What is Sensory Overload?
Sensory Overload is when an individual with SPD has too much Stimuli to one or more of their senses. When one or more sense is Stimulated too much, we become overwhelmed and our body goes into a panic or breakdown.
Sensory Overload feels a lot like an anxiety attack to me. I get too overwhelmed and I start to sweat more, my heart rate goes up, I start crying. There are many symptoms that are visible and invisible to the eye.
Visible:
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The person is started to turn red or pale
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The person is rocking back and forth a lot more or is a lot more fidgety
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The person is covering their eyes, ears or nose
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The person has become more irritable and gets mad easily
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The person is having troubles concentrating (more than normal)
Invisible:
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Heart rate goes up
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Start sweating more
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Feeling flushed
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Feeling an irrational fear
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Feeling the need to escape
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Feeling the need to Stim
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Breathing is harder
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Feeling dizzier than normal
There are many more possible symptoms but remember that each person is different and will experience Overload in different ways. Some may withdrawal while others become more aggressive or verbal.
Sensory Overload can be avoided to a degree by knowing your triggers and having coping skills ahead of time. Sensory Overload is not something that can just stop happening but you can learn how to manage them easier and how to avoid them.
Contact an Occupational Therapist for more information or check out some online resources, like the ones listed in my first post (https://stim-wise.tumblr.com/post/166878708869/what-is-spd)
Feel free to comment about how Sensory Overload feels like to you
For more information about the 8 senses go to:Â https://stim-wise.tumblr.com/post/167127232547/the-eight-sensesÂ
