@@Rollwithit699 A lot of us ADHDers communicate that way. If it’s not for you, it’s not for you. There will be somewhere else to get your info without resorting to personal remarks? She’s a human too.
Yes! For me, I have been told that it’s my brains taught coping mechanism and although we can’t help it it isn’t a healthy coping mechanism! Hope I helped!
Depersonalization/derealization is very debilitating, it’s not something that would be considered helpful/coping by most people. I believe I was having sensory overload attacks in middle school which lead to panic attacks along side them because I didn’t know what was wrong. However this eventually lead to a month long bout of depersonalization over the summer between 8th and 9th grade. It got triggered by me feeling overstimulated and just thinking in my head “what if this isn’t even real” and something just like snapped on my brain. I thought I was losing my mind at the time, every night I cried and prayed that I would just die. Quite scary. I get it every now and again but usually I can shake it these days.
Im not diagnosed with autism but i have many symptoms. I've experienced disassociation my whole life where I would get too much sensory input and my brain would just zone out completely, and in that way it definitely helped when I was overwhelmed. As a child it was a daily occurrence at dinner where I was made to sit in one place, oftentimes forced to eat food I didn't want to, and had to interact with my family who are all fairly loud and argumentative. My family definitely came to expect it if me and called it my "episodes". Funnily enough they have only suspected my brother of having autism because he is very blunt and did not restrict himself from discussing his special interests of time (particularly time travel) and space (mine were religion and art which of course were seen as not very out there by my Christian family that was full of artists, but I would still be scolded for discussing other religions, or the lives of my favorite artists which were usually drug and alcohol heavy). unshockingly my brother also isn't diagnosed for the same reason I haven't sought it (financial constraints).
I have another suggestion to help with sensory overload: If you already know it's going to be a bad day, wear clothing that's comfortable to you. For me that means tight clothing, because it provides pressure, sometimes even wristwarmers for the same reasons. I also put my hair up so that it doesn't bother me and put on my favorite perfume, because smells really comfort me. Of course this is different from person to person, but I feel like those things can make a great impact.
Absolutely!! Loose clothes are my go to because I feel like im being choked in tight clothes, but the smell thing is totally me. Lemon balm is my comfort smell, except I had covid about a month ago and I still can't smell lemon balm.
I do this exact thing except it’s all about the PANTS for me. If I’m gonna get overloaded I absolutely cannot be wearing jeans. Jeans become my arch nemesis if I’m overwhelmed lollll
@@cupofmaddyVODS I’m not on the spectrum but I’m with you on the loose clothing! It takes me a while to get used to tight clothing, but with my background in dance and competitive dance, I have worn and gotten used to a lot of tight clothing. However, when I did competitive dancing, some of my costumes had this nasty fish line in it instead of thread, and my mom had to cut it out (risking the garment from coming apart). I hated the fish line. I also have to cut some clothing tags out, too, and it takes a long time to get comfy in a bed. But my nose is the opposite: I already have a horrible sense of smell without COVID. Only if a smell is really strong will I smell it. This triggers my anxiety sometimes because I don’t know if I have an irritating body odour or not, so I might not leave the house
A friend gave me a necklace that has a locket with a felt pad in it - it is designed to hold a few drops of essential oil. It is amazing as smells help me too - and I can load it up and sniff it when i am overloaded and it..... smoothes away some of the overload. I used to sniff flowers in every front garden I passed!
I have sensory overload a lot, especially when I’m at school. Loud whistling is one of my sensory triggers, along with quite a few other noises, so there’s a group of boys in my class at school who make these noises constantly in every class so I’ll have sensory overload. I struggle getting work done for this reason, and I feel like I’m falling behind. I get sent to the pastoral support room when I have a sensory overload, but they just bombard me with questions while I’m trying to calm down and sometimes try to hug me. They know I’m autistic and are meant to know about disabilities, but they just tell me I’m not having a bad sensory overload as I’m not “that autistic” and “Asperger syndrome isn’t real autism”. There’s a sensory room at school but nobody lets me use it. I also used to get punished for having sensory overload in primary school (I was diagnosed aged 6, so the teachers knew I couldn’t help it). I hate school and wish more people would understand my autism.
I have never been diagnosed with Autism, so I can’t say I understand. But I have sensory overload a lot during school, it gets so hard to focus and do work. I was a good friend with the school nurse, no one would let me go to the room. So I would go lay down on the bed in her office. She moved one of the beds into the corner of the nurses office so it’s away from everything. She would also turn off the light in there for me. She was amazing, and I explained to her how I was feeling and she would listen.
I really hope the situation has changed and developed for you - I am absolutely scandalised and enraged that they would try to claim that "Asperger's isn't real autism". That is some total tosh and I hope you take every opportunity to tell them how egregiously discriminative they're being. Bastards. Sorry, I know not everyone is in a position to tell off the people who are hurting them... I'm just so upset for you, and you would be completely accurate in calling them out if you ever felt the urge to let rip. I really hope your parents have stepped in to help you, it's so tough standing up to teachers and ignorant kids all on your own. You're made of really strong stuff to keep at it every day. If you don't mind sharing, I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd like to know how things are for you now. But either way, you have a lot of support online and out in the wider world. Hang in there, I promise there are many, many people who get where you're coming from and would be absolutely thrilled to have to opportunity to know and respect you for exactly who you are. School is a pit, but it'll end soon. I'm so sorry that both of yours have been this awful, you didn't and don't deserve a moment of it. Keep going, the world can be 1000000x better than what you've been dealing with, and it will be.
I 100% agree with everything Angela says. I feel so angry for you. I had a hellish time at school too - I didn’t know about my diagnosis then. When I left home and left school i was like a tightly wound coil springing out into life and it was amazing and a huge relief. I’m sort of doing that again in another way now I am diagnosed. You will find your tribe of people who understand you and communicate like you, and you will be free from those nasty people (I have many more colourful words for them too - their behaviour is atrocious - they are bullies) - free to shape your life as you want and need. Meanwhile, I hope your parents are supportive and will put them in their place! I saw data from a survey that said that a high percentage of autistic young people report bullying from the adults in their lives. That was my experience, even undiagnosed. That is what they are - and they should know better. I really hope things are easier for you now 💚
💗 I am so sorry this is happening to you, I wish there was something you could do to make them learn and understand that you cannot always “see” autism! I see a lot of stories of young women who don’t “look autistic”, so people do not take their disability seriously. It makes me very sad :(
One time there was a lot of noises all at once and everyone was yelling there was a lot bright lights and i got a migrane so bad that i threw up in the bathroom
i'm just now realising how many days i've been in sensory overload and not known, like i would be at school and start to have all of these symptoms and not know what tf was going on lmao
Me too, I deal with similar things like all the time and I’m not sure if I have autism but I’ve cried like 3 times watching this because of how much I can relate at times, I feel like that says something but I’m confused now. Like holy crap things are making sense when having this explanation. 😅
being in sensory overload feels like a combination of being drunk (without the fun/giggley/carefree part) & feeling like you can’t control your body/thoughts & having a panic attack. i can get very snappy & irritable when it’s building up & i just want to be in a dark, cool, quiet room with a soft blanket
I just realized the two times I’ve punched a wall out of “frustration” were actually moments I was overstimulated and needed to release all the pent up energy. The revelations your channel is giving me are impressive.
amberhappygirl when I was in first year of university and i would get a little drunk my friends always thought i had way more to drink than i actually did because my sensory overload made it look like i would drink bottles and bottles when really i would only have a few glasses
I’ve noticed that I tend to go into sensory overload a lot more easily if I’m already emotionally stressed. If I’m worried or frustrated with something else, it doesn’t take much noise, excess light, or annoying fabric to send me over the edge
Before I was diagnosed, I found whenever I was in loud spaces, I would feel pressure in my head and my ears would sometimes ring loudly. It all makes sense now.
For me it’s always been more of a panicky type feeling, feeling like the world is collapsing in on you, if you can’t imagine middle school band class was not fun for me
I get sensory overload, but I'm generally less noticable than most. If it's gotten really bad I may have a panic attack or start repeating words and phrases over and over again, but generally I'm only repetitive in my head and don't speak what I'm thinking, so no one knows it's repeating and my panic attacks make me freeze and I have trouble breathing, so once they end, I'm left gasping for air. Most people don't notice I'm having a panic attack. If I was sitting, they wouldn't know I froze and it rarely happens when I'm walking (it's more noticeable when we're walking, of course) and it takes a lot to get to this point. I know I'm starting to have sensory overload when I forget things too easily, can't focus on just one thing, start getting frustrated (to the point where if the overload continues, I may scream), I'm barely listening and need things repeated to me more than once, and I hear and see everything at once; unable to pinpoint where a sound is coming from or identify what objects or people I'm looking at.
I relate to this a lot. Pretty sure I've had full on mental breakdowns before that have literally been like 99% internal, on the outside I look calm af (or, at most, mildly annoyed) and on the inside I'm genuinely losing it.
