WinterSown Posted March 18, 2018 Report Share Posted March 18, 2018 Sometimes it's bright lights, or loud noise, or a busy view, or even late at night when a heavy truck rolls down the turnpike two blocks over I still cant hide from its vibrations or the put-put-put sound of the big engine when they wait at the red lights. If I'm stuck between my son and Hubs having a discussion I'm fried by their deep bass voices bouncing through my ears from either side. I can put on my padded headphones, put on my tunes, add some shades as wide as an astronaut's visor, take half a benzo or two, and still feel like crawling into a hole and pulling the hole in after me. Lately I've taken to my tub, with water as warm as I can tolerate, a few cups of epsom salts and a squirt of scented body oil in the water. When i come out I feel better. Less fried. And softer. Rather than letting sensory overload defeat me I'm turning it into an excuse for a self-indulgent spa break. I need to learn more things that help tone it down and break away from wanting to jump out of my own I skin when I am feeling overwhelmed by the activity in the world around me. I have to participate in life and I know it can fry me, but if I know there's fast relief from it then it isn't so bad. Today, I feel like coloring in my blanket tent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieR Posted March 18, 2018 Report Share Posted March 18, 2018 I feel like this....almost every night. I can't handle things. A tub helps me too. You are not alone, and I'm glad to know I am not either. Thank you so much for this post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted March 18, 2018 Report Share Posted March 18, 2018 I live in the woods - literally. There are only trees, fields, a creek, cows, deer, birds - it is a relaxing haven. But often it's like this: the birds are too loud, the creek is too constant, the wind in the trees is too annoying; the sun is too bright, the breeze is too cold, the outlook at my future is too bland because - the birds are too loud etc.... Stimulation overload is the ENEMY!!!! So I try to look at everything that I love, take deep breaths and try to remind myself that this moment is to be cherished, not tolerated. ( It does not always work though.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterSown Posted March 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2018 22 hours ago, MarieR said: I feel like this....almost every night. I can't handle things. A tub helps me too. You are not alone, and I'm glad to know I am not either. Thank you so much for this post! Thank you. I was just at Stew Leonard's, my overload nemesis. They put one in right around corner, it's four houses and then across the street to the mall. The young man at the register asked me about my headphones, if they were noise cancelling. Ahhh...a teachable moment so I explained to him about sensory overload. "What? Is that like an LSD overdose?" Sigh. No, not that intense. I just want to scream and run out of here. "Most people do." 20 hours ago, Pistol said: I live in the woods - literally. There are only trees, fields, a creek, cows, deer, birds - it is a relaxing haven. But often it's like this: the birds are too loud, the creek is too constant, the wind in the trees is too annoying; the sun is too bright, the breeze is too cold, the outlook at my future is too bland because - the birds are too loud etc.... Stimulation overload is the ENEMY!!!! So I try to look at everything that I love, take deep breaths and try to remind myself that this moment is to be cherished, not tolerated. ( It does not always work though.) I know what you are talking about. I lived 13 years in the upper catskills on a mountain. LOVED it but sometimes the birds would not shut up. Agree about the brilliant sun and then driving down a road as it flickers among the trees. OUCH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p8d Posted March 19, 2018 Report Share Posted March 19, 2018 I hate this! Trying to explain it to healthy people is impossible. I can barely tolerate the ride in a car to PT and forget anywhere else. I asked two POTS neuro specialists whether it was ANS or CNS. One said you couldn’t differentiate, the other said he sees it typically in non-headache migraine. Options were increase beta blocker or try topiramate. The beta lowers my BP too much, the first two doses of topiramate gave me a headache but I guess that goes away eventually so will soldier on. My POTS conversant PCP said modafinil might help. I took a full dose of it for fatigue and over stimulation once and that *was* like what LSD must be like! Everything was so detailed and such amazing colors! A half dose was much better. I live in serious suburbia with lots of large trees in the yard and sometimes the leaves moving and shadows drive me nuts. I love the outdoors but have to retreat indoors. Given how short our summers are it makes me sad. I think from now on I will just declare a spa day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterSown Posted March 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2018 6 minutes ago, p8d said: I hate this! Trying to explain it to healthy people is impossible. I can barely tolerate the ride in a car to PT and forget anywhere else. I asked two POTS neuro specialists whether it was ANS or CNS. One said you couldn’t differentiate, the other said he sees it typically in non-headache migraine. Options were increase beta blocker or try topiramate. The beta lowers my BP too much, the first two doses of topiramate gave me a headache but I guess that goes away eventually so will soldier on. My POTS conversant PCP said modafinil might help. I took a full dose of it for fatigue and over stimulation once and that *was* like what LSD must be like! Everything was so detailed and such amazing colors! A half dose was much better. I live in serious suburbia with lots of large trees in the yard and sometimes the leaves moving and shadows drive me nuts. I love the outdoors but have to retreat indoors. Given how short our summers are it makes me sad. I think from now on I will just declare a spa day! Major suburbia here, I'm on Long Island. There used to be a Home Depot two blocks north, I went to sleep each night with the beep beep beep of their forklifts as my lullaby. And idiots with firecrackers surround us, it drives the dogs nuts and they start to bark like thunder from the heavens which makes Hubs start to holler at them to shut up and they're all going off at the same time and I can't escape or hide from any of it. Aaaaarrrrgghhh. Or something like that. This is a good article with excellent descriptions on what it feels like. First one I thought nailed it but then I read the list and they all nailed it perfectly.https://themighty.com/2016/02/people-explain-what-sensory-overload-feels-like/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieR Posted March 20, 2018 Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 On 3/18/2018 at 4:06 PM, WinterSown said: Thank you. I was just at Stew Leonard's, my overload nemesis. They put one in right around corner, it's four houses and then across the street to the mall. The young man at the