician]

70 and not easier. Dang!

[@tracik1277]

I still haven’t got over how Crosse and Blackwell baked beans got taken over by Branstons and they changed the recipe - that was in the early 80’s or something. I keep telling myself how trivial it is in the grand scheme of things, but it doesn’t change my disappointment. I don’t even like it when they change the packaging. And don’t even get me started on changing the names of sweets like Marathons to Snickers (what the heck is a snicker? A snarky laugh behind your back?) or Opal Fruits to Starburst.

[@RickyMaveety]

@@kbeautician Not a single, solitary bit, and I’m 71 in two weeks.

[@duikmans]

@@tracik1277 I still didn't get over the fact that Raider is now Twix. Geesh, it was a perfectly good name for one of my guilty pleasures!

[@lauram8694]

As a 60+ woman, I have to have unscented laundry detergent, toilet paper, dishwashing liquid, shampoo, body wash, cleaning products, etc. Over the years so many people have called my need for these items unnecessary and ridiculous. They have no clue the hardship scented products cause to those of us that have a heightened sense of smell. It even carries over to where I work (housekeeping crew) and when I am out shopping. Most people find the smell of candle shops or say Bath & Body soothing and love the smell. For me, it is horrible. Discontinuation of an unscented product is the worst for me. The fact these products are already overpriced because they are unscented is irritating enough but when it's discontinued or hard to find makes it doubly troublesome. Just "picking" another item doesn't work for us like it does for others.

[@OliviaHops]

I can completely relate to you about candle shops, etc. My personal least favorite is Lush, the bath bomb place. You can smell that half way across the mall and it’s absolutely AWFUL.

[@kathygedamke2167]

For some of these you might be able to make them yourself.

[@user-jo3pm2lc9i]

And people never gets why and how I can be so upset over something 'little' like this. This is everything.

[@srldwg]

Yes! It is not "little" at all!!!

[@amandab7101]

This is so troublesome, especially when you have fragrance and other contact allergies. I have apps from my allergist's office that help me to sort through this stuff (and a long list of ingredients to avoid), but often companies will change some ingredients without giving these app makers the information. My apps then aren't updated, so I end up wasting money and getting rashes again. It's extremely frustrating when hardly any products are safe for my skin in the first place.

[@jessicabumstead7421]

Totally agree

[@archiecook55]

Yeah I agree it's especially frustrating when all of the sudden a product is just gone. Like you said I wish companies would at least announce that they're going to discontinue a product before they do so.

[@dees3179]

Yes, this would be a huge help. But instead they stop putting it on offer. (The only way I buy things !) Which means I run out. Then it stops being available at all.

[@teri2466]

Omg I can relate. Here's a tip: if you can, Google the ingredients of a product & you may find your product if it was sold to another company or repackaged by the same company. I've done this to a few products. Most notably a hand lotion called Soft Sense (from the 90s!). Bausch & Lomb sold it to Jergens, then it became Vaseline Intensive Care & then a couple others. Now it's Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion ❤.

[@MimiJaneBee]

that's so interesting! thanks for this comment ❤

[@OliviaHops]

Great tip! Thanks so much!!

[@I_love_all_the_animals]

I remember Soft Sense Lotion! 🧴😃 I loved it, too!

[@srldwg]

​@@I_love_all_the_animalsMe too!😊

[@srldwg]

I grew up when that lotion was around (in the 80s) and loved it! I would still think about it (and the commercials😂) to this day! Thank you for the information!

[@leonidasreviews2912]

Story of my life!! I have learned to buy a bunch of items that I like. I stock up on several sizes for clothing for my son. Bottoms, for legs and feet are hard to change for him so when he likes something I buy the next few sizes so I am good for a few years at a time.

[@OliviaHops]

So smart. I’m the queen of finally finding pants I like after searching and searching, and then forgetting to buy multiples and then having meltdowns when they wear out. I’ll wear them until they have holes all over them, stains, anything. After these pants I wore for years accidentally got bleached, I was DEVASTATED. I ordered dozens of pairs on Amazon and managed to finally find a kind I actually liked better! I bought 3 pairs 😂

[@irisl7817]

Same! I relate to this so much. I hate it when a brand changes or discontinues a product or when a store just stops carrying something. My brain just... stops.

[@sunflowers730]

Yes I also hate when things get discontinued or "new and improved", but I also understand that companies are in business to make money and can't cater to everyone on the planet. Majority and what makes them money is what rules.

[@OliviaHops]

Yep, exactly. I understand but it doesn’t make it any easier for me!

[@kathym5337]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES to everything you said! I just found out that they discontinued my bar soap. I’m crushed! I’ve tried a similar soap that everyone loves, but the smell and feeling are hard for me to tolerate. I almost spent $135 for 6 bars if “my” soap in Amazon just to have some to help me transition! I then looked for a brand I had tolerated well before, and it’s gone too!😮😢. Meltdown city. In these weird supply issue times it seems to happen to me once a week. Thanks for validating my experience.

[@rubycubez1103]

What soap is it?

[@OliviaHops]

Ugh that’s awful… I’m so sorry, Kathy! You are not alone!! I’ve been there, too (obviously with the toilet paper!).

[@kathym5337]

@@rubycubez1103 Tone.

[@katw01]

JR Watkins is a liquid natural based skin cleanser, hope this will help your transition.

