Solutions to Overstimulation

Overstimulation– is when your senses are just completely overloaded with information, making it difficult (or sometimes near impossible) to fully process the information you are receiving.

Signs of overstimulation:

1. An inability to ignore loud sounds, strong smells, or other sensory information. For example, you may jump or clasp your hands over your ears.
2. Loss of focus.
3. Feeling overwhelmed, agitated, or irritable.
4. Feelings of anxiety
5. General sense of discomfort
6. Eye strain, heart palpitations, lightheadedness

Resource: Overstimulation: What is it? A Therapists 5 tips of healing from Overstimulation March 15. Written by Olivia Brouillette

Visual stimulation

• In a restaurant:

Face the wall instead of the middle of the room. If this is not possible, face the direction with a view of the least amount of people.

Noise and/or visual stimulation

At a social gathering-at home or out:

1. Go outside if possible.
2. Rest in a quiet room (if not at home, don’t be afraid to ask the host to use one of their unoccupied rooms).
3. Never feel bad for leaving or pressured to stay anywhere.
4. Don’t be afraid to let others know you are overwhelmed or overstimulated.
5. It is okay to plan ahead to stay places only a half hour, hour, or however long your limit is, if you know it is going to be loud or overcrowded.
6. Let the host know ahead of time that you will be leaving early. You can tell others you are feeling “unwell”.

To lessen noise anywhere you can use:

1. Earplugs.

2. Noise cancelling headphones.

3. Earbuds.

4. I take out my hearing aids.

In a car:

1. Lower the radio or turn the radio OFF.
2. Do not drive with the windows open.

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A Miracle a Day, One Day at a Time: Hope After Traumatic Brain Injury

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Your life will be less complicated if you are honest about your needs when you are around people that care about you.

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Have a beautiful week.