Sensory overload for adults - is it just me?

Is this just something I experience? Where you have days/ times where any noise of any description and light is just unbearable. Not in a painful way but in a sensory way.
I have noticed this more lately where I just feel a complete overload of noise and lights and I just have to escape it. I have to close my bedroom door with the lights off and sit completely still for a while to regain my focus and composure. I thought it may be more related to my anxieties etc but then another friend said a similar thing today. It got me thinking, maybe it's not just me???

My partner gets this quite easily. That sort of thing is in his family though. From my side its hard though because he stresses out, gets irritable and its just normal kid noise etc so I have to tip toe around him and deal with the noise.

:

---

My partner gets this quite easily. That sort of thing is in his family though. From my side its hard though because he stresses out, gets irritable and its just normal kid noise etc so I have to tip toe around him and deal with the noise.

---

On a really bad day I can get like this too. 99% of the time i'm fine though. I always thought it was just me!

I sometimes get it if I am run ragged/really tired too, like to shut myself in my room and dull some noise and interaction so I can hear myself think.

I can't stand kids play centres, I definitely get overloaded and if my anxiety is up its much worse at those times as well, hugs you definitely aren't alone and I think taking time out to be present, pray (for me) and just be, is really important.

Totally normal for me. I have ADD and suspect I have related sensory processing issues. It has become a lot worse in recent years as I am dealing with shock, grief and anxiety. Crowds, for example, are tough. However, all my life, I have been sensitive to noise and light. I've never fallen asleep in front of a TV, for example. I've rarely been able to sleep with a light on. I cannot handle talk back radio or radio commentary - they're too discordant for me.

Definitely not just you, I get this sometimes too, and it makes me snappy and short tempered until I can get away. It comes on all of a sudden, like I literally just snap. I have anxiety issues too, from what others have said, that seems to be a common theme. People trying to talk over loud music, being touched or talked to while I'm in pain or tired seem to set me off, but just being too hot, hungry or thirsty seem to be my personal triggers, then it takes an environmental trigger like too much noise to set me off... I absolutely cannot handle people talking over each other-people have even commented that I look physically uncomfortable when this happens, like I'm in pain!

Not pleasant, I haven't tried sitting in a darkened room, and I haven't ever been able to put a name to it, I tell my partner I feel like I may be overstimulated, that's the only word I've been able to put to it.

:

---

Totally normal for me. I have ADD and suspect I have related sensory processing issues. It has become a lot worse in recent years as I am dealing with shock, grief and anxiety. Crowds, for example, are tough. However, all my life, I have been sensitive to noise and light. I've never fallen asleep in front of a TV, for example. I've rarely been able to sleep with a light on. I cannot handle talk back radio or radio commentary - they're too discordant for me.

---

I have gotton worse lately (again could be because i'm physically not well and over it too). I'm a bit the opposite though, I find it difficult to go to sleep without a light on and need some quiet background noise to sleep.

:

---

Definitely not just you, I get this sometimes too, and it makes me snappy and short tempered until I can get away. It comes on all of a sudden, like I literally just snap. I have anxiety issues too, from what others have said, that seems to be a common theme. People trying to talk over loud music, being touched or talked to while I'm in pain or tired seem to set me off, but just being too hot, hungry or thirsty seem to be my personal triggers, then it takes an environmental trigger like too much noise to set me off... I absolutely cannot handle people talking over each other-people have even commented that I look physically uncomfortable when this happens, like I'm in pain!

Not pleasant, I haven't tried sitting in a darkened room, and I haven't ever been able to put a name to it, I tell my partner I feel like I may be overstimulated, that's the only word I've been able to put to it.

---

YES! Everything here!!

I'm another noise sensitive one. I have a room in our house that can be made very dark. Even DD1 knows when I say I need some time out where I'm going. I can't often do the radio in the car unless I'm in a super mood, the TV is on low. When my mum comes to stay and has the telly on (she's quite deaf), I can barely cope. It took me a long time to realise why, even though I've been doing the same things for years.

My DS is very very similar.

I cant handle big crowds.. I dont take the kids to many places in the school holidays due to the amount of people.. if we go to the zoo i make them take a day off school. i just feel over whelmed and lost and so so anxious.

I can't handle loud noises, they drive me insane! We had a friend staying with us from Poland for 6 months and she only knew two volumes - quiet and ridiculously loud. It got to the point where I used to go and sit in our room with the door shut and she'd come and ask what I was doing and I'd have to say getting away from you! I can't sleep with a light on either.

I'm def one of those people that needs my own space sometimes. My hubby works a week away and then has a week of R&R so I'm used to my own space and noise etc. I actually only commented the other day about how I'm going to cope when a crying baby comes along!

Another that suffers badly with sensory overload. I always ALWAYS have music playing. Same few discs on repeat for ages. If I start to feel its too much I focus on the music. At work I have to have music in the ear that isn't focused on a customer. If not, the conversation around me overwhelm me. Crowds and the related babble make me feel dizzy and sick. It's not the volume as much as trying to decipher everything that is coming through to my brain and being overwhelmed. If I can One out and filter the babble I can cope. Concerts are fine once the music starts. But the babble before and after ruins me. I'm not good in crowded social situations either. My brain seems to have to follow every conversation and I start to feel blah from it all. So "intimate" is more my thing


I'm very light sensitive too. But not to the same degree. The crowds thing is definitely bad for me.

It's not just you!
It's gold that you recognise it and know how to deal with it. good on you!

Count me in - family get togethers are tough, hate supermarket shopping if I have 2 people with me. Strobe lights confuse me & I have to close my eyes. HATE people trying to talk to me while I'm listening to music, it's too much to concentrate on. I avoid crowds & party's unless I can retreat to a quiet spot. Often have music playing in my ear piece at work to block out the constant sound of sharing an office & get tempted to turn the office lights off so it's not so bright & glarey.

I get it too, touch and sound in particular. I regularly need time out where it is quiet and I can be alone so that I don't go nutso. A bath is great for me to calm down, and I often have no TV or music or anything on when DH and the kids aren't home, and in the car. I also find getting grounded in nature and hearing the sounds outside calm me too. I am often turning down the TV or radio/music and asking the kids to speak/play more quietly because I get overloaded with it.

I think my DS2 gets overwhelmed by his senses too, particularly noises. He often covers his ears when there is loud noises and if he's really feeling bad, he flaps his arms and goes a bit crazy, running around and yelling.

I get this too
Particularly with Ds and dd making noise all day by the time dh gets home I have to sit in my room by myself for a while, I hate the radio going while I'm driving and need the tv turned down
I do however prefer more light In the room I hate having a dim or dark room unless sleeping because I feel I can't see properly I also don't like driving at night
I'm not find of crowds and even a group of people I prefer one in one time I just find it too much for my brain to manage more than one person

I've also got hereditary anxiety so I'm guessing there's a link judging by other people who have both on here

Absolutely linked to anxiety and mental disorders. It's all caused by your gut flora. Take care of your inner ecosystem and it goes away :)

When you have a sensory processing disorder you can be sensory seeking or sensory avoiding and it can vary depending upon the sense.