[@eliannafreely5725]

I am this video! Discontinuing products also makes me feel really unsafe - like the basic things I need to get through life could just be missing the next time I go to the store and the system itself is unreliable. It affects me so much I have gravitated toward a self-sufficient, homesteading lifestyle. I also can't stand it when my local store decides to "freshen" things up, by moving all the products around. Suddenly a normal store run becomes an unnecessary stress session and lurking meltdown. Why?! Why move everything? It's not like you are going to trick me into buying a product I wasn't already buying just because you moved it!! Edit: To answer you question, I've come to assume that if I find a product to be particularly pleasing, it means others don't and it will be discontinued soon 😞

[@SamsJourney2023]

Yes this was so affirming, I've been using the same type of toothpaste for the past 25 years if it gets discontinued I'll be in trouble. I remember when they discontinued my favourite scented candle from bath and body works (over a decade ago), I thankfully still had one left and have kept it safe - never lighting it just keeping it to smell. Can we also note what struggle it is when they change a recipe slightly and the packaging but still market it as the same product... it's not.

[@OliviaHops]

Omg, speaking of toothpaste... I got covid extremely badly last summer, and it messed with my taste. I lost my taste, and when I finally got it back, the only toothpaste I liked and have used my whole life tasted like throw-up. A year later, it still tastes like that. Now I have to use a toothpaste I don’t like, but it at least doesn’t taste like throw-up…

[@elizabethsullivan7176]

That always freaks me out too, especially when it's a food company that decides that all of their products are going to be "all natural" and I'm not familiar with some of the new ingredients. That can send me into a full blown panic attack.

[@csebesta84]

I have given up on Bath & Body Works. They discontinue too many things too often.

[@gayecairns7904]

Oh yes! This happens to me ALL.THE.TIME! It drives me crazy. And my poor spouse.

[@tracik1277]

At least you don’t have to change them !

[@BluetheRaccoon]

Thank you so much for this video, you have validated feelings for me that have been trivialized and disregarded for so long. Planned obsolescence is not only greedy, it hurts people.

[@BeeWhistler]

I haven’t gotten to the point of a meltdown that I can recall over a product being discontinued. I’ve been that way over change, sure… not having my safe space in one way or another destroys me. But I guess I’ve been fortunate that essential favorites seldom get discontinued. I’ve been able to find the right laundry soap or a suitable bath soap or whatever. It’s disappointing but I can take it given time. What I seem to run into more is companies pulling a bait and switch. You love a canned soup and one day it tastes wrong and you can’t eat it. You love a frozen meal and one day the ingredients have changed. They “new and improve” something. And you stop buying because a breaded chicken blob isn’t a piece of actual chicken like it was when they first made the product. They get you hooked and cheapen the ingredients. That’s not exclusive to us, mind you… but I could see someone having a meltdown over it. I’ve also seen the products in question disappear because no one was fooled. Or, different issue here… your favorite product they make is the one they price the highest for no discernable reason and people think you’re being a spoiled brat or something. I got accused of being spoiled because I can’t choke down the cheapest apples in a grocery store. Well, yeah, because they’re disgusting. “Red Delicious” is only half true… and they certainly are red. I don’t think it’s evil to not be able to eat terrible things.

[@restorative-waves]

I relate more to this than what other autistic people seem to go through on this topic. I was starting to question if I'm autistic at all because of this.. I suspect AuDHD in myself. Still questioning, but I appreciate the information both from Olivia and yourself! Have a great day!

[@I_love_all_the_animals]

Yes, I have been upset, for years, that Hungry Man changed the dessert in their turkey meal (which is my Thanksgiving feast) from a delicious cranberry dessert to apples and cinnamon. I like apples and cinnamon, in general, but for one thing, that particular variation of them is not my favorite-tasting in the world, and I'm not particularly fond of it, but for another thing, it's not what I was accustomed to, and it's *not what I want!* Cranberries and turkey go together way better, in my opinion, doggone it! 🤨

[@yeahokaycoolcool]

Man just from the title I already know. So many things I love have been discontinued over my lifetime and I have to constantly re-adjust and try to find a suitable replacement. I generally never do and just have to give up the thing I liked all together. :(

[@theedgeofoblivious]

I have reached out to so many companies over the years to get their recipes for discontinued products. And for like the last three years or so I have been going on ebay and bulk buying a discontinued type of soap, so that I don't have to switch to another brand of soap yet. And yes, everything I like is discontinued almost immediately.

[@emokidforever]

Have you had any success reaching out to the companies?

[@theedgeofoblivious]

@@emokidforever Yes! Absolutely! I have gotten recipes for certain products, and in certain cases have been able to get some excess stock.

[@emokidforever]

@@theedgeofoblivious Oh that's wonderful! I'll have to give it a go when needed.

[@slimsonite2111]

Yes! I need to stop liking Trader Joes products because theyre infamous for discontinuing stuff. Very relatable vid! 💖

[@TDavis_333]

I hear you! For so long I refused to try anything new from them because it seemed more likely that they'd discontinue it than keep it. Thet've gotten a little better in that they at least usually label if it's seasonal and don't seem to discontinue as much. Now, it's Mccormick spice blends I don't even want to try. I went to comment on their site and saw several other people had commented on the bell pepper garlic spice that had been my favorite, requesting its return. There have been other blends, too, for me. I've finally quit buying anything of theirs! I just want them to go, so some company that will keep their tasty blends available will step up and take their place!

[@marisvalentini]

I got super angry at a restaurant because they took an amazing cheesecake of the menu. The change of humor and the absence of filter led me to say to them that it was an injustice and they didn't get the criteria right...

[@future.homesteader]

We go through the same thing due to corn, gluten grains, dairy & egg allergies plus chemical sensitivities. Corn based products especially are used in food processing & packaging so much that it can literally be that the same product is safe in one size but not another size because the packaging is different. Stuff that's safe for us gets changed or discontinued all the time.

[@maiyapercy]

This has happened to me very often. I seem to be a magnet to such products. I find something I like and then it is gone. This happened with tampons, panty liners, tooth brushes, toothpaste, shower gel, face cream and many more. It costs so much time and energy to find something new. It is frustrating. Thank you for making this video. I didn’t know earlier that this was my autism.

