Sensory Overload

[Cerulean]

I found this short little video entitled "Sensory Overload (Interacting with Autism Project)" on Vimeo, and I thought I'd share it with you guys.

Sensory Overload (Interacting with Autism Project) on Vimeo

I know a few of these little animated sections apply to me- like the electricity buzzing and the need to cover my ears or wear earplugs. I find it hard to describe what overstimulation really feels like in a way that makes sense, I think this video does a better job than I can.

 

[HelloDizzy]

It's hard to explain sensory overload to a lot of people so this is cool.
I have serious issues with being in a room where a lot of people speak at once.

 

[Arashi222]

I just get to that point too where its hard when there are too many people around too many voices. I will start to feel claustrophobic. It is I second Dizzy. Its hard to show people what its like when you get overloaded.

 

[jimited]

today was a great example of sensory overload, during mechanical principles class everyone was talking while doing their work and it was too much and could not get much work done, I just couldn't concentrate so I just sat there, it also happens to be my favourite class usually I just put my headphones and listen to music and drown out everyone around me and really helps me to concentrate

 

[Serendipity]

This is part of the reason I haven't been successful at any of my jobs--I get sensory overload very easily. Dealing with customers walking everywhere, talking loudly, and all of that...I can't deal with it. At my last job I also had to deal with listening to very loud televisions, which only exacerbated the matter.

 

[Soup]

I've got a bad case of it today. My optometrist is in the freakin' mall & the place was crowded today. Whenever the weather is either too hot or too cold, people gravitate to the mall for some reason. There was crappy muzak playing too loudly, the smells of all those bodies & the clashing of all the different voices, perfumes & the artificial lighting almost drove me to leave without getting my eyes checked. I pulled myself together & went through with it. Thankfully, there was parking near the entrance nearest the optometrist so at least I wasn't stuck roaming through the entire mall. Now, I'm stimmy & I'm spilling stuff & knocking things over. As soon as I can, I'm off to a hot bubble bath with candles & no other light source & no noise!

 

[HelloDizzy]

I also get stimmy and more clumsy than usual when I have sensor overload, never noticed that until now lol.
I have some kind of overload today, not sure if it's sensory or what.

 

[smith2267]

I don't always know how I feel...physically and emotionally I am kind of disconnected from myself.
But I'm told I get irritable after too much stimulus.
And I am certain that I can't concentrate with too much going on. In vet school I always sought out quiet places to study.

 

[Divrom]

I hate it.

Makes me anxious, angry, frustrated and panicky.

I like to play my own music very loudly. I can fall asleep with it blaring away. But if I was trying to sleep and someone 4 gardens away was chatting with their front door open, it could keep me awake for hours.

I want the noise that I choose. Any uninvited noise is like a punch in the face.

For me, this is the worst thing about having Aspergers.

 

[UsernameTaken]

I relate to that video. Usually I end up shutting down - it's weird. I almost go into a catatonic state when there's too much sensory input.

 

[Cerulean]

I relate to that video. Usually I end up shutting down - it's weird. I almost go into a catatonic state when there's too much sensory input.

I have the same response. It's like- there's already too much going on, the last thing my body/brain wants to do is add to the chaos. I can't control all of them, but I can control what I do. /shutdown

 

[buckyboy14]

I can't go to the student vs. faculty basketball and volleyball games we have once a year due to the buzzers, and I really want to be able to watch them. I can't take fire drills either. It's very embarrassing. But If I get subjected to too much noise, I can actually start to cry. Nobody understands why, and I've been made fun of mercilessly for it.

 

[Jacki Cucinotta]

I've noticed that there is quite an interesting variety of things that tend to make us feel that our senses our being overloaded. The only sensory issues I tend to have are with loud, constant chatting that is similar to what jimited, Dizzy, and Arashi pointed out as well as exposure to loud sounds that appear out of the blue.

Based on the variety I have noticed, I am curious about a few things.
1. What kinds of senses are you most sensitive too: sights, smells, touches, sounds, or tastes?
2. Does the degree of sensitivity to certain senses vary in different situations or is the degree similar in many or all situations?
3. Have your sensitivities to certain senses changed from when you were younger?

Just thought these questions would bring new light into the thread (no offense of course - the insight seen in this thread is amazing as is the insight provided in basically every thread on AC).

 

[Amy Bellows]

I just found this .. I know it's an older thread. The video is pretty accurate. I don't always have problems with noisy environments where I expect the noise, like conventions, concerts, malls, etc... at least not in smaller doses, but if I am in an environment (LIKE WORK!!) where there is a routine established, or I'm trying to establish one, the unexpected noises and interruptions can get really distressing, and it's like a downward spiral from there. I've quit 2 jobs because of things like that. My current job is a little different, in that a few people know about my 'issues', and are fairly understanding if I tell them I need to go 'email-only' for a while. They also know to schedule meetings at least a day in advance so I can gear myself up for the broken routine. Sometimes they even remember that!
Too many last-minute meetings (especially unproductive ones!) are severely detrimental to my well-being.