Dealing with Sensory Overload

I vape some thc/CBD or take a Xanax honestly, it’s all that’ll stop it. I find that I’d when it’s the best time to take something because it’s a 100% sign in about to have a major panic attack.

Smoke a joint

Take myself away so not to end someones existence

I try to do something that I can focus on. I recently started doing different diamond art things and it helps me to basically hyper focus and I'm able to ignore everything else

This post is dated, but just seeing it! For me, it depends if I’m alone or not. If I’m alone I remove all noticeable sensory things in my environment and on my person. Either put on non-bothering clothes (for me long shirt) and take everything else off or if clothes are too much, I just lay in my bed naked covered in a soft blanket on cool temp sheets in the dark and turn on some brown noise. Other ppl mentioned brown noise which I find so much better than white noise. It is lower tones than higher. If I am in public, I use the Loop ear plugs. Someone else mentioned them and they are fabulous. There are 3 different lowered decibel levels. Some just block out background noise and others block most all sound. I’ve been in class and the sound of the person next to me breathing and the clock ticking make me want to stick an ice pick into my ear drums repeatedly. I wear the Engage ones so I can’t hear those but can still focus on the speaker. Or for tests and more quiet I used the Quiet ones which are also great. They both allow you to stay in your current environment if you need to and also not go crazy. So that was an extremely long answer. But in short- complete sensory deprivation and/or one of the 3 decibel lowering Loop earplugs work for me. I get some intense misophonia when over-stimulated. Both are effective depending on the situation. They They definitely keep me sane!

I try to cancel out as many senses as possible, noise canceling headphones or play music so it's controlled and allows stimming and distractions. I also close my eyes or put my sunglasses on to dim lights. Wearing a mask can also help with scents, possibly. Hope this helps!

I put on headphones and listen to brown noise to drown out sounds around me. A weighted blanket can help but if it's too warm it adds to my sensory overload. Turn off the lights or cover your eyes to block them out.

For me I have to put myself in a soothing situation to calm down. Lights dim or off, wrapped in a blanket or sitting in a warm bath or hot tub, enjoying a show/podcast/playlist I like (since I can’t stand silence cause it makes me think too much). If I’m stuck in the situation, I just try my best to focus on what I’m doing so that I’m not thinking about how uncomfortable I feel, or if I’m not doing something or listening to someone I’ll find one thing around me that I can focus on.

I leave the place I am in, or plug in some white noise, you could also close your eyes and block out the world

Loop !!! Ear plugs help with the noise overstimulation like screaming kids or a barking dog. But I can still hold a regular conversation it just make it's more quiet

To be honest, in my case it depends on how overstimulated I feel.

I just have to get away from the noise. I feel like I can't think and it's frustrating.

I take a nap if i can, if i can't I just kinda have to deal with it

Get noise cancelling headphones. A good pair. Seriously.

I hope this makes you smile - What do I do? Get incredibly anxious 😰

I actually do the opposite then what others do; I go for a semi-run/walk, which allows my body to get all the adrenaline out from the over-stimulation, and it helps calm me down. It'll make a major difference on where you live, though if you can do that.

A hot bath can act as a sensory deprivation sort of. You just let yourself float. I like dimmer lights or candles. If you can, submerge your head just enough so your ears are underwater, that buffers sound too.

Mostly just self care stuff, remove as much stimulation as possible and do something relaxing to recuperate. Sometimes finding just the right stim helps, that's usually rocking and playing with slime/thinking putty with whichever song I feel is most tolerable on repeat for me.

When I'm feeling over stimulated, I put in noise canceling earbuds and either listen to a book or a soundscape or something that has a semi-study cadence etc to it. If I can, I go in my room and turn the light off and lay on my back with my eyes closed, and just try to lose myself in the controlled sound of whatever it is that I picked to listen to. If I can't go to my room, then I put in the noise canceling earbuds and listen to whatever it is where I'm at with my eyes closed. They have some Bluetooth noise canceling earbuds that are fairly good and fairly affordable. I've got a couple pair from TOZO, anything that has NC in the name is noise canceling, And they have some more expensive ones, but the pair that I have was only about $30. I also try to talk to one of my friends on messenger, because usually doing that can help me get out of that over stimulated mode, and into a calmer frame of mind.

I usually try to distract myself if it’s possible. I got this device called an Orba and it’s a mini midi controller with built in sounds. I usually use it as a fidget toy whenever I’m overstimulated in public to prevent panic attacks

I put on noise canceling headphones, grab a comfort blanket, and lay in bed on my back and do breathing exercises

That's a great question and I wish to know this answer too. Most of the time all I can do is remove myself from the situation, if possible, and crawl into my bed under the covers. It's one of the feelings that I have the most you've with