[@zinzimashibini2949]

YES. My son and I are both on the spectrum. I definitely have trouble finding new products I like. For my son, it's much more serious. He has feeding issues and the only sippy/straw cup he will use discontinued a few months ago. We're on the last one and it's going to be rough when that one breaks. I just hope he doesn't lose weight in the process of transitioning to something else.

[@future.homesteader]

I've heard of manufactures of things like sippy cups helping parents get extras when they get discontinued. Try emailing them- maybe they have more in the back of a wearhouse somewhere. If they don't & can't help you you're no worse off than you are now so it's worth a try anyway.

[@angelcoops511]

My daughter is the same. If they suddenly discontinued a product or they change a product, she has a minor breakdown.

[@bohorosewellness]

I still pine for St.Ives Rose conditioner that was discontinued in 1992. It literally turned my hair into a pre-raphaelite goddess painting and it smelled like fresh cut roses. :'(

[@mama2kittyfubb]

For my daughter, it's shoes. She had to have the same shoe. When she was younger, I would buy the same shoe but in various sizes and in multiples. She cannot and will not wear any other shoe brand. As she's gotten older, she'll wear it as long as it has pink or purple in it, same shoe brand though.

[@joannah1961]

@mama2kittyfubb I'm the same way with shoes especially because I have a hard time finding ones that fit. I've bought the same sandle for several years but had to find them from various sellers online. I kept wearing my old ones even though they caused my knees to hurt until I could find the same ones and the same color.

[@kend3466]

Yes, absolutely. My favorite product was discontinued - at a very important time in my life. That was a computer operating system that I had been successfully using for almost 9 years. That was Windows 7. Forced obsolestions in the computing world has become more of a jumbled mess. I quickly took a liking to the next product - Windows 10 was quickly shuttered, just as I came to appreciate some of its features. No doubt, I have issues with organization and routine. All of my computing tasks are still spread out over several computers....My favorite product was my 2010 Android smartphone that I still keep alive today - as an alarm clock....Luckily, I am autistic and sentimental....

[@damescholar]

I also hate when they force on you a new operating system and you lose all the things you were used to and were familiar with and have a screen full of unnecessary adverts instead! It drives me crazy. Why this is never discussed by anybody? It simply stresses me out to cope with a new operating system again and again..

[@JennaGetsCreative]

OMG yes, this is so important! I've also found it hard, as an autistic adult who moved provinces, dealing with the fact that this place doesn't have all the same stores and restaurants. My favourite restaurant is still in business, but it's a whole day's travel away. My favourite ice cream is out of a little private business creamery on the beach in my home town. One of the only wines I'll even drink is from a small, regional winery that doesn't do much out of province shipping, and when I do catch that winery's name on shelves out here, it's never that type of wine. I also struggle taking my husband and child "home" to visit and excitedly showing them places and businesses I loved as a kid only to find that they've changed since I've been away. Science World in Vancouver, BC was one of my happy places as a child and what they've done to it over the years... it just doesn't compare to what I remember. So many of the exhibits and activities are gone. Part of it was always changing (my favourite temporary exhibit was a Star Trek one) but most of it was exactly the same my entire childhood, and now there are bits and pieces of my favourite rooms scattered throughout completely different rooms. Growing up in British Columbia in the lower mainland, where crossing the Fraser River is frequently necessary, there are big bridges. Those bridges have multiplied, been expanded, and been replaced in my lifetime. Every time a bridge has closed or been added, it has been a personal tragedy for me, and nobody around me has ever understood why it's such a big deal. One time when we moved houses, we bought a new house in an early phase of neighbourhood development. Across the street was acres of untouched trees. A year later it was all flattened for the next phase of building, and 3 years later is was completely built up with more houses. It was ugly, it was so much louder (especially since the trees had been a buffer between us and a major road) and it took away a feeling of privacy. This was the house I left when I moved away on my own, and I couldn't wait to leave it. Even little temporary unavailability situations are hard. There's a dollar store in the same parking lot as our usual grocery store, and when my husband and daughter and I go out for our weekly grocery shop, sometimes we'll go in there for treats. There's a store brand of peach ring candy that is my favourite thing. If it's there, that's what I'm picking. If it isn't, I will take at least half an hour to pick a candy, and this drive my husband nuts. If the candy he wanted isn't there, he's so quick to either pick something else or decide he doesn't want candy.

[@Caprabone]

*waves from the Yukon*

[@gracehartley2317]

This happened to me only 2 weeks ago. Went to buy my usual foundation, gone off the website! I wrote the company an email they said it would soon be announced discontinued, which they did 2 days ago! Then offered me alternatives which weren’t!! Time to start again.

[@teri2466]

Google it. Someone probably still has it in stock.

[@TheTekaranlady]

Yes! It's so annoying. We find something all of us can use, and then one day, just poof, gone forever. That's why any time I had to discontinue a fragrance from the little bath and body shop I used to run, I made sure to keep the scent recipe and made it clear custom orders were available for any discontinued products. Sure I only had about two or three requests over the decade or so, but still.

[@dirtydozen5079]

Discontinued products have been the bane of my life. Most recent is the Wal-Mart brand of organic Colombian coffee. Ppl everywhere are complaining about it. I'm building up a supply of coffee I can't drink. Last one was the bounce dryer sheets called sweet dreams. Very popular item. Stores couldn't keep it in stock. So why discontinue it! The scent on my blanket helped me go to sleep every nite. It feels personal doesn't it! 😉 like why are you doing this to me?!?

[@sarahjane1975]

I was totally obsessed with random cool sci-fi tv-shows as a kid and they always got cancelled :( It got to the point where I stopped liking them in hopes that they wouldn't get cancelled... sigh

[@relentlessrhythm2774]

This is great information! It was frustrating when my grocery store quit selling this mac and cheese. I had to readjust my diet. One correction: We do not know how sensitive someone is or isn't based on how he or she expresses his or herself. Functioning labels like "severe" and "mild" are misleading.

