Can sensory overload cause an anxiety attack?

[LucyPurrs]

Money calms me immensely.

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

 

[LucyPurrs]

I see, you want money to go to the racetrack?

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

I see, you want money to go to the racetrack?

But notice when someone goes very quiet.
Then stop talking.

 

[Thinx]

I Think @Fridgemagnetman s gone quiet...

I was interested in Chances point about the pressure of that's maybe the effect of the anguish of others in hospital I think this could be part of what our brains can do that NT s can't hence they cultivate empathy, whereas for many of us the feelingsame of others are palpable and present. It's a bit like the way being psychic is often presented on TV fiction. In my experience.

 

[Mary Anne]

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.

Absolutely cannot go to shopping malls, or be out during the Christmas shopping rush! That’s why I do all my holiday shopping by September, and avoid all crowds, roads, parking lots, and people during the November and December madness.
Heck, I cannot go to ANY malls on the weekends either! Just driving to the mall, or trying to find parking is anxiety producing.

 

[Chance]

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?

Not something I want to admit maybe... Pride, fear, or worry over what people might say that might make it worse...

Too me (not trying to speak for others) it's something I maybe feel ashamed of, or guilty over, and only GOD himself knows why I would feel that way... Because I certainly don't know why... except that I might be causing other people to be really uncomfortable...

So I do all I can to hide it, while I scramble for an excuse to get the hell out of whatever I'm doing with me usually starting to shake and sweating... It's wonderful... Everyone should get to enjoy this stuff... : )

Do I want to tell someone? Yes, but do I no... However, a few people that truly know me, and know its not some act, can tell by how I suddenly get extremely quiet and maybe distant. My aunt notices my breathing changes, and she says I start rubbing on my head, and I take my cap off, and loosening anything bugging me... Plus I'm usually looking for a way out of the situation... (which marks a very sudden change) when I may have been having a really good time just a short time ago... : )

 

[LucyPurrs]

Not something I want to admit maybe... Pride, fear, or worry over what people might say that might make it worse...

Too me (not trying to speak for others) it's something I maybe feel ashamed of, or guilty over, and only GOD himself knows why I would feel that way... Because I certainly don't know why... except that I might be causing other people to be really uncomfortable...

So I do all I can to hide it, while I scramble for an excuse to get the hell out of whatever I'm doing with me usually starting to shake and sweating... It's wonderful... Everyone should get to enjoy this stuff... : )

Do I want to tell someone? Yes, but do I no... However, a few people that truly know me, and know its not some act, can tell by how I suddenly get extremely quiet and maybe distant. My aunt notices my breathing changes, and she says I start rubbing on my head, and I take my cap off, and loosening anything bugging me... Plus I'm usually looking for a way out of the situation... (which marks a very sudden change) when I may have been having a really good time just a short time ago... : )

Thanks Chance. It makes me really sad that even with someone you know well who is aware and ACCEPTING of your differences, you would still feel uncomfortable telling them what was happening. I guess if I was with someone, I'd just have to look for the non verbal signs of overload and react accordingly. But thanks for your response, it's helpful.

 

[Chance]

I Think @Fridgemagnetman s gone quiet...

I was interested in Chances point about the pressure of that's maybe the effect of the anguish of others in hospital I think this could be part of what our brains can do that NT s can't hence they cultivate empathy, whereas for many of us the feelingsame of others are palpable and present. It's a bit like the way being psychic is often presented on TV fiction. In my experience.

It's not something I would want to tell anyone... It's not like I see dead people or anything like that...
Anguish is the only word I know to begin to describe it... It's just this deep pitted feeling that I dont think is mine to have, nor do I want it, or know how to handle it, or who its from... I only know it is like something that sort of sucks the life out of me... So, I become this horrible person who has this "thing" about going and seeing people in hospitals, and emergency rooms are a total mental nightmare, that mess me up pretty bad.

It's not that I don't want to go in, or maybe it is...

Maybe a nice foil hat would work, with the nice straightjacket they should probably put me in... : )

 

[Progster]

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... : )

i take headphones and music with me, to drown out the noises, and earplugs. But I had to go to have treatment. Now, hopefully, I won't need to go so often.

I don't like going there - nobody does, but as I said elsewhere, I can't shut the whole world out all the time, I often have to put up with situations that push me to the edge of, and beyond my comfort zone, the necessities of daily living dicatate that I do this, if I want to live independently, that's what I have to do.

 

[Chance]

i take headphones and music with me, to drown out the noises, and earplugs. But I had to go to have treatment. Now, hopefully, I won't need to go so often.

I don't like going there - nobody does, but as I said elsewhere, I can't shut the whole world out all the time, I often have to put up with situations that push me to the edge of, and beyond my comfort zone, the necessities of daily living dicatate that I do this, if I want to live independently, that's what I have to do.

Headphones and earbuds are a daily part of my wardrobe... I have them lined up like ladies do their necklaces... Some need tossing at this point : ) Skull Candy seem to be my favorite, they don't irritate the inside of my ears like some do, and my Bose headphones for at home, or on a trip are good. When things really get bad my best trick is my hunting ear muffs, with my skull candy ear buds inside... No sound but whatever I want to hear but my ears get all sweaty... and no I cant hear a word anyone is saying... : )

Its cool that you can deal with all you have to deal with... Because I see your job as hard even for an NT.
It would seem you are put under lots of stress that not yours to have to deal with... and it's very cool you manage all of it so well.

