Overstimulation
Do you find that noise, light, crowds or a lot of information quickly become too much for you? Perhaps you find it harder to cope with a crowded shop or a busy workplace. Overlapping conversations or notifications on your phone can also be stimulating. Whereas you used to be able to carry on as normal, it now feels as though your head is filling up. Overstimulation can have a significant impact on your daily life. You might start avoiding busy places, cancel social engagements or need a lot of time to recover after an ordinary day. That’s not unusual. If your mind or body has to process too many stimuli, the system becomes overloaded more quickly.
What do you notice?
Overstimulation can manifest itself physically, mentally and emotionally.
You may, for example, notice that:
- sounds come through louder;
- bright light or busy images can be tiring;
- it is difficult to follow conversations;
- you get irritated more easily;
- you get a headache;
- you get tired of the hustle and bustle;
- if you wish to withdraw;
- you find it difficult to concentrate;
- you need a long time to recover after social activities.
Sometimes you only realise afterwards that it was all a bit too much. You come home feeling drained, tense or emotional. That can be confusing, especially when others don’t realise just how many stimuli you’re processing.
What might be the reason for this?
Overstimulation can be caused by stress, tiredness, pain, poor sleep or recovery from illness. Even after a burnout, concussion or a period of high stress, stimuli may be perceived more intensely than usual.
People also differ in how they experience and process stimuli. Whilst some are hardly bothered by crowds, noise or bright light, others are more sensitive to these things. This varies from person to person.
The environment also plays a major role. Think of a busy workplace, social activities, screens, notifications or constantly having to switch between different tasks.
If you have little time to recover, it becomes more difficult to process stimuli. Then something that normally goes well can suddenly become too much.
What can you do yourself?
It helps to manage stimuli more effectively. Not by avoiding everything, but by making conscious choices.
For example, you could:
- visiting busy places at quiet times;
- taking short breaks in a low-stimulus room;
- turn off notifications on your phone;
- shortening social appointments;
- wear sunglasses or earplugs if that helps;
- plan a recovery period after a busy period;
- Alternate tasks involving lots of stimulation with quieter tasks;
- clearly indicate when something becomes excessive.
Try to identify which triggers are the most difficult for you. That way, you can make more targeted adjustments.
When is it advisable to seek help?
It is wise to seek help if sensory overload is affecting your work, studies, social life or daily tasks. It is also a good idea to seek advice if you find yourself avoiding more and more situations or need a lot of time to recover.
Contact your GP if you suddenly experience overstimulation following a fall, accident or illness. You should also do so if your symptoms worsen rapidly or are accompanied by severe headaches, confusion or loss of function.
How Rondom can help
Together, we’ll look at which triggers are causing you stress and how you can organise your day more effectively. In doing so, we’ll focus on work, home, social activities, recovery and energy levels.
A occupational therapist helps you understand which stimuli affect your daily life. Together, you look for ways to cope better with these stimuli and to keep up with your activities. A lifestyle coach can help with sleep, recovery and moments of rest. In cases of anxiety, stress or difficulty in coming to terms with something, it can psychological support should be appropriate.
We are looking for a way for you to continue participating without becoming constantly overwhelmed.