[@laurag7565]

I agree..we need something better than mild or severe. But right now, that’s what we’ve got.

[@OliviaHops]

Of course we don’t, but at the end of the day, people have mild to severe different traits of autism. It doesn’t have anything to do with what they express. They can express the opposite of what they have but again, at the end of the day it’s a spectrum of mild to severe for a trait of anything.

[@sarcodonblue2876]

It is a guide and we don't have to take it personally. I suck at maths( I won't spell it the American way )and it is the stereotype for autosts to be great at but I can't take it personally when people are surprised that I am terrible at it.

[@relentlessrhythm2774]

@@laurag7565 low support needs or high support needs is better. If applicable, we could say "more sensitive to....."

[@relentlessrhythm2774]

@@OliviaHops It's good to specify that it's the traits themselves that are mild/moderate/severe rather than the autism itself. Not trying to be mean, but there are misconceptions about autism that are commonly believed.

[@banovsky]

Before I suspected I am autistic, I went down a rabbit hole once of researching the major clothing brands that are known for not changing their most popular styles. That’s why I have a bunch of Uniqlo shirts, Patagonia outer stuff, muji basics and *hope* I can keep re-purchasing them for a long time. Some thrifted, some new. Here in Canada we recently lost Liberté cream cheese and I was crushed. 😢 Haven’t bought cream cheese since…it has been a year.

[@x3SayuriChan]

Ohhh yes I definitely remember one product that changed my entire eating habits drastically because it was discontinued. As a kid there was one specific cake from one specific brand I always ate for breakfast. Yes I know cake for breakfast is not very healthy at all, so maybe it's even good that I couldn't continue eating it for breakfast after it just wasn't sold anymore. But the thing is that I could ONLY eat that for breakfast. Since it was discontinued when I was a teen, I haven't found anything else I can eat for breakfast without getting sick to my stomach in the early morning. So I stopped eating breakfast altogether. And the funny thing is that I'm normally not a cake person at all. I don't eat sweets in general. But this one specific cake from this one brand was somehow the exception. There is one specific bakery nearby that makes this cake kind of similar to how I remember the cake from my childhood tasted. But they only have a market stand once a week in the early morning and my schedule rarely fits that I'm able to go there. Still, at least I managed to find a similar enough cake to eat once in a while. Not necessarily for breakfast though :D But yeah I always thought that my obsession as a kid with that one specific cake was really odd. Especially because I normally don't like and eat any cakes and sweets at all. But now that I know that I'm autistic it suddenly makes a lot more sense.

[@BluetheRaccoon]

Have you ever tried soylent? The regular flavor is so benign, like plain oatmeal, and you can flavor it with anything! When I could afford it, I added greek yogurt and fruit to it so it was like a super-boosted smoothie, and my gut health was the best it had ever been.

[@TheCloverAffiliate12]

I saw this video and INSTANTLY sent it to my twin sister! We've been talking about this for _a while_ and this is the first time I've seen a video on this. Thank you so much for talking about it!!! EDIT: I also want to say that this has been one of _the_ worst things for me ever since COVID hit. Yes, I relate to it seeming like it's always my favorite things that get discontinued!! I'm waiting to get evaluated, but I'm totally putting this in my notes for the evaluation

[@karenfiggins7808]

I definitely have that problem! I'll have high anxiety if I can't find the products. I can't stand substitutes!

[@JimmyJaxJellyStax]

Slams our routine for sure - I work in IT and DevOps and a lot of coworkers (many on the spectrum for sure) usually keep to the most routine command line / terminal, linux operating systems, etc while the rest is chaotic and constantly changing graphical user interfaces (GUIs). It's as if Command Line is the refuge for being on the spectrum in computing since the GUI keeps going so many different directions lol. Learning any of the major coding languages like JavaScript can also be quite therapeutic - process information much faster than spontaneous verbalization hehe.

[@mrscoolwhipp]

I am so so so relieved to hear someone else have this same dilemma. Target switched out a particular style of clear storage box. I had to go and rebuy an entirely new set multiple times to appease my mind. The 16qt grey lidded Sterilite bins at Home Depot have been a staple because they've never gone away. I tried to explain how certain products being retired can literally change my entire life for the worse since I'm not able to handle it without melting down first.

[@lauram8694]

I deal with this also. Can't have an uneven or unmatched set. People think I'm crazy or been called uppity (just wanting to buy more) No, it bothers me to no end. Things are out of sync, don't match and will irritate me until I "fix" it. I buy things in quantities of 2 with exception of items that spoil. Being high functioning autistic or on the spectrum is just hard.

[@adellajones9887]

Although I have never been diagnosed with any form of autism, I have been listening to several adults who have been diagnosed and you guys describe me. I have told a couple of people this past week that it seems like everything I like gets discontinued or stores are out of something or there are changes to a product. I discovered.... can't remember where....that a repetitive habit is something that a person with autism does. My sister used to get mad at me when I did a certain thing. But I liked doing it. Thanks for sharing 😊

[@SheerMagnetismDarling007]

I absolutely understand what you are saying Olivia , and I do not think you are a spoiled brat or something else. Thanks for posting this video !

[@srldwg]

I am a type I diabetic and drink diet soda. When Sierra Mist Free got discontinued, I had a meltdown. I didn't know that I was autistic at the time, so my boyfriend was confused, worried and thought that I was being an overreacting brat. I also let myself feel terrible about my reaction. Now that I have been diagnosed (at age 47) I know that I couldn't help it and that I was having meltdowns.

[@awesomeamelia149]

Happy Sunday Olivia, you look so gorgeous!!❤❤

[@OliviaHops]

Aw thanks, Amelia!