Omg, all this time, I thought I was having panic attacks from out of the blue. They always happened at night after a really fun, long day. The first thing for me would be the shivers. I didn't feel cold, but I would start shaking out of nowhere. Then would be the higher heart rate, feeling flushed, nausea, and the bad coordination, almost like tunnel vision. The bad ones would result in me hitting myself, crying, kicking walls, pinching or scratching myself, and I couldn't get my words out. I would feel disconnected from reality. I guess my stimming was twisting/pulling my hair and pacing in a really fast circular pattern. Usually I would freak from feeling these things and feel like I couldn't breathe, which is why my therapists always thought it was panic. They would hear the 'can't breathe' and zone in on that, and it felt like they were dismissing everything else. Watching your videos has helped me realize that I'm on the spectrum. I'm 25, my entire life has been plagued by anxiety and feeling like I don't fit in socially, being bullied because I wasn't acting like "normal girls" and didn't have an interest in seeking out partners for dating and feeling like I had to put on a mask for every different social situation I was in. And the little things, too: walking on tiptoes when I'm excited, nervous, or feeling any kind of emotion, blurting things out that others take as offensive, flapping my hands when I'm alone and excited about something, feeling super empathetic and overly sensitive to sights, sounds, textures, being a picky eater, my childhood rituals that a therapist thought was OCD, and feeling like I'm just on a different wavelength from other people. I'm in the process of getting a diagnosis because lately I've been having more and more trouble at work and in class due to the anxiety social situations give me and the sensory overloads. Thank you for doing what you do, and stay safe!
Omg I think we have the same life, sounds exactly like me. I’m 23 and having a panic attack can’t breathe and other symptoms such as pacing and tunnel vision, so I decided to search sensory overload on TH-cam bc that’s what I felt was happening which led me to your comment. I struggle a lot with keeping up with friends and holding a job because of the sickening symptoms I get when I have to go out and do things. It’s hard to find dr who doesn’t dismiss you when you’re trying to tell them you don’t feel normal.
Someone actually opened a cursed Egyptian tomb box at the end of 2019 😳 the box was empty and looked very creepy the whole box just screamed DONT OPEN ME
I just worked my first shift at a “normal” restaurant job and the sensory overload was so bad it’s been hours since I got off and I’m still struggling so bad. My usual tricks, like laying down with the lights off isn’t helping
I work at a restaurant too and it gets bad on the weekends. During the week I have an easier time. I just try to stim when I can and try to manage my "zone out" level when needed. Some days are easier than others, especially if there are no other stressors going on in my life ATM.
I’m diagnosed with Autism but I don’t remember ever being in sensory overload(though to be fair I often don’t remember a lot of what I did in the past week). There are a couple times when I was younger that I can remember that might be, but I don’t actually think those were sensory overload. To be honest it’s quite rare for me to be completely engaged and present in the real world. I’m mostly in my own head or world, thinking about other things and only focusing on things that I need or want to focus on and I tend to ignore and/or tune out everything else. Of course sometimes something will randomly catch my attention but for the most part I don’t think I allow enough information for me to get to a sensory overload type of state. Although remaining partially unengaged in the real world and what’s happening around me probably isn’t very good either.
Wow I was trying to write a comment about zoning out and your comment was exactly what I wanted to say!! I zone out too!! I'm doing an experiment. I'm trying not to zone out. I'm curious to see what happens if I become aware of all the sound noise and smells around me.
@@rafaelcerveglieri I suppose it’s possible. I mean, I’ve seen a few videos of people explaining what it’s like having ADHD and some from people with autism, and I always identify more the the people who have ADHD. It honestly, sometimes, makes me feel I’ve been misdiagnosed. But on the other hand I haven’t really bothered to actually look into what autism is or how it might affect me. I don’t know why not, I am curious, I just haven’t done it. All I know about either comes from the videos TH-cam randomly decides to suggest to me. Also, I already feel like I’m playing victim when I list out my diagnosis’. so, whether or not it’s true, I’m not too keen on adding more. Sorry for the long comment, and thanks for reading. Despite my original comment being a year old(wow that’s a long time ago), I felt, for some reason, this deserved a response.
And that isn't adhd? Not trying to gaslight you, like at all, but I thought I had ASD (for more than one reason) and this is litterally one of the things I struggle most with, which I have when overstimulated, especially by to much people around me. My neuropsy said it was ADHD not autism. But it's very complicated to handle for me... because I feel like sleepwalking though the world, and living in a large familly it's hell being in that kind of phases
Same! I have endless amounts of fishers and I’m using one right now lol. Except people in school always steal them. Like do they not realise that I need them?!
I thought sensory overload wasn't a problem for me when I was a kid because I didn't really recognize it, but as an adult in my mid 20s, I definitely know that I struggle with it as well. For me, the biggest triggers are flickering/intense lights and multiple sources of sound. I get overstimulated a lot easier around loud children or if the TV is on while someone is talking. Family dinners can also be overwhelming depending on how I'm feeling, the energy level at the table and such. My first sign that I recognize is the inability to focus. I start zoning out as a way to filter out the worst offenders. Other signs I have include stimming (I usually stim by wringing my hands or tapping my foot or fingers on a solid surface) and hysteria. I don't get hysterical often, but if it's a really bad day with too much stimulus going on, I can start crying at the drop of a hat. I prefer having something to drink if I'm gonna party (happens rarely) because it dulls my senses and allows me to open up my easily and be sociable for a bit longer than I might be able to sober in similar situations. It's not a healthy coping mechanism, but I allow it for myself since it happens so rarely (pre-pandemic).
I always get angry/frustrated and start snapping at everything then start I having a headache, and I get very hot then eventually it ends up with me hyperventilating and crying. What helps me the most is finding a dark quiet place. For me if I’m at home I usually end up going to my room turning off all the lights and lying in my bed under the covers until I fall asleep. I tend to fall asleep because its SO exhausting.
While being drunk can have aspects that are similar to sensory overload (for example, being unable to respond effectively and appropriately to something), for me, it also allows me to unmask quite a lot and stop caring about what the people around me think about me, so it's mostly extremely freeing
I have autism and adhd. Sensory overload and drunk are very different experiences for me. In fact alcohol can delay or numb sensory overload altogether for me. My family like it when I’m drunk because I hug them and tell them I love them. If I’m not with people I can trust it can be dangerous but luckily that’s never happened, thanks to anxiety!
what's interesting for me is how for some autistic people, alcohol can reduce/prevent sensory overload (possibly from having the effect of "turning off" overactive empathy and anxiety related to trying to read everyone around them, or so that's my guess from talking with another autistic person about their experience with overstimulation), meanwhile for others, it can seriously contribute to sensory overload. I don't get it (and have no idea which I'd be since I'm underage lol) but find the differences fascinating!
Guess i never had it. I get tired when it’s too much and stop listening so maybe it protects me from overload. I have been in extreme stress all my life and no overload.
I've had sensory overload...many times. I know to take myself out of the situation. However, until a few weeks ago, I did not attribute it to being on the spectrum. Thank you, again, Chloe. This Introvert/Empath/INFP/psychic/Neurodivergent is so grateful for your videos....
Breathing exercises help to relax your sympathetic nervous system, which in turn helps to calm you down. I do Qi Gong (a form of moving meditation). It helps, but I never realized that I had still been in full sensory overload, probably for months now, until I watched your video this morning. I will look up more ways to calm my senses. I love the autism community for all that I have learned along the way from everyone. Thanks, Chloe
So I work at Starbucks and due to the way I was raised I was never given the opportunity to be diagnosed by a therapist. Hell, I've never been to one before. Due to this I've become so high functioning and good at masking that I often times ignore when I'm having a sensory overload and/or panic attack, or even when I disassociate. Since I work in a high stress environment it's gotten to the point where I feel strangely comforted when I'm in those situations since my brain shuts off and I essentially go into auto pilot. I know it's weird and I 100% plan on going to a professional but when my brain basically blacks out while I'm in the middle of making 20 odd drinks, I can't help but be grateful I won't have to genuinely experience it.
I drank a lot before i got my diagnosis, but i think being drunk was just a way for me to be able to understand why i felt so weird and out of it. I got those feelings anyway, so having something to explain it/blame it on helped a lot. I also have chronic pain so it helped me cope with that. I still occasionally drink but nowhere near as often but sensory overload can absolutrly have a lot of the same effects
One of my absolute worst triggers are crying or screaming kids, I'm now calming down from one. Many people get angry at me because "it's just a kid, kids cry" but I couldn't care less about the kid and why it cries when my brain is shutting down.
I got extremely overloaded in the shop today. I made it through it obviously lol. No panic attack or anything but. I just My number one irrational fear in sensory overload is that people are judging me or wondering why I’m doing what I’m doing or looking at me or whatever. So I usually avoid looking at people and I try my hardest to look like I’m doing something. Like I’ll fake read signs or stop and fake look at stuff I don’t actually need if someone is near me while I’m trying to think of what I need next. I also try to look like I’m in a hurry. Because I know that people are much less likely to bother you if you look busy and rushed. Why would anyone judge me?? Or like. Watch me in the store?? Or idk bother me or ask me for something??? I have no clue. It’s irrational like I said but it’s what happens so 🤷♀️
I don’t know if I am autistic, I do have an ADHD and dyslexia diagnosis. My sensory overloads seem connected to social stimuli and less from physical things like touch or sound (though they can be overwhelming). Like the way people are looking at me, things people are sayings, my thoughts that grow about a social situation or environment that I am at that moment in... It is so weird I definitely get all these symptoms, especially the part about going non-verbal.
I have ADHD and Anxiety, I completely relate. I’m pretty sure I have ASD but haven’t been diagnosed. Throughout college I had many times when I was in social situations (while drunk) and then would go into a panic attack and wouldn’t be able to talk. Now that I’m looking through a different lens it might have been sensory overload (socially) damn.