register asked me about my headphones, if they were noise cancelling. Ahhh...a teachable moment so I explained to him about sensory overload. "What? Is that like an LSD overdose?" Sigh. No, not that intense. I just want to scream and run out of here. "Most people do." I know what you are talking about. I lived 13 years in the upper catskills on a mountain. LOVED it but sometimes the birds would not shut up. Agree about the brilliant sun and then driving down a road as it flickers among the trees. OUCH Seriously??? An LSD overdose......because everyone knows that that is like?????? Oh my goodness that is a crazy insane experience. I'm so sorry. Some ppl are so so....AHHHHHHHHH!!! Like where is your brain? Where do these comments come from? It's so crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p8d Posted March 20, 2018 Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 Great descriptions @WinterSown. Thanks! I will forward them to family and write some down for Drs. My suburbia is quiet, tree-lined streets with squirrels that drive the dogs nuts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterSown Posted March 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 14 hours ago, MarieR said: Seriously??? An LSD overdose......because everyone knows that that is like?????? Oh my goodness that is a crazy insane experience. I'm so sorry. Some ppl are so so....AHHHHHHHHH!!! Like where is your brain? Where do these comments come from? It's so crazy. Maybe that's the drug I need to get past the singing cows and dancing avocados (why are they dancing, don't they know about guac?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistri_The_Squirrel Posted March 21, 2018 Report Share Posted March 21, 2018 I know what you mean. I feel like putting in earplugs sometimes, but that only makes the ringing in my ears louder. I've also noticed that strong tastes and smells can be too much for me as well. Someone mentioned the birds. I hate the sound of the birds chirping right next to my window. And the sound of lawn mowers. Those are probably the sounds I hate most during the spring and summer. In the winter it's the snow throwers (or even just the sound of people shoveling), and the squealing sound a belt on a car makes when it needs to be changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyGirls Posted March 24, 2018 Report Share Posted March 24, 2018 I can relate! I poked my head out the door last night to see what kind of animal was making this horrible piercing chirp/noise. It was a mockingbird sitting on the fence!! I scowled at him, but don't think he cared! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterSown Posted March 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2018 On 3/21/2018 at 12:57 PM, Mistri_The_Squirrel said: I know what you mean. I feel like putting in earplugs sometimes, but that only makes the ringing in my ears louder. I've also noticed that strong tastes and smells can be too much for me as well. Someone mentioned the birds. I hate the sound of the birds chirping right next to my window. And the sound of lawn mowers. Those are probably the sounds I hate most during the spring and summer. In the winter it's the snow throwers (or even just the sound of people shoveling), and the squealing sound a belt on a car makes when it needs to be changed. That's what happens with earplugs; they are not going to be enough to muffle out or dull down any of the sound from the store. I can't wear them as they are made for people with ears bigger than mine, if they do fit it feels like my ears are corked with pressure backing up behind them. YMMV but I think they add to the overload. I use headphones with sound reduction pads. Sound and vibrations are two of my strongest triggers. I feel exhausted from sensory overload, emotionally and physically; I come home from the market and I can't even put away my groceries. Every time I remember to wear the headphones I get through well that after I get home from shopping I don't have to go lay down right away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistri_The_Squirrel Posted March 24, 2018 Report Share Posted March 24, 2018 7 hours ago, WinterSown said: I can't wear them as they are made for people with ears bigger than mine, if they do fit it feels like my ears are corked with pressure backing up behind them. Yes!! People in my family have told me for years that I should wear earplugs to sleep like they do, but the pressure hurts! What headphones do you have that you like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterSown Posted March 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2018 8 hours ago, Mistri_The_Squirrel said: Yes!! People in my family have told me for years that I should wear earplugs to sleep like they do, but the pressure hurts! What headphones do you have that you like? I have a set of Uproar Wireless by Skullcandy. Shop around, I've often seen them for 20-40% less than what they sell on their site. They have padding under the headband too so my scalp doesn't hurt wearing them. I really like them, I have a red set. And as headphones for music, they happen to be good for that too. https://www.skullcandy.com/shop/headphones/bluetooth-headphones/uproar-wireless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistri_The_Squirrel Posted March 25, 2018 Report Share Posted March 25, 2018 14 hours ago, WinterSown said: I have a set of Uproar Wireless by Skullcandy. Shop around, I've often seen them for 20-40% less than what they sell on their site. They have padding under the headband too so my scalp doesn't hurt wearing them. I really like them, I have a red set. And as headphones for music, they happen to be good for that too. https://www.skullcandy.com/shop/headphones/bluetooth-headphones/uproar-wireless Thanks, @WinterSown!! I think something like that would be helpful for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterSown Posted March 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2018 I can also search google for a store's address. In the right column of the search results, if you scroll down a bit, under Popular Times, there is a blue bar graph showing when the store is more or less busy. Today is Sunday and I'm not going anywhere near there until after dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieR Posted April 1, 2018 Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 Oh my goodness, I might need to look into these. My earbuds always hurt my ears, so thanks for this tip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbie Rose Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 So sensory overload is a POTS thing ??? Thank goodness!! I thought it was a mental thing. My sister,when she gets "chatty" can tire me out in the worse way. Thankfully she has learned over the years just how far she can go. And I generally pay extra for the grocer to shop for me so I can just pick it up-crowds are horrible!!! And family gatherings-my brother get so loud when they talk politics and stuff- I just want to leave the room!! Well good to know I am not crazy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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