[@Nami-dq3ox]

For me it isn't a sensory thing, it's that I have a system for everything. I get decision fatigue really easily and I have difficulty making decisions in noisy environments, so once I find something I like, I stick with it. When something wears out, I replace it with something exactly the same. So if I go to a shop to buy the item I always buy and it isn't there, I have to start the process from the beginning. I just go home without buying anything, and decide on an alternative when I'm not in a difficult environment.

[@bitsy00005]

I was so upset when my favorite cereal was discontinued that I don't eat cereal anymore. There are a couple of other cereals I used to like, but now they just remind me of the discontinued one. It's been ten years. I've been looking for something similar, but no luck yet.

[@OliviaHops]

Omg I’m so sorry!!! Cereal is my main food group! I eat 3+ bowls a day. I would die without it. I’m so sorry you can’t eat it anymore. 😞

[@marie_eva]

Thank you for this! 😭💕Chili's discontinued the only plate I could enjoy at their restaurant- the Original Chicken Crispers. They were breaded with what seemed to be pancake batter, very soft crisp. Now they only have the ultra crispy chicken crispers. I tried them once, years ago (had no choice, we were already in the restaurant halfway through drinks), and I regret it. The crunch was uncomfortable and so loud I couldn't hear/process what my family was saying in conversation (I was already coping with the music in there, along with many tv screens flashing at once- the crunch was one sensory madness too many). I haven't been to Chili's since, and neither has my family when we go out together because they're lovely and accommodating. I still crave them sometimes, though, and I can't explain the distress that brings. I wish I'd never tried them, but alas, chicken is one of my (usually) safe foods. If I could, I'd try to make a copycat version (I'm sure a recipe is somewhere online). But that's hard too thanks to executive dysfunction and chronic illness. *sigh* Anyways, great videos! Thanks, keep 'em coming 👍

[@lrwiersum]

Perfume !!! My favorite was discontinued and searched for 30 YEARS for another that I loved. It was also discontinued. I used my covid stimulus to buy every affordable bottle on the internet. I’m 65 and have enough to last till I’m 80. I swear to god this is true. I did the same with my favorite boots and lip balm. Enough till I DIE.

[@electron2601]

I have Autism and I disagree with the fact the we have no control over our anxiety over this issue. As an Autistic person I've made a lot of strides and progress over being able to control my anxiety over such things and I think you telling people we have no control over it is kind of a limiting and discouraging thing to say- especially for the that may struggle with it but can eventually learn how to deal with it more.

[@OliviaHops]

Seeming no one else has ever told me that, including all the other comments on this video so far, you’re in the vast minority. Lucky you, no need to rub it in our face and make us who can’t control it feel bad.

[@mejusthot]

Neither of you are alone in your individual views. I'll also say I've experienced both of what you both are sharing, in some areas I've changed and 8n other areas I'm very much having struggle that some products I've been using for long periods change and I struggle with those changes in products as well. We are all in this journey of life, we all struggle in things here in this life as humans let's help and not hurt one another 🤗💕🙏👍

[@user-jo3pm2lc9i]

Actually I kinda got better at some of my issues too. Still, though, I still have my bad days and good days. It's just that I'm more inclined to get a meltdown over something my roommates could grasp or I'm more likely to get a meltdown when no one will pay attention to me. I still have the meltdown, but I feel less embarrassed about it. I'm sharing this to give someone hope out there, wouldn't wanna rub it on anyone's face.

[@restorative-waves]

I relate to this comment - this video made me question if I was even autistic - do not take that personally I'm just being factual/neutral about that statement. I'm not going to call anyone spoiled over having to figure out how to avoid sensory issues and change can be distressing so I get it. I do suspect I'm AuDHD, mind you. I like the same things for sure, but if something needs to change (I can get upset for sure) but I also see trying new products as an adventure/challenge... but I can say this because I've been lucky to end up finding something I like, in the end, thus far...... Anyway just had to comment that I relate and see both "sides". Take care everyone!

[@relentlessrhythm2774]

I'm autistic and personally do not have anxiety issues, but a lot of autistics do. I struggle with depression though. We all have unique mental health profiles. Who are we to invalidate the experiences of others?

[@jessicajohnson2089]

YES!!! I'M STILL STRESSED THAT SUAVE SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER TOOK AWAY MY ALOE, HONEYSUCKLE, AND VITAMIN E!!!!! The newer version, aloe and water lily stinks to high heavens and I have hated shampoo and conditioner ever since!!!!

[@WaterlooExpat]

When a product is discontinued in bothers me too, especially if the product assisted me in navigating life with autism. I have found that the best strategy is to stock up on an item. I now have about a dozen of a specific waterbottle, perhaps sufficient to rest for the remainder of my life. I am fortunate that I have the funds to practise this kind of accommodation.

[@KathrineJKozachok]

My husband must watch this! He thinks I'm just complaining about nothing.

[@EMILYHERRERA]

"I can't help this-- please keep this in mind if you're an uneducated moron watching my channel." I adore you! ❤

[@annahansen4689]

This has happened to me so many times! I find something I love and I use it every day, it is an essential part of my routine and then one day I go to buy more and it's just gone forever!

[@rubycubez1103]

Nerds cereal. 1985. I miss her. Yea it got discontinued after they found out it turned poop red but it was the most delicious cereal in the world. Vanilla patchouli. Bath and Body Works. Amazon has it but its not the same😢

[@BluetheRaccoon]

their fragrance 'Black' was perfect, and between the reduced quality of their wallflower fragrances and d/c my favorite body spray, I've stopped shopping with them. I miss when wallflowers lasted more than two days, and when messaging their customer service didn't result in gaslighting.

[@rubycubez1103]

@@BluetheRaccoon I'm sorry...what did black smell like?