Ayo ive come across this part a few times due to being autistic and before i was diagnosed and never actually took real time to dig deep and actually think and im already getting more memorys of what could of been sensory overload plus anxiety and its like woah. Bc if i thought of it a bit more deeply than brief i cant remember much but if i was to keep thinking deeper than id probably remember more
That's what happened when my friend from jersey would like freak out on me. I resisted the urge to violently retaliate while also trying to listen and understand his screaming and yelling and it made me unable to respond then hed start yelling around to everyone that I'm shelling up and he taunted me to "unshell". Its hard to communicate with someone while simultaneously and involuntarily envisioning ways to successfully unleash violence on a person. Hes lucky I stayed "shelled up".
I wonder if that's because alcohol dulls sensory input or because alcohol masks anxiety. If it's the the former, that could be a good thing. If it's the latter it could exacerbate anxiety related issues down the line. 🤔 I'm just speculating here of course.
This and coping with depression and ptsd caused a bad addiction for me. Finally learning im autistic has made. Huge difference in my recovery now that i understand so much of the attachment to it. And also seeing the negative aspects of coping with asd and ptsd with alcahol. But yeah . nowadays parties shall be avoided or I will have a plan to leave fairly quickly
Alcohol is a depressant (not a stimulant), so for a lot of people, it helps them relax in social settings. I do know people who can't socialize without it, which is a problem. I've had previous issues with alcohol and I'm now at the point where I rarely drink, and if I do, I can only do one. Two drinks is too much, I feel sick pretty quickly. I do find that I'm able to communicate more and I'm just slightly more personable or open with communicating, and I wish I had that all the time, just, without having to drink to feel like that. Please be careful with being in the habit of having to take something in order to socialize! It isn't a requirement to have fun or be "yourself."
Mine just yeets itself out of existence for a while. It puts on it's little sun hat, waves behind it, says "see ya later pal!" And walks off into the sunset
I don't have autism but i have anxiety and this sounds quite similar to my panic attacks. I also have a heart condition so when i have a panic attack i trigger heart episodes and breathing exercises are a good thing to slow down your heart.
I experience sensory overload every time I need to speak in front of people. I've been this way ever since I was 12 years old. I would try to articulate to my teachers that I couldn't give speeches or presentations, that I get too nervous, but they just waved me off and said things like, "Oh, don't worry, everyone is nervous. Public speaking is the number one fear among most people!" And I would just hang my head in despair because I knew they would never understand just how deeply it affects and cripples me. And to have that happen while an entire room of your peers is staring at you... ugh. Let's just say it's an experience that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. And I was forced to do it, over and over again throughout my school years. Sadly, it never got any easier, as everyone kept promising me it would.
I know what you mean 😔 I cant handle presentations either, I start visibly shaking and trembling and my brain just switches off. I had to give 2 presentations in Irish (I haven't lived in Ireland very long so I dont know how to speak Irish as well as the others in my class) in the first presentation I was so scared that my brain just went on holiday and after I finished the presentation I sat down in the wrong seat, it was the most embarrassing thing becuase I had to get back up, spray the seat and table with sanitiser becuase that's what we do becuase of the virus, and go sit at my own desk. On the second presentation I had to sign in to my account on the teacher's computer and I managed to forget my password and when I eventually remembered it I did everything wrong and it took like 10 minutes to sign in when everyone else did it in 1 minute. Then I was shaking through the whole thing and I couldnt get the words out. It was so noticeable that when I got back to my seat the guy next to me asked if I was okay becuase apparently I was uncontrollably trembling- The only presentation I wasnt petrified in was were I got to bring my bunny Hazel into school and hold her while I read out the power point since it was about rabbits. It was really comforting to have her with me I wish I could bring her in for every presentation.
I’ve only had to do two presentations in my lifetime but they where some of the most stressful things I’ve gone through. I felt like I was on the edge of a panic attack.
Hey I originally found this chanel due to the day in the life of a party princess video a month back. Since then I have have watched many of your videos finding out you have autism too. I find your talks so relatable and I wanted to thank you for helping me see the more positve side to my diagnosis as it can be really hard to deal with. I was diagnosed last year and it was quite a unique way to have been discovered as being autistic. My family far from understand how it affects me and has affected me without me knowing and my dad doesn't want to understand. Watching and listening to your videos help me feel alot less alone in the world and you positivity always brightens up my day. Thank you xxx
As someone who is talking to people going through sensory overload, one would expect her to not shout in the beginning of the video. I never am passive aggressive on TH-cam but holy moly she is loud.
Before I knew I was on the spectrum, as I was trying to fit into a NT world, I would get drunk with my friends which always led to horrific spinning and extreme nausea. My vestibular sense has always been terrible as it is, but when I’m drunk is ATROCIOUS‼️
I am 16 years old and my doctor has, because of several major issues in the past years, come to the conclusion that me being on the autism spectrum is very likely. I am however not diagnosed (yet) and I just want to mention that before getting into it! After summer break this year, I entered junior year. And where I live, going from sophomore to junior is a drastic change, everything’s different and that was already hard to deal with, but with Covid-19, it’s a lot worse. The juniors and seniors are in a separate building and there are a lot more staircases, narrower halls and a lot more rooms, every floor looks the exact same. The issue is that, as soon as the bell rings, the students are rushing into that building. And there are a lot of them, it gets very loud and. In the past weeks, I felt incredibly dizzy walking in that crowd and had to hold onto a friend to make it to class. But this week, it reached a peak. My teachers are usually a little early meaning that most people are not in the halls yet by the time our classroom gets unlocked. That specific day, my German teacher was late. And that’s where things escalated. I was standing close to the wall, like always but the crowd started to grow bigger and bigger and I was already uncomfortable. But there were more people coming and they were all chatting, opening and closing zippers, wearing loud shoes, their perfumes and colognes were all “merging” into one and people kept bumping me. Overall, it was just too much, I tried to play music over my headphones, but nothing seemed to help. I couldn’t just not hear them or not focus on them. Every conversation, every zipper, every clacking of heels, the intense smell, it was too much to take. And I felt dizzy, everything went blurry, my head was aching, I felt like I heard my own heartbeat and the sounds that were so clear before suddenly sounded like they were miles away. I felt like I was on the verge of throwing up or passing out so I did all I could to get out of there. I just rushed to the School restroom, locked myself and one of the stalls and called my mom. She managed to talk me down and I could return to class after about 15 minutes. I explained it to my teacher after the lesson and he told me not to worry about it, he understood and he was not mad. But the very next day, the same thing happened on the staircase before I even made it to the classroom. I was so overwhelmed I started crying and I started screaming and it was over all just too much and I just ran to our school counselor’s office who just let me sit down in a very silent room and ended up talking to me for more than an hour. He was very understanding and offered to unlock the classrooms for me about 10 minutes before all the other students get there and advised me to buy earplugs, which my mom ordered that very same day. It’s a very confusing, overwhelming and I am incredibly exhausted after these things happen, they usually make me tired and unfunctional for the rest of the day. I don’t know if this is a sensory overload but I guess it might be?
I know this is a relatively old video, but I have to ask; I can’t afford a therapist or psychiatrist and I am still a minor. My mom believes I’m fine, but I feel like I could be neurodivergent. Last year during a musical rehearsal I was in, so much was happening that talking to people made me want to freak out and had to blast music during our warmups. The more I see information on stimming, the more I realize a lot of my supposed ‘anxiety quirks’ were much more similar to stimming then just anxious movements. The more relaxed I am, or if I’m alone, I’ve become more comfortable with stimming more apparently ( flapping my hands, rocking a lot more, etc. ) It’s always happened but I’ve become much more aware of it. There’s a whole bunch of other things, but thank you for your videos. Even if you never see this, knowing I’m not crazy for whatever hyperfixation I have or my response to senses is relieving. Thank you.
This is very helpful. This is why I don’t go to the mall on busy days with friends, I don’t leave the house as much because of this, if I go to a concert I need to spend time stimming before to calm myself down and stimming after, and on occasion during the concert. I will try the find the exits things, quiet places, and bathrooms
In my experience for me, drinking a little bit can keep me from going into sensory overload. Like at loud parties, it kinda dulls the loudness and makes me feel more comfortable having a lot of people around me. Not during covid of course though But being really drunk is definitely not fun for me haha😅
Haha when I’m drunk and in sensory overload aka house parties with more than 3-4 people, I learned that I can’t be there for more than five hours, otherwise I shut down and start thinking people are annoyed with me or that I’m not saying anything interesting... it’s quite a wild ride. Even post festival. So I just avoid it.
Yup! When I have sensory overload I tend to have a faster heart rate, stim A TON, I start getting headaches, sometimes starts crying, get angry, etc. very relatable. Hate school assemblies. They’re the worst.
The thing you said about being drunk, yes, I can confirm it's like that. People always assume I'm drunk and I used to call it over-excitement because my head starts feeling loopy which makes random things funny (I believe this is one of the ways I process sensory overload then?), and I also can't support myself with just my legs. I never knew it was due to sensory overload, so thank you for mentioning it!
