Sensory Overload

[Cyanide Lollipop]

When folks are experiencing sensory overload and you are unable to remove yourself from the situation, is there anything you do which can help delay or prevent a meltdown?

 

[umbrellabeach]

I go into shutdown mode and tune out of my surroundings. I'm usually with my family when we're out somewhere that's busy and crowded, so I focus just enough to follow them, but not more.

 

[Cerulean]

Put my hands over my ears, close my eyes, and breathe slowly.

 

[Sparticus]

If possible take a break-find an out of the way table where there is less noise level to sit and eat something. A place to relaxe & reenergize.
Ok I got this question...you are overwhelmed, what can you do to survive. Walk away from the noise as much as possible? If you are stuck then prepare your nervous system? Delay a meltdown? Having someone to talk too would help. ?

 

[Galaxy Freeze]

If I can't get away... I get very mad and annoyed. I try to just plug my ears and imagine myself somewhere other than where I am. Like away from the table my mom is chewing loudly at. I usually can remove myself from the situation though, I'm afraid to see what'll happen if too much time goes by and I can't.

 

[Mellotron]

Its good to try to focus on your breath I've found. Just breathe and count your breaths 1-10 and start over. It often has a calming effect. I read this in a book about meditation but its good for just calming down too.

 

[LittleDeer]

I usually either shut down, or go into panic mode. I have regular panic attacks, so its a fairly common thing. Usually to try to hold it off I start rocking and/or rapidly rubbing/scratching my thigh, or cover my ears. I won't do this in public though. If I'm in public I am always with someone who knows how I get in those situations, and we usually avoid places that cause me problems. But if its getting to be too much, I will become nonverbal for the most part, but I am usually able to push myself to say "I can't be here", and the person I'm with usually knows what that means. My friends are pretty familiar with how I change when I'm having sensory overloads or even just really stressed out and anxious, so they usually will ask me if I'm okay before it gets to the point where its intolerable. Luckily my friends are very sensitive to how I act and can be quite protective of me because they know I'm very sensitive, so I luck out I suppose. And I don't go out in public alone, and I rarely go out with family because I'm not particularly fond of them even though I live with them. When I am alone and I experience a sensory overload, (which is rare because I stay in my room) I will just rock and rub/scratch my thigh, or hide under my blankets.

So I guess most of my strategy is to remove myself from the surroundings that are giving me the sensory overload.