[@brigitterolens]

One of my biggest fears!!! No joke

[@followyourdreams6050]

Thank you for his video. This is SO true

[@MelodyInTheChaos]

Omg thank you for speaking about this. This is espeically an issue with my kids who also have autism. They are super super sensitive to mint and hate mint toothpaste and the ONLY toothpaste I've been able to get them to use was discontinued!!!! Then the only mouthwash i can get them to use was discontinued. Its SO frustrating. I've bought literally every kind of toothpaste and mouthwash in the store. Such a waste of money because the companies discontinued their favorites. I also have autism so I understand them but the dad doesn't get it at all.

[@kathygedamke2167]

My problem is usually with clothing. There are certain fabrics that I like, and certain cuts of clothing that fit me comfortably. I especially love natural fabrics. Good luck finding them these days without paying an arm and a leg. It gets even harder when it comes to work clothes. I have to wear "business casual" clothes to work. I do not wear dresses, and rarely skirts. It is too hot in south Florida for blazers, and I don't do frilly stuff. So my choices are extremely limited. When I find something that works (usually black elastic waist pants and a sensible but nice blouse) I try to get several of the same thing, maybe in a few different acceptable colors. Occasionally I can locate a favorite item online after dilligently searching. There are also a few second-hand stores that I find things at, though I dread shopping there (way too disorganized!) It is t uncommon for me to end up in tears while clothes shopping. :(

[@tracik1277]

A lot of the time companies change stuff just so they can keep up their visibility to consumers. They spend loads of money on remarketing which they then pass on to the consumer whilst promoting the thing they have unnecessarily changed as ‘new and improved’ which it usually isn’t, it’s just cheaper to produce and has less in the packet for a higher price.

[@jordangristina615]

Hey my love I understand how you feel I have Asperger's and bipolar disorder and even bipolar people and psychiatric people have sensory issues always

[@ecatcheshire9741]

Informative, this would never have occurred to me 6:54 . It strikes me also that this is not an impossible ask. Manufacturers could be made aware of this issue for autistic needs and could give any autistic support organisation a ‘heads up’ that a change is coming and when it will happen. Alternatively a notice on the packaging … like an ingredient warning for those with allergies. Companies might be able to offer an alternative. Acting on this need would at the very least give transition time.

[@kirbycobain1845]

I feel this so hard, I haven't been the same since they (at least mostly) discontinued my favorite ice cream flavor as a kid. It's been almost 15 years. It was the old dryers pink cotton candy with little chocolate chips Recently I went on a day trip a few hours away and went to a diner there and it looked like they actually had it but it had ran out. When I asked the cashier they said it runs out quickly and to come by on a Monday when they get new shipments. Unfortunately I work Mondays and I will have to take a day off work for the opportunity, but I'm honestly still thinking about it Google wasn't very helpful either, I searched everywhere and couldn't find a way to get my hands on it otherwise. I think there was a way to get a bulk amount meant for an ice cream shop, but I don't have that kind of freezer space I'm curious if anyone else has been tortured by this ice cream flavor 😅

[@lrwiersum]

When I like something there’s REASONS for it. Dozens of tiny little extremely important REASONS !! There are no small deals, it’s ALL a big deal. EVERYTHING

[@taylorfrink1182]

this really hits home, i hate that people even my own family sometimes dont understand that obviously we aret choosing this, no one would choose to have years taken off their lifespan due to the level of immense stress and meltdowns we experience as autistic people...and it's not being "spoiled" either... ive been told "well what would you do if you were born in a third world country and didnt have this product???" like ummm first of all leave third world countries out of this but also like duh autistic people still exist in every country, the struggles would just look different id still be having the same amount of sensory issues and "safe" foods brands etc just different kinds/experiences. nobody would choose to live with the level of anxieties and stress we deal with daily

[@noctoi]

OMG I have SUCH a problem with changes to toilet paper! I hate it so much!! I used to love the old Sorbent loo paper, and about 10 years ago they changed it. I threw out SO MANY rolls of toilet paper before I found another tolerable type of paper. THEN COVID happened and there was NO toilet paper. I got desperate enough to buy a bidet seat and I swear to the gods I'll never go back. No idea what I"ll do if I ever travel, because the accessibility problems it's solved and the sensory issues it's avoided is worth more than I could have imagined. I'm also extremely particular about tissues. Kleenex changed the way they make their aloe tissues recently and I'm STILL trying to find a new tissue I can tolerate 😞

[@logicalameetsworld]

First, this is a really good video that companies should definitely look at. Jeans have been the big one for me for quite awhile. I like just plain jeans with a regular zipper. Not a tiny zipper and sparkles or additional colors. Also, I eat a particular kind of Peanut butter and it's now crazy expensive.

[@kdcraft89]

There's another dimension. I have a very limited and restricted diet due to multiple food sensitives, allergies, health conditions, etc. I actually eat foods I don't like because it's all I can eat or have fairly dire consequences. Because it's so limited, when something is discontinued, I panic. My biggest challenge is not getting too underweight. Crazy because I spent most of my life trying to lose weight. Another part of this is that I shop at multiple stores for my food since no one place has all the items, or even a majority. So, when something is discontinued, it disrupts that and I try to search for where I might find it.

[@kend3466]

Excellent discussion. I have always struggled with change and get anxious when there are changes to my routine. It is a challenge to find products that we like or are familiar with. It is difficult to find out what changes have been made. It's not easy reading labels - and people often don't have the time to re-research things we need.

[@vwb9695]

Yes it does!! I feel genuine loss and pain and grief when this happens. Especially if a restaurant I like closes or if trees I'm familiar with get felled.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

All of my yes! Like I have a security sheet that is 20 years old and made in a style you can't buy anymore as it's the old '90s-'00s sytle of fitted sheet with an unique edge(The non elastic one) that I love to rub in my hands. But fortunately I found an ok replacement the q-max passive cooling sheet that is fine.

[@judyboyle9232]

You are so sweet and funny. I really understand and can relate to the "change" of products. I want you to pat yourself on the back for explaining the ups and downs you face as having autism. Keep up the good job, Olivia.😍🥰

[@plethoraria]

I miss your videos! They're so insightful, but also entertaining! Hope all is well, and happy new year!