When im overstimulated my synapses stop firing and my brain just doesn’t function, its not just like “oh im so quirky im so dumb” I literally cant think. Like I have half finished thoughts and I constantly feel like ive just woken up
I hear you about the shopping mall... I had my last sensory overload crisis just after a 30 mn shopping time at the mall. Back in my car, I just started crying and hyperventilating.
Woah this is so weird to watch! I had no idea that what I was experiencing when playing things like laser tag was sensory overload. It would just give me so many physiological reactions that I put down to me being out of my mind thinking that maybe I had photosensitive epilepsy or something! This makes so much sense!!
Thank you for these tips! I'm going to be in more public places for the next two weeks, and while I am exited, I'm a bit worried that i might go into sensory overload. also what you said about nausea being a possible symptom, I have emetophobia, (fear of barf) so that makes it ten times worse for me.
I loved quarantine. Homeschool, my own creative projects, masks, no need to see annyone, time in nature, time for my interests, everyone thinking my life was harder than usual eventhough it was far easier and through that being nicer when I did something wrong.
For me drinking in moderation is different than sensory overload. It makes everything more chill and relaxed. If I drink too much though it is extremely similar.
When I'm in sensory overload music is a surefire way to get me out of it, always has been. I remember when I was like 4 years old there were fireworks going off outside and it was too much for me, my dad put his headphones on me and played his stereo and I calmed down immediately. It was like magic, suddenly the world wasn't shaking anymore it was a bubble against all of the lights and sound. Now that I have spotify I will curate a queue to guide me out of the attack. I'll choose a song that matches my mood and then slow build a list of songs that'll get me to the mood I wanna be. Usually each queue is about 15-20 songs. Around 45 minutes to an hour of music and everything is better. I've found if I do it any faster it's too quick a transition and it can get overwhelming all over again, because that's a perfectly normal reaction for a body to have to stimulus or something.
I work in a high stress environment that is basically a constant assault on my senses for 6+ hours a day so I've gotten reeeeally good at spotting my warning signs before an overload gets too big.
I hadn't really though about how just the undercurrent of global and unrest and the pandemic would be such a huge factor and as soon as you said it i was like "ooooooohhhh that's why I've been buzzing out"
I’ve suspected i might be Autistic for the last... well maybe almost 10 years now, and I’ll be 24 in early February. At minimum I have a sensory/auditory problem, anyway this video reminded me for a good while when it would start (very easily triggered to feel sensory overload that mainly presents as unable to verbalise a response where I’m just zoned out and trying so hard to organise a thought to able to respond, then very quickly turns to a burning rage) where I’d get up and leave whenever I felt it coming on, and this offended a relative so much that it was causing fights and so I’ve stopped doing that and now blow up in anger when it goes on too long and I’m being asked why I don’t just leave the room when hellooo that’s what I was doing and now idk how to go back to being able to organise my body and the thoughts “get up, leave, walk away” cause my mind jumps so much quicker to anger because I was reprimanded for leaving in the first place. Feels like my ability to cope has been majorly sabotaged and idk what the fuck to do now. Gonna be hard to unlearn not leaving the room, as stupid as that sounds. But I want to try it again.
Since you're diagnosed and you struggle with panic attacks but don't know where they come from you should talk to a professional about it and reflect on the times you experienced that much anxiety. in what situation were you in and what happened around you? how did you feel afterwards and while you were experiencing it? talk about it to someone
@@lozj2900 i have anxiety on top of being autistic and i have in fact experienced both as well. they feel different, panic attacks feel like you're not in control of the situation and sensory overload feels like you're trying as hard as you possibly can to control yourself but you're about to explode
For me sensory overload feels like everything is just too much. It's very overwhelming for me. Panic attacks for me feel similar but I get this sense of "I'm going to die" or "Something bad will happen", I don't get that with sensory overload.
Hey! Ive just recently found ur vids and i think u should also include a portion of the video with "what __ isnt" if that makes sense! Im learning about adhd and stuff since my mom and step dad thing i have it and i wanna make sure im not jumping to things even tho my mom is very well versed in the medical realm! Anyway i love the vids keep up the amazing work and i find ur voice soothing xD
When I have sensory overload I tend to know exactly what I feel and want to say but it is so internalized and I can’t get the words out during a conversation. Also I get hot flashes followed by cold sweats that *sometimes* results in vomiting but I think that may be more linked to my Anxiety.
Am I the only one that LOVES concert environments? Being at a concert gives me that fuzzy brain feeling and I love it. Shopping sucks for me too but I am furthest from sensory overload at concerts haha
I've never experienced loss of balance, change of skin tone, cramps, or nausea, but I do experience the struggle to speak, racing heart, hysteria, crying, stimming, agitation, and difficulty focusing. It's hard to tell the difference between overstimulation and an anxiety attack.
I have really high functioning adhd and I get sensory overloads so often and it’s really difficult bc I can’t function properly and often I get yelled at for “zoning out”, and not making eye contact (which has always been an issue for me)
I would get overwhelmed at school, turn super red, which I knew I was red and then would then have anxiety because my face was so red, which would then snowball. I was always 'too sensitive' growing up. Some teachers on high school recognized I was having issues and would let me hide in their classes... Choir/music classes where I could stay in the piano rooms were my sanctuary.
Thanks so much for this video! My sensory issues can be really stressful and it’s great to see you spreading awareness in a fun way! Enjoyed the video!!💗
I’m not really sure if I’ve experienced sensory overload, I’ve always thought I just had misophonia. Watching this video triggered a memory though, when I was like 11-12(?) I went to a concert with my mom and I have no idea why this happened because I don’t really remember anything from the concert but I remember holding onto my moms leg and crying, while covering my ears.
I didn't even notice that these were because of sensory overloads I thought I was just being weird for no reason. I feel headaches, head pressure, unable to balance and speak correctly most often AND anger.
I NEED HELP!!! I don't have autism or anything like that and all im diagnosed with is severe anxiety, severe depression (but it's getting better), and minor PTSD as in I often get intrusive thoughts and my therapist calls it PTSD. Even though I am only diagnosed with those things, I often do this thing whenever I listen to music or watch a really good edit and I just start fluttering my hands and flapping them around and I start to like kick my feet out. And like I seriously can't help it. Like I'll try to stop but I seriously can't. I have no clue what it is but please someone try to help me!!!!
(I have ADHD, Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Autism, and Depression-) When I get overestimulated or close to that state I do things that calm me and keep me distracted from people. - I either draw or listen to music. - I will sometimes stim (most of the time to distract myself.) - I sometimes like hugs, from certain people. Like my friends or my boyfriend, ect. - Ear plugs. The squishy ones you can shape. They muffle noises for me. It helps when I begin to get overwhelmed/Overstimulated due to noise. - Oils. I have these calming oils. I rub some on my wrist and it quickly calms me down or atleast helps. - Texting my friends. - Things that distract me from the situation. I can't think anymore.
For future reference -
1) Loss of balance/coordination (3.05)
2) change of skin tone (pale/flushed)/ sweating/shivering (3.52)
3) Inability to verbalise (4.18)
4) racing heart (5.24)
5) hysteria/crying (7.26)
6) stomach cramps/nausea (8.05)
7) echolalia/repeating words (8.24)
8) excessive stimming (9.13)
9) easily agitated/angry (10.05)
10) difficulty focussing (10.28)
Thank you!
May I do a similar comment?
Sure why not :)
Thank you so much!!!!
@@Rollwithit699 A lot of us ADHDers communicate that way. If it’s not for you, it’s not for you. There will be somewhere else to get your info without resorting to personal remarks? She’s a human too.
Does anyone else experience depersonalization/derealization when they have sensory overload? I think it helps me cope
What is that?
Yes! For me, I have been told that it’s my brains taught coping mechanism and although we can’t help it it isn’t a healthy coping mechanism!
Hope I helped!
Yes I realized it happens especially in airports or if I'm around people that I think secretly don't like me... I hate it
Depersonalization/derealization is very debilitating, it’s not something that would be considered helpful/coping by most people. I believe I was having sensory overload attacks in middle school which lead to panic attacks along side them because I didn’t know what was wrong. However this eventually lead to a month long bout of depersonalization over the summer between 8th and 9th grade. It got triggered by me feeling overstimulated and just thinking in my head “what if this isn’t even real” and something just like snapped on my brain. I thought I was losing my mind at the time, every night I cried and prayed that I would just die. Quite scary. I get it every now and again but usually I can shake it these days.
Im not diagnosed with autism but i have many symptoms. I've experienced disassociation my whole life where I would get too much sensory input and my brain would just zone out completely, and in that way it definitely helped when I was overwhelmed. As a child it was a daily occurrence at dinner where I was made to sit in one place, oftentimes forced to eat food I didn't want to, and had to interact with my family who are all fairly loud and argumentative. My family definitely came to expect it if me and called it my "episodes". Funnily enough they have only suspected my brother of having autism because he is very blunt and did not restrict himself from discussing his special interests of time (particularly time travel) and space (mine were religion and art which of course were seen as not very out there by my Christian family that was full of artists, but I would still be scolded for discussing other religions, or the lives of my favorite artists which were usually drug and alcohol heavy). unshockingly my brother also isn't diagnosed for the same reason I haven't sought it (financial constraints).
I have another suggestion to help with sensory overload: If you already know it's going to be a bad day, wear clothing that's comfortable to you. For me that means tight clothing, because it provides pressure, sometimes even wristwarmers for the same reasons. I also put my hair up so that it doesn't bother me and put on my favorite perfume, because smells really comfort me. Of course this is different from person to person, but I feel like those things can make a great impact.
