The world bombards us daily with bustling environments, vibrant sights, and resounding sounds. For some of us, these everyday experiences can quickly turn overwhelming, leading to a phenomenon known as sensory overload. When one or more of our senses become inundated, our brains struggle to cope with the flood of information. From busy restaurants to crowded grocery stores, even a single loud sound or a bright light can tip the scales, leaving us feeling stressed, uncomfortable and overwhelmed.
As an individual with sensory processing challenges, particularly as someone who is Autistic-ADHD (AuDHDer), I gained a new appreciation for these moments in my life when I first learned about my neurodivergence. Prior to developing a sensory lens, I simply thought that everyone felt overwhelmed in places like restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters, or crowded rooms! To better understand my experiences with sensory overload as an adult, I delved into internet research, only to find images of small boys with fidgets and weighted vests. While this was helpful for my parenting, I longed for guidance on navigating sensory issues as an adult.