[@Jerri_Jo]

SO true! I cannot tell you how many times this has happened to me, thank you for sharing this great video.💛 This is hopefully so helpful to the people who don't get it. Like even if I can still order something on the internet, it effects me if my local store stops carrying it.

[@turquoismama33]

This happens to my husband all the time. Our local grocery store is part of a monopoly that has run the other grocery store chains out of town. Well, wally world moved in across the street and is kicking their butt, but instead of bumping up products that us customers want, they are getting rid of them and pretty much selling their own house brand of stuff. Very annoying, especially since they are buying and selling(at a high price) seconds from the name brand companies. Also, the topic of this video is one of the reasons why us autistic people are broken and its just not the way we think is different and unique, but it can be very debilitating. So even though there is no cure for autism, there is an element of fixing that some of us would like to have. And, of course, there is that unique, interesting and sometimes very cool way of thinking that some autistic/neurodiverse people have, but its not across the board and sometimes its only with specific topics, which would be different for each person. Another reason why all autistic people need Jesus, because He's the only one that can really help us through all this post First Adam brokenness. Hang in there, Jesus is fixing everything, just not in our timing. Hugs and Prayers and Jesus' Blessing on you and yours.

[@justlooking4771]

In the feels. My favorite perfume was discontinued (f-off…I’m an adult female on the spectrum) and it became a relentless obsession for me to find something (ANYTHING) similar. That perfume was so comforting to me, odd as it sounds, it took me over three years to “feel safe” with another perfume. (Lots of money wasted on samples and hours spent over perfume reviews).

[@damescholar]

This sounds so familiar! Ten years ago I found a scent in Frankfurt Airport that I fell in love with as I have never done. The scent was ME. And I have never found it again. Discontinued. I loved Caleche of Hermes, it was expensive but a treat, and then they changed the ingredients - not the same Ugh!. I loved a brand of Nivea milky face wash, the feel and the scent were just right. Discontinued. Etc. Etc. And such a trouble to try to find an equally suitable product - which is then discontinued. Very few brands are now keeping their products the same longer than a year, and it is very hard and frustrating for us in the spectrum.

[@10nmonto]

Thanks for making this video! This problem has been exacerbated soo much by Covid, not only can I no longer shop at off hours but finding the things I need is more challenging. I feel you on the TP thing, my favorite brand changed textures to a rougher cheaper feel and now has a tendency to peel apart and I haven't found a new brand that feels better so I keep using the old kind even though its uncomfortable now. Also I hate it when something gets changed in a small way and isnt acknowledged by the company. I used to like Wendy's Chicken Sandwich and the patty is different now, I didnt even like them that much they were just special because it was my mom's order and if I had known it was going to change I would have made sure to enjoy it one last time, and also if they would acknowledge the change I wouldn't feel like I was crazy since they are clearly different now but nobody else seems to have noticed the change.

[@elizabethwesala1480]

When my daughter was in elementary, she would only eat the mini pizza they had for lunch. Then there was the push for healthier food in school and they changed the crust to a wheat crust. Then she would eat nothing at school. Her weight was low because of medication we were working on figuring what worked best for her and it was extremely stressful. We got past it but “healthier “ food doesn’t help if it means someone won’t eat anything because of the change.

[@amywilkinson644]

The amount of time that I have spent shopping for bras and underwear 😝 When I find a style that works for me, I buy extra and have enough to make each item last a long, long time. Bottle caps candy was scarce during the pandemic and I needed to have them just in case I needed to eat them (It was a crazy deal). Split Pea Soup with ham and bacon… when I couldn’t find it, I was close to a panic attack… not that I eat the candy or the soup regularly, but the thought of never having it ever again made me anxious.

[@j.b.4340]

This is correct. 🙂 The Dollar General stopped carrying the coffee I needed, and I was very upset, internally.

[@draneym2003]

I'm always on the hunt for my favorite model of Adidas sneaker, whenever they go on sale. They fit perfectly, I know exactly what size to order, and I'm willing to take the risk I'll find something better and just grab them when the price drops.

[@sarcodonblue2876]

I just want all black sneaker ls but apparently that is just too much to ask. I can't stand it when the bottom is obviously white.

[@sarcodonblue2876]

I just want all black sneaker ls but apparently that is just too much to ask. I can't stand it when the bottom is obviously white.

[@sarcodonblue2876]

I just want all black sneakers but it is apparently that is just too much to ask. I can't stand it when the bottom is obnoxiously white.

[@fuerteventuranow]

OMG YES!! This so explains a lot of things for me. My latest thing was the supermarket has changed my shampoo and conditioner packaging and put the price up. It's now in a different shape bottle and has a plunger. I went into melt down and that was with just changing the packaging! I thought I was over-reacting because of the price change, but I really knew it was more than that as I was getting into a sheer panic, thinking I can't use that bottle - what do I buy now! I have always hated shopping for anything because I can never find what I want and go into a melt down - I though I was just having a tantrum.

[@apennyforyouraspiethoughts23]

I don't eat out a ton, but when Olivegarden took the only food item I have ever ordered off their menu, I quit going for a couple of years! Great topic.

[@lrwiersum]

The second I get attached to ANYTHING I start worrying when it will go away. Same with people, so I DONT attach. People are too risky. I just can’t. I’m attached to my grown children. My son got a felony and it nearly KILLED me. Literally, physically made me extremely sick with worry. Almost ended up in the hospital.

[@tammyleblanc4437]

So true, I have such a hard time with change. I generally use unscented laundry soap and have tried SO many antiperspirant deodorants because if the one I usually use is not available, I try a new one and the smell is usually way too strong. Then I have to take a shower to wash it off right away and throw it away because I never want to smell it again! Ugh, can totally relate.