Absolutely!! Loose clothes are my go to because I feel like im being choked in tight clothes, but the smell thing is totally me. Lemon balm is my comfort smell, except I had covid about a month ago and I still can't smell lemon balm.
absolutely!! i did this on my first day of college and it helped so much
I do this exact thing except it’s all about the PANTS for me. If I’m gonna get overloaded I absolutely cannot be wearing jeans. Jeans become my arch nemesis if I’m overwhelmed lollll
@@cupofmaddyVODS I’m not on the spectrum but I’m with you on the loose clothing! It takes me a while to get used to tight clothing, but with my background in dance and competitive dance, I have worn and gotten used to a lot of tight clothing. However, when I did competitive dancing, some of my costumes had this nasty fish line in it instead of thread, and my mom had to cut it out (risking the garment from coming apart). I hated the fish line. I also have to cut some clothing tags out, too, and it takes a long time to get comfy in a bed. But my nose is the opposite: I already have a horrible sense of smell without COVID. Only if a smell is really strong will I smell it. This triggers my anxiety sometimes because I don’t know if I have an irritating body odour or not, so I might not leave the house
A friend gave me a necklace that has a locket with a felt pad in it - it is designed to hold a few drops of essential oil. It is amazing as smells help me too - and I can load it up and sniff it when i am overloaded and it..... smoothes away some of the overload. I used to sniff flowers in every front garden I passed!
I have sensory overload a lot, especially when I’m at school. Loud whistling is one of my sensory triggers, along with quite a few other noises, so there’s a group of boys in my class at school who make these noises constantly in every class so I’ll have sensory overload. I struggle getting work done for this reason, and I feel like I’m falling behind. I get sent to the pastoral support room when I have a sensory overload, but they just bombard me with questions while I’m trying to calm down and sometimes try to hug me. They know I’m autistic and are meant to know about disabilities, but they just tell me I’m not having a bad sensory overload as I’m not “that autistic” and “Asperger syndrome isn’t real autism”. There’s a sensory room at school but nobody lets me use it. I also used to get punished for having sensory overload in primary school (I was diagnosed aged 6, so the teachers knew I couldn’t help it). I hate school and wish more people would understand my autism.
I have never been diagnosed with Autism, so I can’t say I understand. But I have sensory overload a lot during school, it gets so hard to focus and do work. I was a good friend with the school nurse, no one would let me go to the room. So I would go lay down on the bed in her office. She moved one of the beds into the corner of the nurses office so it’s away from everything. She would also turn off the light in there for me. She was amazing, and I explained to her how I was feeling and she would listen.
@@madisonanderson2851 awww that sounds lovely😊
I really hope the situation has changed and developed for you - I am absolutely scandalised and enraged that they would try to claim that "Asperger's isn't real autism". That is some total tosh and I hope you take every opportunity to tell them how egregiously discriminative they're being. Bastards. Sorry, I know not everyone is in a position to tell off the people who are hurting them... I'm just so upset for you, and you would be completely accurate in calling them out if you ever felt the urge to let rip. I really hope your parents have stepped in to help you, it's so tough standing up to teachers and ignorant kids all on your own. You're made of really strong stuff to keep at it every day.
If you don't mind sharing, I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd like to know how things are for you now. But either way, you have a lot of support online and out in the wider world. Hang in there, I promise there are many, many people who get where you're coming from and would be absolutely thrilled to have to opportunity to know and respect you for exactly who you are. School is a pit, but it'll end soon. I'm so sorry that both of yours have been this awful, you didn't and don't deserve a moment of it. Keep going, the world can be 1000000x better than what you've been dealing with, and it will be.
I 100% agree with everything Angela says. I feel so angry for you. I had a hellish time at school too - I didn’t know about my diagnosis then. When I left home and left school i was like a tightly wound coil springing out into life and it was amazing and a huge relief. I’m sort of doing that again in another way now I am diagnosed. You will find your tribe of people who understand you and communicate like you, and you will be free from those nasty people (I have many more colourful words for them too - their behaviour is atrocious - they are bullies) - free to shape your life as you want and need. Meanwhile, I hope your parents are supportive and will put them in their place! I saw data from a survey that said that a high percentage of autistic young people report bullying from the adults in their lives. That was my experience, even undiagnosed. That is what they are - and they should know better. I really hope things are easier for you now 💚
💗 I am so sorry this is happening to you, I wish there was something you could do to make them learn and understand that you cannot always “see” autism! I see a lot of stories of young women who don’t “look autistic”, so people do not take their disability seriously. It makes me very sad :(
Anyone else getting insane headache when in "advanced" sensory overload? I don't know what migraine feels like, but I imagine it like that.
Yes! Super common- I get severe migraines if I’ve been filming for a long time x
I also get a migraine in sensory overload!!! So horrible!
yeah i get headaches when i get sensory overload!!
One time there was a lot of noises all at once and everyone was yelling there was a lot bright lights and i got a migrane so bad that i threw up in the bathroom
@steph weber yep, same here. I just don't vommit
i'm just now realising how many days i've been in sensory overload and not known, like i would be at school and start to have all of these symptoms and not know what tf was going on lmao
Exactly and for a while I had no idea what I was having.
Me too, I deal with similar things like all the time and I’m not sure if I have autism but I’ve cried like 3 times watching this because of how much I can relate at times, I feel like that says something but I’m confused now. Like holy crap things are making sense when having this explanation. 😅
SAME!!!
being in sensory overload feels like a combination of being drunk (without the fun/giggley/carefree part) & feeling like you can’t control your body/thoughts & having a panic attack. i can get very snappy & irritable when it’s building up & i just want to be in a dark, cool, quiet room with a soft blanket
I just realized the two times I’ve punched a wall out of “frustration” were actually moments I was overstimulated and needed to release all the pent up energy. The revelations your channel is giving me are impressive.
Can confirm being drunk and sensory overload feel the same to me!
Can confirm I will never be getting drunk
Sophie Geppert that is why I don’t see a point in drinking😂 why would somebody want that ?😅
amberhappygirl when I was in first year of university and i would get a little drunk my friends always thought i had way more to drink than i actually did because my sensory overload made it look like i would drink bottles and bottles when really i would only have a few glasses
For me is the opposite, I feel really numb when I drink, I always imagine that’s how neurotypicals must experience the world
Watching The Bees Same here. Getting drunk helps me a lot with social skills too 😂
I’ve noticed that I tend to go into sensory overload a lot more easily if I’m already emotionally stressed. If I’m worried or frustrated with something else, it doesn’t take much noise, excess light, or annoying fabric to send me over the edge
Before I was diagnosed, I found whenever I was in loud spaces, I would feel pressure in my head and my ears would sometimes ring loudly. It all makes sense now.
For me it’s always been more of a panicky type feeling, feeling like the world is collapsing in on you, if you can’t imagine middle school band class was not fun for me
I get sensory overload, but I'm generally less noticable than most. If it's gotten really bad I may have a panic attack or start repeating words and phrases over and over again, but generally I'm only repetitive in my head and don't speak what I'm thinking, so no one knows it's repeating and my panic attacks make me freeze and I have trouble breathing, so once they end, I'm left gasping for air. Most people don't notice I'm having a panic attack. If I was sitting, they wouldn't know I froze and it rarely happens when I'm walking (it's more noticeable when we're walking, of course) and it takes a lot to get to this point. I know I'm starting to have sensory overload when I forget things too easily, can't focus on just one thing, start getting frustrated (to the point where if the overload continues, I may scream), I'm barely listening and need things repeated to me more than once, and I hear and see everything at once; unable to pinpoint where a sound is coming from or identify what objects or people I'm looking at.
I relate to this a lot. Pretty sure I've had full on mental breakdowns before that have literally been like 99% internal, on the outside I look calm af (or, at most, mildly annoyed) and on the inside I'm genuinely losing it.
I relate
Omg, all this time, I thought I was having panic attacks from out of the blue. They always happened at night after a really fun, long day. The first thing for me would be the shivers. I didn't feel cold, but I would start shaking out of nowhere. Then would be the higher heart rate, feeling flushed, nausea, and the bad coordination, almost like tunnel vision. The bad ones would result in me hitting myself, crying, kicking walls, pinching or scratching myself, and I couldn't get my words out. I would feel disconnected from reality. I guess my stimming was twisting/pulling my hair and pacing in a really fast circular pattern. Usually I would freak from feeling these things and feel like I couldn't breathe, which is why my therapists always thought it was panic. They would hear the 'can't breathe' and zone in on that, and it felt like they were dismissing everything else.
Watching your videos has helped me realize that I'm on the spectrum. I'm 25, my entire life has been plagued by anxiety and feeling like I don't fit in socially, being bullied because I wasn't acting like "normal girls" and didn't have an interest in seeking out partners for dating and feeling like I had to put on a mask for every different social situation I was in. And the little things, too: walking on tiptoes when I'm excited, nervous, or feeling any kind of emotion, blurting things out that others take as offensive, flapping my hands when I'm alone and excited about something, feeling super empathetic and overly sensitive to sights, sounds, textures, being a picky eater, my childhood rituals that a therapist thought was OCD, and feeling like I'm just on a different wavelength from other people. I'm in the process of getting a diagnosis because lately I've been having more and more trouble at work and in class due to the anxiety social situations give me and the sensory overloads. Thank you for doing what you do, and stay safe!