I do try very hard to navigate this weirdness... and I am so fortunate to be totally independent and able to live a reasonably quiet life (at times) or at least I can go find a place out of the way... I only get really messed up in crowded places, and I get super messed up in unfamiliar or chaotic places... I don't get chaotic, I just somehow feel it, and it upsets me deep inside, thus the trigger happens.

Sometimes I think I should have been been born in 1874, instead of 100 years later, but look at what all I would have missed... So, I guess I should be more grateful for what I have, and not worry so much over what screws me up... : )

 

[Progster]

Its cool that you can deal with all you have to deal with... Because I see your job as hard even for an NT.
It would seem you are put under lots of stress that not yours to have to deal with... and it's very cool you manage all of it so well.

Yes, it is a stressful job, and not one that I'm really suited to, but I'm now trapped into it. I don't think that I manage it that well, really, I have a lot of problems. But at least I work for myself and not for other people... when I worked at a school, I found that far more stressful, and more that I could cope with.

 

[Gracey]

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?

If it doesn’t involve speaking Lucy.

If you can watch the body language (not yours, theirs)
Breathing faster and more shallow.

Eyes might be fixed (brain busy using methods to calm self)
Or
Darting - looking around quickly.

Speed of any actions may increase.
Whether it’s walking or hand gestures.

May start to sweat when it’s neither too warm or haven’t excerpted self.

System is loaded with adrenaline.

Replying to questions requires structuring an answer.
- memory may have shut down (fight or flight) retrieving words may be difficult.

If you were to just whip out a set of headphones and hold them up for the person you’re with.
They’ll either take them and be grateful (without speaking at that moment)
Or ignore them and find the nearest exit?
Depending on how far into the zone they are.

You ask some lovely questions

 

[LucyPurrs]

If it doesn’t involve speaking Lucy.

If you can watch the body language (not yours, theirs)
Breathing faster and more shallow.

Eyes might be fixed (brain busy using methods to calm self)
Or
Darting - looking around quickly.

Speed of any actions may increase.
Whether it’s walking or hand gestures.

May start to sweat when it’s neither too warm or haven’t excerpted self.

System is loaded with adrenaline.

Replying to questions requires structuring an answer.
- memory may have shut down (fight or flight) retrieving words may be difficult.

If you were to just whip out a set of headphones and hold them up for the person you’re with.
They’ll either take them and be grateful (without speaking at that moment)
Or ignore them and find the nearest exit?
Depending on how far into the zone they are.

You ask some lovely questions

Wow Gracey! What a helpful response. Thank you so much! I now understand why someone would not be able to say "I'm overloaded" so will focus on all those non verbal cues which shouldn't be that hard to ascertain.

 

[Crossbreed]

Sensory overload can send me into shutdown, but I must qualify what I mean by "sensory overload."

When I first started working at a cell phone factory, it was definitely SO. After working there for a while, the same sounds didn't bother me any more. They were expected. (My counselor says that I was acclimatized.)

Having just a few unexpected sensations isn't overwhelming, either. It is just when I have too many at the same time, that I get overwhelmed.

 

[Full Steam]

Wow Gracey! What a helpful response. Thank you so much! I now understand why someone would not be able to say "I'm overloaded" so will focus on all those non verbal cues which shouldn't be that hard to ascertain.

I tell my wife as soon as I start getting overloaded that causes shutdown. That's the most common for me and happens at least every other day to some degree.

If I start feeling a meltdown approaching. I tend to self isolate first without telling her. I'll tell her later, but as Chance said there is some shame involved and its too much to admit in the moment.

The anxiety attack I had yesterday was much like a meltdown. It started a cascade of anxiety. I went off by myself and even afterwards, when I explained to my wife I felt ashamed.

For some reason, meltdown, depression and anxiety cause feelings of shame, maybe because I subconsciously see them as weaknesses .

 

[Full Steam]

Much as its uncomfortable to admit, the shame may be caused by old opinions that those things happen to other people, and are weaknesses so couldn't possibly apply to me.

Now its obvious that whole perspective is false. Comparing ones self to others is a greater weakness, and one hard to leave behind for good.

 

[LucyPurrs]

I tell my wife as soon as I start getting overloaded that causes shutdown. That's the most common for me and happens at least every other day to some degree.

If I start feeling a meltdown approaching. I tend to self isolate first without telling her. I'll tell her later, but as Chance said there is some shame involved and its too much to admit in the moment.

The anxiety attack I had yesterday was much like a meltdown. It started a cascade of anxiety. I went off by myself and even afterwards, when I explained to my wife I felt ashamed.

For some reason, meltdown, depression and anxiety cause feelings of shame, maybe because I subconsciously see them as weaknesses .

I hate to hear anyone feels shame. To me it's not shameful to have feelings and sensitivities and I think it takes a lot more strength to admit those feelings than not to acknowledge feelings. As far as I'm concerned I'd never want to be partner to a guy who never acknowledged his feelings.

 

[Aspie_With_Attitude]

I had that many times, most of them are very long stories.

 

[Ezra]

I have generalize anxiety disorder. I sometimes get really bad anxiety/panic attacks out of the blue for no discernable reason.