[@amandastjohn4735]

7:02 About that. Yes, you can make laundry detergent at home.

[@OliviaHops]

With the same scents? 🤔

[@beepbopboop3221]

"Uneducated moron" 😂❤ I don't have an issue with discontinued because if it's not at the store, I pick something else. What gets me is when they change the label, and I can't find it, but my husband can. I have had meltdowns. I also hate it when I can't remember which store I found something at. My husband has the scent aversions. I wish sheamoisure made an unscented conditioner because I like the texture, but my husband hates the smell.

[@beepbopboop3221]

PS can we talk about siracha shortage? My guys wanted it and all I could find was katsup with siracha in it. Howd tge katsup people get it but we can't?

[@restorative-waves]

I relate to this comment, I suspect I'm AuDHD so when I try a new product, even if I don't like it, it can seem like an adventure/challenge to pick a new one - maybe that's why I'm ok about it, because I end up finding something else I like. And because the stuff that affects my sensory issues hasn't changed much for me (thankfully). I didn't know about the siracha shortage! I haven't bought a bottle in a while, that's unfortunate!

[@47retta]

My sister and I both have aspbergers. She uses a shampoo that I hate the smell of, but she is considerate enough of me to put her hair in a bun so it won't be flying around and spreading the smell.

[@kyrielpsmadisonhouse4232]

Omg yesss my daughter hates change and it's frustrating when something she likes is discontinued

[@tplow95]

I got mad when I found out that Williams shaving soap was discontinued. It was cheap but it worked better than most shaving soap or shaving creams out there. Williams shaving soap had been around since 1840

[@badluckpanda644]

One of my dopamine food was great value pepperoni pizza bites. I loved those things. They changed the recipe, made them smaller and had a different texture of the outside. They slightly changed the sauce, I was ok with that. My main issue is now they were inconsistant with having sausage in them. Several pieces would have sausage in them, they should'nt have had any. Mix that and the texture change and I cant eat them anymore.

[@gavinkaufmanworld]

OMG yes! I live in the UK and been buying the Genius gluten-free bread consistently since 2015. I swear I've been single-handedly funding the company haha!! Anyway, a couple of months ago they changed the recipe to the 'Best Ever Recipe' which completely floored me! Brain-fog galore and it caused me sooo much grief trying to find an alternative; which I couldn't. Now I'm using GF brown rice pasta and noodles in its place; but it means I'm pretty eating that for all my meals - including breakfast! Anyway, I totally get what your saying here; I'm the same. Fragrances are a big issue for me too. Thanks for another great video 😁

[@Jutty04901]

I can relate to this. I can think of a number of things that I have usually purchased that have been discontinued. One of the most recent seems to be Tag body spray. Jars of spicy brown mustard (it seems it only available now in squeeze bottles.) There was a day last year when I drove to every grocery store in my area looking for an 8 oz. box of thin spaghetti, only to realize that its been discontinued. Now I have to buy a 1 pound box and weigh out 8 ozs. before cooking it.

[@jordangristina615]

Hey my love I have some sensory issues but not a lot because I'm not dealing with ASD like you I'm dealing with Asperger's and bipolar disorder

[@laurag7565]

ASD is “autism spectrum disorder”, the new classification for autism, from mild to severe. Asperger’s Syndrome is considered mild autism and it falls under the new classification of ASD. So, you do have ASD.

[@tigristhelynx7224]

Aveeno discontinued my old shampoo without warning and replaced it with 3 new shampoos that were "all natural" junk. I went on a shampoo journey for months trying to find something that didn't make my scalp break out or make my hair feel coated in a residue. Dove discontinued my Winter Care moisture body wash that was a limited time thing, but I found that Deep Moisture worked the same, so I switched to that. I only eat 4 things when I go to restaurants.. chicken, pasta, burger, pizza. If they don't have that, I panic to almost meltdown status because I'm hungry and I just want food.

[@suziegrinwis5512]

I am very sensitive to smell and get breakdowns when a perfume (or perhaps hair product) is discontinued or changed. 3 of my favorite perfumes were discontinued (the number one over 10 years ago, Escada signature 2005) and to this day I am going into stores to find a replacement. Hoping that they sold the formula to some other company. I even tracked down the owner and sent e-mails to customer service if they were ever going to relaunch it again. Reading all of your comments made me realize that I'm not crazy, it's just an autistic trait 😂.

[@masaku88]

Walmart changed my leggings & my pj pants were discontinued and Ive never been the same. I've been searching for two years for replacements 😭 I have a really hard time with clothing textures and thickness/ flexibility of the fabric? Its hard to explain but I can't bear the feeling of most clothes.

[@johnorr8094]

As far as food, I was disappointed when Chef Boyardee discontinued Roller Coasters. It was basically lasagna noodles in spaghetti sauce with meatballs. It was discontinued in the early 1980s. Then there are Pop Rocks.

[@restorative-waves]

aw that sounds like a fun/yummy food. The name is cool, lol.

[@michelem226]

I'm like this with clothing, which often are just manufactured for one season, so I'll buy multiples of something I like upfront.

[@monikastuckey8737]

My favorite restaurant had elderly parents running it, and they retired. 😢 Now I have nothing to eat out at anymore.

[@Piroschatz44]

I am 42Y, a late diagnosed and can relate to 100% As a gamer, I play everything with Keyboard and Mouse, I had my Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2013 for ~10 years in dayli use and a failed Bio-Update disabled it. Finding a new KB took me ~16 hours and a half of a night..... at 4 a.m I ordered a Razer Deathstalker 2. It´s a good KB, fast response and quiet, but it is NOT the same. I am using it since 4 months now, but I am still unhappy with it, feels bad, many spelling mistakes and so on....wish I can order a new 2013 KB, but there is no new produced and also no support for it and would be a waste of money.....but its difficult to get into this new one 🙈