Omg I think we have the same life, sounds exactly like me. I’m 23 and having a panic attack can’t breathe and other symptoms such as pacing and tunnel vision, so I decided to search sensory overload on TH-cam bc that’s what I felt was happening which led me to your comment. I struggle a lot with keeping up with friends and holding a job because of the sickening symptoms I get when I have to go out and do things. It’s hard to find dr who doesn’t dismiss you when you’re trying to tell them you don’t feel normal.
Someone actually opened a cursed Egyptian tomb box at the end of 2019 😳 the box was empty and looked very creepy the whole box just screamed DONT OPEN ME
WHAT I THOUGHT I WAS JOKING 😭😭
It was king tuts tomb, even though im 5 months late...
I just worked my first shift at a “normal” restaurant job and the sensory overload was so bad it’s been hours since I got off and I’m still struggling so bad. My usual tricks, like laying down with the lights off isn’t helping
I work at a restaurant too and it gets bad on the weekends. During the week I have an easier time. I just try to stim when I can and try to manage my "zone out" level when needed. Some days are easier than others, especially if there are no other stressors going on in my life ATM.
I’m diagnosed with Autism but I don’t remember ever being in sensory overload(though to be fair I often don’t remember a lot of what I did in the past week). There are a couple times when I was younger that I can remember that might be, but I don’t actually think those were sensory overload.
To be honest it’s quite rare for me to be completely engaged and present in the real world. I’m mostly in my own head or world, thinking about other things and only focusing on things that I need or want to focus on and I tend to ignore and/or tune out everything else. Of course sometimes something will randomly catch my attention but for the most part I don’t think I allow enough information for me to get to a sensory overload type of state. Although remaining partially unengaged in the real world and what’s happening around me probably isn’t very good either.
Wow I was trying to write a comment about zoning out and your comment was exactly what I wanted to say!! I zone out too!! I'm doing an experiment. I'm trying not to zone out. I'm curious to see what happens if I become aware of all the sound noise and smells around me.
@@MrPhilipn did you do your experiment ? If yes, may I ask you how it was ?
maybe you also have ADHD? I do the same thing and I have both
@@rafaelcerveglieri I suppose it’s possible. I mean, I’ve seen a few videos of people explaining what it’s like having ADHD and some from people with autism, and I always identify more the the people who have ADHD.
It honestly, sometimes, makes me feel I’ve been misdiagnosed.
But on the other hand I haven’t really bothered to actually look into what autism is or how it might affect me. I don’t know why not, I am curious, I just haven’t done it. All I know about either comes from the videos TH-cam randomly decides to suggest to me.
Also, I already feel like I’m playing victim when I list out my diagnosis’. so, whether or not it’s true, I’m not too keen on adding more.
Sorry for the long comment, and thanks for reading. Despite my original comment being a year old(wow that’s a long time ago), I felt, for some reason, this deserved a response.
And that isn't adhd? Not trying to gaslight you, like at all, but I thought I had ASD (for more than one reason) and this is litterally one of the things I struggle most with, which I have when overstimulated, especially by to much people around me. My neuropsy said it was ADHD not autism.
But it's very complicated to handle for me... because I feel like sleepwalking though the world, and living in a large familly it's hell being in that kind of phases
i think i might feel this a lot during holidays. like easter egg hunts, or christmas get-togethers .. and, also, school dances .. : p
I am obsessed with squishies and fidgets and they help my asd alot
Same! I have endless amounts of fishers and I’m using one right now lol. Except people in school always steal them. Like do they not realise that I need them?!
I’ve lived with sensory processing disorder and when I tell you overload sucks you have no idea 😞 thanks for the video 💕
I thought sensory overload wasn't a problem for me when I was a kid because I didn't really recognize it, but as an adult in my mid 20s, I definitely know that I struggle with it as well. For me, the biggest triggers are flickering/intense lights and multiple sources of sound. I get overstimulated a lot easier around loud children or if the TV is on while someone is talking. Family dinners can also be overwhelming depending on how I'm feeling, the energy level at the table and such. My first sign that I recognize is the inability to focus. I start zoning out as a way to filter out the worst offenders. Other signs I have include stimming (I usually stim by wringing my hands or tapping my foot or fingers on a solid surface) and hysteria. I don't get hysterical often, but if it's a really bad day with too much stimulus going on, I can start crying at the drop of a hat. I prefer having something to drink if I'm gonna party (happens rarely) because it dulls my senses and allows me to open up my easily and be sociable for a bit longer than I might be able to sober in similar situations. It's not a healthy coping mechanism, but I allow it for myself since it happens so rarely (pre-pandemic).
As someone with anxiety and sensory processing dissorder, this was really helpful to watch :) I enjoyed your upbeat educational approach to it :)
I get irritable, I talk less and I lose focus.
I get irritable too. Also if i am forced out of my bubble of focus when I’m not ready to come out.
I always get angry/frustrated and start snapping at everything then start I having a headache, and I get very hot then eventually it ends up with me hyperventilating and crying. What helps me the most is finding a dark quiet place. For me if I’m at home I usually end up going to my room turning off all the lights and lying in my bed under the covers until I fall asleep. I tend to fall asleep because its SO exhausting.
I have Autism and this was me during home schooling every single day.....
I loved homeschooling!!!! I didn’t want to go back to school because I loved it so much! Hehe
I hate being stuck at home as I can't get the support I need as good
While being drunk can have aspects that are similar to sensory overload (for example, being unable to respond effectively and appropriately to something), for me, it also allows me to unmask quite a lot and stop caring about what the people around me think about me, so it's mostly extremely freeing
I’m autistic and you are amazing, you have helped me to understand myself and you are very helpfull
I have autism and adhd. Sensory overload and drunk are very different experiences for me. In fact alcohol can delay or numb sensory overload altogether for me. My family like it when I’m drunk because I hug them and tell them I love them. If I’m not with people I can trust it can be dangerous but luckily that’s never happened, thanks to anxiety!
what's interesting for me is how for some autistic people, alcohol can reduce/prevent sensory overload (possibly from having the effect of "turning off" overactive empathy and anxiety related to trying to read everyone around them, or so that's my guess from talking with another autistic person about their experience with overstimulation), meanwhile for others, it can seriously contribute to sensory overload. I don't get it (and have no idea which I'd be since I'm underage lol) but find the differences fascinating!
Guess i never had it. I get tired when it’s too much and stop listening so maybe it protects me from overload. I have been in extreme stress all my life and no overload.
I've had sensory overload...many times. I know to take myself out of the situation. However, until a few weeks ago, I did not attribute it to being on the spectrum. Thank you, again, Chloe. This Introvert/Empath/INFP/psychic/Neurodivergent is so grateful for your videos....
I thought I didn't have sensory overloads, but I've had all these signs at the same time a few times before
Breathing exercises help to relax your sympathetic nervous system, which in turn helps to calm you down. I do Qi Gong (a form of moving meditation). It helps, but I never realized that I had still been in full sensory overload, probably for months now, until I watched your video this morning. I will look up more ways to calm my senses.
I love the autism community for all that I have learned along the way from everyone. Thanks, Chloe
So I work at Starbucks and due to the way I was raised I was never given the opportunity to be diagnosed by a therapist. Hell, I've never been to one before. Due to this I've become so high functioning and good at masking that I often times ignore when I'm having a sensory overload and/or panic attack, or even when I disassociate. Since I work in a high stress environment it's gotten to the point where I feel strangely comforted when I'm in those situations since my brain shuts off and I essentially go into auto pilot. I know it's weird and I 100% plan on going to a professional but when my brain basically blacks out while I'm in the middle of making 20 odd drinks, I can't help but be grateful I won't have to genuinely experience it.
I drank a lot before i got my diagnosis, but i think being drunk was just a way for me to be able to understand why i felt so weird and out of it. I got those feelings anyway, so having something to explain it/blame it on helped a lot.
I also have chronic pain so it helped me cope with that.
I still occasionally drink but nowhere near as often but sensory overload can absolutrly have a lot of the same effects
One of my absolute worst triggers are crying or screaming kids, I'm now calming down from one. Many people get angry at me because "it's just a kid, kids cry" but I couldn't care less about the kid and why it cries when my brain is shutting down.
I got extremely overloaded in the shop today. I made it through it obviously lol. No panic attack or anything but. I just
My number one irrational fear in sensory overload is that people are judging me or wondering why I’m doing what I’m doing or looking at me or whatever. So I usually avoid looking at people and I try my hardest to look like I’m doing something. Like I’ll fake read signs or stop and fake look at stuff I don’t actually need if someone is near me while I’m trying to think of what I need next. I also try to look like I’m in a hurry. Because I know that people are much less likely to bother you if you look busy and rushed.
Why would anyone judge me?? Or like. Watch me in the store?? Or idk bother me or ask me for something??? I have no clue. It’s irrational like I said but it’s what happens so 🤷♀️
I don’t know if I am autistic, I do have an ADHD and dyslexia diagnosis. My sensory overloads seem connected to social stimuli and less from physical things like touch or sound (though they can be overwhelming). Like the way people are looking at me, things people are sayings, my thoughts that grow about a social situation or environment that I am at that moment in... It is so weird I definitely get all these symptoms, especially the part about going non-verbal.
