Sensory Overload

[AR-10]

Do any of you suffer from sensory overload?

When I was really ill, I couldn't ride in a car and look out the windows. I'd either look down or close my eyes. Trying to make sense of the images flooding in would make me disoriented, dazed, and confused.

It's a lot better now, but sitting down to a meal with three other people in a restaurant wears me out from trying to make sense of what is going on and keep up with the conversation.

If I'm talking with someone face to face, like my wife, and there is a TV going in the background, it's not only distracting, it's disturbing.

I just spent an hour at my BIL's house, to visit, and his TV was up a bit loud, and I almost went crazy trying to have a conversation. Three or four times I had to ask what we were talking about. The stupid loud TV was making me want to run screaming from the house. Very unpleasant.

At this stage, I think it's more a case of difficulty in processing information than it is sensory overload, although it was bad enough at one point that the phrase is not an exageration.

I just can't handle unexpected input, and processing input from multiple sources at once is difficult. I don't watch much TV, because the input is always unexpected, and the commercials drive me crazy.

I listen to music, and at high volumn, but only songs I am familiar with. New stuff is unexpected input, and grates on me. If I'm talking and somebody interupts me, it's like a short ciruit happens and I freeze mentally for a split second and it throws me off badly. Almost like an electric shock.

I can drive and chew gum at the same time, but not if the radio is on and my wife is talking. Does anybody know what I'm talking about?

[stella5349]

Bump

[scarlet37]

Wow I can totally relate! I know for me it is much worse when I am tired. One thing I know is that because of this I avoid many social activities.

[jabber888]

I don't know what goes on for me but I've been to 3 loud concerts in my time and I get overwhelmingly tired and fall asleep for about 15miutes.  Its like I get some sort of sensory overload and my body switches me off until I can deal with it.  When I wake up the concert is still going and I feel like more of an observer than actually being there. Almost like I'm seeing it all going on through a window.  any one else experienced this?

[kl42]

sounds like an overloud of anxiey. definatelky from thyroid imbalanced!

[kl42]

sounds like you have severe anxiety. i had that when my levels were shot.  makes you super aware of everything.  as your levels get better it will go away.  feeling of being trapped. closed in. that all anxiety due to  levels of thyroid being off, in my opinion. Kevin

[SassySharon]

Yes, I can relate to Everything's really loud, but I feel like I can't hear,  And I hate it.  I also feel like things are always too dark but I can't stand light.  Too much light!  Yuk!!  then sometimes my skin will start hurting sometimes, just areas, like burning!  And my family complains of my going into my "trances"  like my eyes get stuck.  I will just stare at an area of an object, like I can see, but I am unseeing.  Can go for minutes, sometimes I hear, sometimes not really. Family will step infront of me or wave a hand to kinda break it up.  I am aware, but not aware of where or what is around me.  Have always done this.  In this trance, I feel relaxed and i think my mind goes totally blank.  Has anyone ever had this?? I feel stupid talking about it.
sass