Do you sometimes feel like everything is 'too much'? Shall we talk about Sensory Overload?

Have you ever felt like this? Imagine you're in a shopping mall, on a crowded bus, or at a wedding. Suddenly, the noise around you, the different colored lights, people talking, the different smells... all of this becomes too much for your head to handle. It's so uncomfortable, so overwhelming, you wish you could just get out of here. That's what we simply call "sensory overload ." This is more than just "not liking the noise." Let's talk about this in a little more detail today.

What exactly is this so-called Sensory Overload?

Simply put, Sensory Overload is when our five senses - eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin - are overwhelmed by the amount of information our brains are receiving at once. Our brains are like the processor of a computer. Just as a computer can 'hang' when you open too many programs at once, our brains can 'overload' when they receive too many sensory inputs at once.

At this point, our brain thinks, "This is a big danger." So we prepare our bodies to face it, run away from it, or freeze in place ( fight, flight, or freeze ). This is why we feel a lot of fear, anxiety, and insecurity.

Here are some of the situations where this situation can sometimes occur:

What are the symptoms of Sensory Overload?

This may vary from person to person, but there are some common characteristics that can be seen.

• Extreme restlessness and inability to calm down (Anxiety).
• Feeling irritable.
• A strong desire to escape from the environment, to get away from there.
• Feeling like covering your ears and eyes .
• Inability to keep the mind in one place, restlessness.
• Physical discomfort: increased breathing rate, increased heart rate, sweating.
• In young children : When young children feel this, they can't understand what it is. So they cry loudly, roll on the floor, and scream. Sometimes parents may mistake this for a tantrum. But it's actually a response to something their brain can't handle.

What are the most common conditions that cause Sensory Overload?

Although anyone can experience sensory overload, it is more common among people with certain health conditions.

• Autism: Children and adults on the autism spectrum have different sensory processing abilities, so even normal environmental stimuli, such as noise and light, can be overwhelming for them.
• ADHD ( Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder): People with ADHD have difficulty paying attention. When too many stimuli come at once, the brain has difficulty processing and understanding all the information. This can lead to Sensory Overload.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Someone who has experienced a traumatic event, such as a serious accident or war, may experience sensory overload due to sounds (e.g., a firecracker) or sights that remind them of the event.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): People who experience persistent, irrational fear and worry may find it difficult to cope with even normally safe crowded places.
• Other conditions: In addition, this sensitivity is also more common in people with conditions such as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) .

The important thing is, you can experience Sensory Overload even without any of these conditions. It's normal.

How to manage this situation?

The good news is, there are many ways to manage this.

1. Talk to your doctor: If you are experiencing these types of problems on a regular basis, the first and most important thing to do is to talk to your doctor about it. He or she can refer you to mental health resources and, if necessary, talk about treatment. They may even recommend anti-anxiety medication or an antidepressant.

2. Identify and avoid triggers: Pay attention to what triggers you. Is it noise? Crowds? Strong smells? Once you identify those triggers, you can avoid them as much as possible or prepare for them in advance. For example, if you're going to a friend's birthday party, suggest going somewhere quiet, like a backyard, instead of a noisy restaurant.

3. Self-care: It is very important that you take good care of yourself.

• Sleep well.
• Eat nutritious food and drink water on time.
• Practice things like meditation, mindfulness, and deep breathing exercises . These can help you calm down when you're feeling anxious.

4. Therapy: Seeing a counselor can help you manage your anxiety and learn how to cope with difficult situations like this.

How do we help someone with Sensory Overload?

If a family member or friend of yours is having this kind of difficulty, you can help them.

• Move him away from the uncomfortable area. For example, if it's too noisy, take him to a quiet place.
• You stay calm. If you get nervous, he might get even more nervous. He will sense your calmness too.
• Ask politely, "What do you need?" They may want to be alone for a while, or they may want to hug you. But remember, they may not be able to talk at that time.
• Don't judge. Don't say things like, "What's so upsetting about that?" Understand their experience and support them.

Sensory Overload, sensitivity, stress, anxiety, ADHD, autism, crowded places, fear of noise, brain fatigue, mental health, anxiety