I have ADHD and Anxiety, I completely relate. I’m pretty sure I have ASD but haven’t been diagnosed. Throughout college I had many times when I was in social situations (while drunk) and then would go into a panic attack and wouldn’t be able to talk. Now that I’m looking through a different lens it might have been sensory overload (socially) damn.
My son has SPD and I found this so helpful. I don't know how he feels and this put it in perspective.
When we have family events at my house, sometimes I’ll take a break in my room to regroup and I’ll hear fam say oh where’d Giana go lol
I get ear pain when I am exposed to a ton of noise
Ayo ive come across this part a few times due to being autistic and before i was diagnosed and never actually took real time to dig deep and actually think and im already getting more memorys of what could of been sensory overload plus anxiety and its like woah. Bc if i thought of it a bit more deeply than brief i cant remember much but if i was to keep thinking deeper than id probably remember more
That's what happened when my friend from jersey would like freak out on me. I resisted the urge to violently retaliate while also trying to listen and understand his screaming and yelling and it made me unable to respond then hed start yelling around to everyone that I'm shelling up and he taunted me to "unshell". Its hard to communicate with someone while simultaneously and involuntarily envisioning ways to successfully unleash violence on a person. Hes lucky I stayed "shelled up".
being drunk helps with my sensory issues. The only way i will go to parties is if I am drunk lol
Sameeee, parties while sober are so much more draining for me
I'm not diagnosed. But i can relate so much...!!
I wonder if that's because alcohol dulls sensory input or because alcohol masks anxiety.
If it's the the former, that could be a good thing. If it's the latter it could exacerbate anxiety related issues down the line. 🤔
I'm just speculating here of course.
This and coping with depression and ptsd caused a bad addiction for me. Finally learning im autistic has made. Huge difference in my recovery now that i understand so much of the attachment to it. And also seeing the negative aspects of coping with asd and ptsd with alcahol. But yeah . nowadays parties shall be avoided or I will have a plan to leave fairly quickly
Alcohol is a depressant (not a stimulant), so for a lot of people, it helps them relax in social settings. I do know people who can't socialize without it, which is a problem. I've had previous issues with alcohol and I'm now at the point where I rarely drink, and if I do, I can only do one. Two drinks is too much, I feel sick pretty quickly. I do find that I'm able to communicate more and I'm just slightly more personable or open with communicating, and I wish I had that all the time, just, without having to drink to feel like that. Please be careful with being in the habit of having to take something in order to socialize! It isn't a requirement to have fun or be "yourself."
This is so helpful. What I have always thought was panic attacks, is probably sensory overload. I learn so much from you. Thank you!
Our brains basically go on a vacation
Yes and people think it’s rude. Wifi goes out
Mine just yeets itself out of existence for a while. It puts on it's little sun hat, waves behind it, says "see ya later pal!" And walks off into the sunset
I don't have autism but i have anxiety and this sounds quite similar to my panic attacks. I also have a heart condition so when i have a panic attack i trigger heart episodes and breathing exercises are a good thing to slow down your heart.
I experience sensory overload every time I need to speak in front of people. I've been this way ever since I was 12 years old. I would try to articulate to my teachers that I couldn't give speeches or presentations, that I get too nervous, but they just waved me off and said things like, "Oh, don't worry, everyone is nervous. Public speaking is the number one fear among most people!" And I would just hang my head in despair because I knew they would never understand just how deeply it affects and cripples me. And to have that happen while an entire room of your peers is staring at you... ugh. Let's just say it's an experience that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. And I was forced to do it, over and over again throughout my school years. Sadly, it never got any easier, as everyone kept promising me it would.
I know what you mean 😔 I cant handle presentations either, I start visibly shaking and trembling and my brain just switches off. I had to give 2 presentations in Irish (I haven't lived in Ireland very long so I dont know how to speak Irish as well as the others in my class) in the first presentation I was so scared that my brain just went on holiday and after I finished the presentation I sat down in the wrong seat, it was the most embarrassing thing becuase I had to get back up, spray the seat and table with sanitiser becuase that's what we do becuase of the virus, and go sit at my own desk.
On the second presentation I had to sign in to my account on the teacher's computer and I managed to forget my password and when I eventually remembered it I did everything wrong and it took like 10 minutes to sign in when everyone else did it in 1 minute. Then I was shaking through the whole thing and I couldnt get the words out. It was so noticeable that when I got back to my seat the guy next to me asked if I was okay becuase apparently I was uncontrollably trembling-
The only presentation I wasnt petrified in was were I got to bring my bunny Hazel into school and hold her while I read out the power point since it was about rabbits. It was really comforting to have her with me I wish I could bring her in for every presentation.
I’ve only had to do two presentations in my lifetime but they where some of the most stressful things I’ve gone through. I felt like I was on the edge of a panic attack.
Hey I originally found this chanel due to the day in the life of a party princess video a month back. Since then I have have watched many of your videos finding out you have autism too. I find your talks so relatable and I wanted to thank you for helping me see the more positve side to my diagnosis as it can be really hard to deal with. I was diagnosed last year and it was quite a unique way to have been discovered as being autistic. My family far from understand how it affects me and has affected me without me knowing and my dad doesn't want to understand. Watching and listening to your videos help me feel alot less alone in the world and you positivity always brightens up my day.
Thank you xxx
a video has never made me feel so seen
Oh wow I call it square breathing and it’s sooo useful!
As someone who is talking to people going through sensory overload, one would expect her to not shout in the beginning of the video. I never am passive aggressive on TH-cam but holy moly she is loud.
Before I knew I was on the spectrum, as I was trying to fit into a NT world, I would get drunk with my friends which always led to horrific spinning and extreme nausea. My vestibular sense has always been terrible as it is, but when I’m drunk is ATROCIOUS‼️
I am 16 years old and my doctor has, because of several major issues in the past years, come to the conclusion that me being on the autism spectrum is very likely. I am however not diagnosed (yet) and I just want to mention that before getting into it!
After summer break this year, I entered junior year. And where I live, going from sophomore to junior is a drastic change, everything’s different and that was already hard to deal with, but with Covid-19, it’s a lot worse. The juniors and seniors are in a separate building and there are a lot more staircases, narrower halls and a lot more rooms, every floor looks the exact same.
The issue is that, as soon as the bell rings, the students are rushing into that building. And there are a lot of them, it gets very loud and. In the past weeks, I felt incredibly dizzy walking in that crowd and had to hold onto a friend to make it to class.
But this week, it reached a peak.
My teachers are usually a little early meaning that most people are not in the halls yet by the time our classroom gets unlocked. That specific day, my German teacher was late. And that’s where things escalated. I was standing close to the wall, like always but the crowd started to grow bigger and bigger and I was already uncomfortable. But there were more people coming and they were all chatting, opening and closing zippers, wearing loud shoes, their perfumes and colognes were all “merging” into one and people kept bumping me. Overall, it was just too much, I tried to play music over my headphones, but nothing seemed to help. I couldn’t just not hear them or not focus on them. Every conversation, every zipper, every clacking of heels, the intense smell, it was too much to take. And I felt dizzy, everything went blurry, my head was aching, I felt like I heard my own heartbeat and the sounds that were so clear before suddenly sounded like they were miles away. I felt like I was on the verge of throwing up or passing out so I did all I could to get out of there. I just rushed to the School restroom, locked myself and one of the stalls and called my mom. She managed to talk me down and I could return to class after about 15 minutes. I explained it to my teacher after the lesson and he told me not to worry about it, he understood and he was not mad. But the very next day, the same thing happened on the staircase before I even made it to the classroom. I was so overwhelmed I started crying and I started screaming and it was over all just too much and I just ran to our school counselor’s office who just let me sit down in a very silent room and ended up talking to me for more than an hour. He was very understanding and offered to unlock the classrooms for me about 10 minutes before all the other students get there and advised me to buy earplugs, which my mom ordered that very same day.
It’s a very confusing, overwhelming and I am incredibly exhausted after these things happen, they usually make me tired and unfunctional for the rest of the day. I don’t know if this is a sensory overload but I guess it might be?
I love your flower girl aesthetic
I feel like I get sensory overload when it’s too quiet and I can hear one repeated sound like a clock ticking and it drives me crazy
I didn't know this ....makes sense now why I cry at least twice a day
This sounds almost exactly like experiencing panic attacks(for me). 🤔
I know this is a relatively old video, but I have to ask; I can’t afford a therapist or psychiatrist and I am still a minor. My mom believes I’m fine, but I feel like I could be neurodivergent. Last year during a musical rehearsal I was in, so much was happening that talking to people made me want to freak out and had to blast music during our warmups. The more I see information on stimming, the more I realize a lot of my supposed ‘anxiety quirks’ were much more similar to stimming then just anxious movements. The more relaxed I am, or if I’m alone, I’ve become more comfortable with stimming more apparently ( flapping my hands, rocking a lot more, etc. ) It’s always happened but I’ve become much more aware of it.
There’s a whole bunch of other things, but thank you for your videos. Even if you never see this, knowing I’m not crazy for whatever hyperfixation I have or my response to senses is relieving. Thank you.
