Can sensory overload cause an anxiety attack?

[Full Steam]

I get overloaded a lot and it's usually shutdown, occasionally meltdown.

This morning I had an intense anxiety attack, not caused by stress of anxiety triggers. It was either food, medications, and supplements, or sensory overload.

There was quite a bit of noise of the type that often triggers me, and some of my meds can cause anxiety, but usually just a bit that's manageable.

I get anxiety anyway, and I can handle it, but this was too intense for me to do anything at all, but sit and ride it out.

Now I feel a bit drained a bit like after a meltdown.

Anyone had anything like that?

 

[pax]

From my experience, yes.

 

[Judge]

For me sensory overload can and does cause shutdowns. The last one was simply too many frenetic people in the mall at Christmas a few years back. For me a classic case of sensory overload.

 

[kay]

I can get bad generalized anxiety from socializing too long (long phone call). Did that the other night and just had to go to bed early and listen to Patti Smith for an hour until I could sleep. I'm sure any type of overload is going to hit the brains panic buttons, brains get nervous about being asked to process too much..

 

[Bolletje]

Yes, sensory overload causes anxiety for me. The anxiety is sort of a prodrome for, if not the first phase of, a shutdown for me.

 

[Jharbour]

I know for myself that the majority of my anxiety is connected to sensory overload

 

[Full Steam]

I think is was overload mixed with ADHD meds. Ritalin slow release doesn't suit me at all.

 

[SusanLR]

Sensory overload can sure cause this type of anxiety for me. I get a bit dizzy, unfocused, and spaced out.
Leaves me feeling weak inside. I call them internal
panic attacks.

 

[Progster]

Yes, I think that they are linked. If my senses are overloaded, I'm more likely to have an anxiety attack. It happens at the hospital sometimes.

 

[Juliettaa]

Yes, this happens to me too. The aftermath is complete exhaustion.

It appears to be a common theme based on the responses. You are not alone

 

[Suzanne]

It has only just hit me, that the mere aspect of socialising panicks me, but because of not recognising the emotion, I have just gone through with the motions, until now and actually, it is because of the overload that it dawned on me, what it was that caused the dread.

Currently, I cannot even go shopping with hubby; the sound; lighting etc and the humdrum of people, just make me cringe back in fright.

At my christian meeting, I now either sit in the car, or go into the back room, where a door is left open for me. It is all such a relief, because I can enjoy my spiritual meeting, without having to panic about the socialising before and after.

 

[Full Steam]

Currently, I cannot even go shopping with hubby; the sound; lighting etc and the humdrum of people, just make me cringe back in fright.

Have you tried using earphones?

I have one or both earphones in and music playing every time I'm in the supermarket or any where really overloading.

Even with my wife and three kids with me I do that. One ear piece playing my choice of music helps massively.

 

[Suzanne]

Have you tried using earphones?

I have one or both earphones in and music playing every time I'm in the supermarket or any where really overloading.

Even with my wife and three kids with me I do that. One ear piece playing my choice of music helps massively.

No, too hyperaware of my surroundings, to feel comfortable listening to music.

 

[WereBear]

It's happened to me, too. I usually get a visual aura, like looking through rippled glass, so I can find a quieter place and avoid worse.

 

[Chance]

Yes, I think that they are linked. If my senses are overloaded, I'm more likely to have an anxiety attack. It happens at the hospital sometimes.

I cant even grasp how you handle the beeps, and noises, and intense things that go on in a hospital.

However I admire you for that... I get this deep pitted sick feeling just going in... Its not my normal stuff and I never know how to deal with what I'm feeling while I am there... It sounds so stupid but its like I feel the anguish of other people... All I want to do is get the hell out of there because I feel sort of haunted or something... Then I start worrying that I'm going crazy.
Maybe I am and I just don't understand it yet... : )

 

[Chance]

like looking through rippled glass

Perfect wording... and it sort of makes me dizzy or sort of nauseous, but nothing extreme most the time.
However, its sucks the LIFE ENERGY out of me very fast and I get extremely tired and no one understands that part.

 

[Chance]

but this was too intense for me to do anything at all, but sit and ride it out.

If only the world around us could even grasp what you just said... or even think to begin to understand what all is going on inside us when this goes down... wow...

Hope all is better now. : )

 

[Butterfly88]

Yes, sensory overloads give me anxiety.

 

[LucyPurrs]

When any of you get overloaded like you are describing, would you be able to tell a person with you "I'm overloaded" so the person could understand what's going on and be able to assist in some way like just sitting with you without speaking or handing you something which would cut out the sensory stuff like headphones?

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

and be able to assist in some way

Money calms me immensely.