I understood your Roman joke completely,wonder who else says things that way. Complete comedians
This is very helpful. This is why I don’t go to the mall on busy days with friends, I don’t leave the house as much because of this, if I go to a concert I need to spend time stimming before to calm myself down and stimming after, and on occasion during the concert. I will try the find the exits things, quiet places, and bathrooms
In my experience for me, drinking a little bit can keep me from going into sensory overload. Like at loud parties, it kinda dulls the loudness and makes me feel more comfortable having a lot of people around me. Not during covid of course though But being really drunk is definitely not fun for me haha😅
Haha when I’m drunk and in sensory overload aka house parties with more than 3-4 people, I learned that I can’t be there for more than five hours, otherwise I shut down and start thinking people are annoyed with me or that I’m not saying anything interesting... it’s quite a wild ride. Even post festival. So I just avoid it.
Yup! When I have sensory overload I tend to have a faster heart rate, stim A TON, I start getting headaches, sometimes starts crying, get angry, etc. very relatable. Hate school assemblies. They’re the worst.
The thing you said about being drunk, yes, I can confirm it's like that. People always assume I'm drunk and I used to call it over-excitement because my head starts feeling loopy which makes random things funny (I believe this is one of the ways I process sensory overload then?), and I also can't support myself with just my legs. I never knew it was due to sensory overload, so thank you for mentioning it!
When im overstimulated my synapses stop firing and my brain just doesn’t function, its not just like “oh im so quirky im so dumb” I literally cant think. Like I have half finished thoughts and I constantly feel like ive just woken up
I hear you about the shopping mall... I had my last sensory overload crisis just after a 30 mn shopping time at the mall. Back in my car, I just started crying and hyperventilating.
Woah this is so weird to watch! I had no idea that what I was experiencing when playing things like laser tag was sensory overload. It would just give me so many physiological reactions that I put down to me being out of my mind thinking that maybe I had photosensitive epilepsy or something! This makes so much sense!!
i got diagnosed with anxiety and sensory overload is really hard to cope with when you’re an athlete
Thank you for these tips! I'm going to be in more public places for the next two weeks, and while I am exited, I'm a bit worried that i might go into sensory overload. also what you said about nausea being a possible symptom, I have emetophobia, (fear of barf) so that makes it ten times worse for me.
I loved quarantine. Homeschool, my own creative projects, masks, no need to see annyone, time in nature, time for my interests, everyone thinking my life was harder than usual eventhough it was far easier and through that being nicer when I did something wrong.
This is the first video i've seen of you and i love it haha. You speak fast and precise, thank you for sharing
For me drinking in moderation is different than sensory overload. It makes everything more chill and relaxed. If I drink too much though it is extremely similar.
When I'm in sensory overload music is a surefire way to get me out of it, always has been. I remember when I was like 4 years old there were fireworks going off outside and it was too much for me, my dad put his headphones on me and played his stereo and I calmed down immediately. It was like magic, suddenly the world wasn't shaking anymore it was a bubble against all of the lights and sound.
Now that I have spotify I will curate a queue to guide me out of the attack. I'll choose a song that matches my mood and then slow build a list of songs that'll get me to the mood I wanna be. Usually each queue is about 15-20 songs. Around 45 minutes to an hour of music and everything is better. I've found if I do it any faster it's too quick a transition and it can get overwhelming all over again, because that's a perfectly normal reaction for a body to have to stimulus or something.
I work in a high stress environment that is basically a constant assault on my senses for 6+ hours a day so I've gotten reeeeally good at spotting my warning signs before an overload gets too big.
Hi, I have been having overload for awhile and I am so thankful that you did this video!
I hadn't really though about how just the undercurrent of global and unrest and the pandemic would be such a huge factor and as soon as you said it i was like "ooooooohhhh that's why I've been buzzing out"
I’ve never met anyone with autism. I need to change this. But you are amazing keep being you.
I totally love your upbeat energy you bring to your videos 💖💖💖🙏🙏🙏
I’ve suspected i might be Autistic for the last... well maybe almost 10 years now, and I’ll be 24 in early February. At minimum I have a sensory/auditory problem, anyway this video reminded me for a good while when it would start (very easily triggered to feel sensory overload that mainly presents as unable to verbalise a response where I’m just zoned out and trying so hard to organise a thought to able to respond, then very quickly turns to a burning rage) where I’d get up and leave whenever I felt it coming on, and this offended a relative so much that it was causing fights and so I’ve stopped doing that and now blow up in anger when it goes on too long and I’m being asked why I don’t just leave the room when hellooo that’s what I was doing and now idk how to go back to being able to organise my body and the thoughts “get up, leave, walk away” cause my mind jumps so much quicker to anger because I was reprimanded for leaving in the first place. Feels like my ability to cope has been majorly sabotaged and idk what the fuck to do now. Gonna be hard to unlearn not leaving the room, as stupid as that sounds. But I want to try it again.
The frustration and agitation thing is spot on for me.
Also the last one I basically go into: " File: Taylor.exe. has stopped working" mode 😂
Wait so, I have anxiety and autism and I have panic attacks but now I’m wondering if the panic attacks and anxiety is just sensory overload ?
Since you're diagnosed and you struggle with panic attacks but don't know where they come from you should talk to a professional about it and reflect on the times you experienced that much anxiety. in what situation were you in and what happened around you? how did you feel afterwards and while you were experiencing it? talk about it to someone
A sensory overload is more than a panic attack as I’ve experienced both.
@@lozj2900 i have anxiety on top of being autistic and i have in fact experienced both as well. they feel different, panic attacks feel like you're not in control of the situation and sensory overload feels like you're trying as hard as you possibly can to control yourself but you're about to explode
For me sensory overload feels like everything is just too much. It's very overwhelming for me. Panic attacks for me feel similar but I get this sense of "I'm going to die" or "Something bad will happen", I don't get that with sensory overload.
In my case sensory overload can cause panic attacks, but no, they probably aren’t the same.
Hey! Ive just recently found ur vids and i think u should also include a portion of the video with "what __ isnt" if that makes sense! Im learning about adhd and stuff since my mom and step dad thing i have it and i wanna make sure im not jumping to things even tho my mom is very well versed in the medical realm!
Anyway i love the vids keep up the amazing work and i find ur voice soothing xD
Done both been drunk and in scencory overload
Also your makeup is absolutely bomb👏👏👏👏
When I have sensory overload I tend to know exactly what I feel and want to say but it is so internalized and I can’t get the words out during a conversation. Also I get hot flashes followed by cold sweats that *sometimes* results in vomiting but I think that may be more linked to my Anxiety.
Am I the only one that LOVES concert environments? Being at a concert gives me that fuzzy brain feeling and I love it. Shopping sucks for me too but I am furthest from sensory overload at concerts haha
I get like that mostly when in school church and when I'm in public. I sometimes get like that at home and I just get really frustrated and fussy
Thank you for the vid “ I get that when talking to people
I've never experienced loss of balance, change of skin tone, cramps, or nausea, but I do experience the struggle to speak, racing heart, hysteria, crying, stimming, agitation, and difficulty focusing. It's hard to tell the difference between overstimulation and an anxiety attack.
I have had a few sencory overloads at school as my friend is being annoying still love your chanle and only just found it out
I have really high functioning adhd and I get sensory overloads so often and it’s really difficult bc I can’t function properly and often I get yelled at for “zoning out”, and not making eye contact (which has always been an issue for me)
I would get overwhelmed at school, turn super red, which I knew I was red and then would then have anxiety because my face was so red, which would then snowball. I was always 'too sensitive' growing up. Some teachers on high school recognized I was having issues and would let me hide in their classes... Choir/music classes where I could stay in the piano rooms were my sanctuary.
Thanks so much for this video! My sensory issues can be really stressful and it’s great to see you spreading awareness in a fun way! Enjoyed the video!!💗
I’m not really sure if I’ve experienced sensory overload, I’ve always thought I just had misophonia. Watching this video triggered a memory though, when I was like 11-12(?) I went to a concert with my mom and I have no idea why this happened because I don’t really remember anything from the concert but I remember holding onto my moms leg and crying, while covering my ears.
just found this channel and already love it so much
You are such a Sunshine, may God bless you and your loving and caring parents! ❤️
I didn't even notice that these were because of sensory overloads I thought I was just being weird for no reason. I feel headaches, head pressure, unable to balance and speak correctly most often AND anger.
I NEED HELP!!! I don't have autism or anything like that and all im diagnosed with is severe anxiety, severe depression (but it's getting better), and minor PTSD as in I often get intrusive thoughts and my therapist calls it PTSD. Even though I am only diagnosed with those things, I often do this thing whenever I listen to music or watch a really good edit and I just start fluttering my hands and flapping them around and I start to like kick my feet out. And like I seriously can't help it. Like I'll try to stop but I seriously can't. I have no clue what it is but please someone try to help me!!!!
you’re stimming! it’s okay! it’s not bad and you don’t have to stop!
I learnt some things about sensory overload I didn't know about so thank you for that!
(I have ADHD, Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Autism, and Depression-)
When I get overestimulated or close to that state I do things that calm me and keep me distracted from people.
- I either draw or listen to music.
- I will sometimes stim (most of the time to distract myself.)
- I sometimes like hugs, from certain people. Like my friends or my boyfriend, ect.
- Ear plugs. The squishy ones you can shape. They muffle noises for me. It helps when I begin to get overwhelmed/Overstimulated due to noise.
- Oils. I have these calming oils. I rub some on my wrist and it quickly calms me down or atleast helps.
- Texting my friends.
- Things that distract me from the situation.
I can't think anymore.