Most of us are caught in a whirlwind, constantly grappling with this overwhelming feeling of being overstimulated. From the crack of dawn until we lay our heads down at night, there’s no escaping it – screens, noises, traffic, and the relentless demands of our schedules, they’re all part of the chaotic mix. While some level of stimulation is essential for our growth and development. It’s the spice of life, right? But when we go beyond that tipping point and the stimuli become excessive, that’s when trouble brews. This state of overstimulation can have serious effects on our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. What causes one to become overstimulated, what psychological impacts does it have, and how can one tackle them? Let’s have a look at them all.
What Exactly Is Overstimulation?
Overstimulation occurs when our brains receive more sensory input than they can effectively process. It is common amongst highly sensitive people (HSP) when exposed to various environments, such as crowded places, workplaces with constant noise, or even while multitasking with multiple digital devices. Each person’s threshold for stimuli varies, making it essential to recognize the signs of overstimulation in ourselves and others.
Signs You Are Overstimulated
- Irritability and Mood Swings: Being overstimulated might cause you to lose your temper quickly or experience sudden mood swings. Small frustrations can quickly escalate into overwhelming emotions, leading to an increased risk of outbursts or emotional exhaustion.
- Difficulty Concentrating: Overstimulation can make it challenging to focus on tasks or absorb information. It’s possible that you’ll get easily distracted, forgetful, or unable of finishing even simple tasks.
- Physical Fatigue and Headaches: Too much sensory input can lead to physical exhaustion and cause a stress headache. When your body is attempting to deal with excessive stimulation, muscle stiffness and discomfort in the neck, shoulders, and back become frequent.
- Sensory Sensitivity: Overstimulation can heighten your sensitivity to various sensory inputs. Bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, and even textures might become overwhelming, making it difficult to carry out everyday chores.
- Racing Thoughts and Anxiety: Overstimulated mind creates psychological stress and can feel like a non-stop race, with thoughts bouncing from one concept to another. This racing mental state can cause anxiety, making it hard to relax and find peace within oneself.
- Withdrawal and Social Isolation: A person can prompt a desire to withdraw from social interactions and seek solitude. You might feel the need to escape to a quiet place to recharge, leading to potential feelings of isolation.
What Causes Overstimulation?
The constant barrage of screens, never-ending notifications, and being wired up 24/7 can really send our poor brains into overdrive. The city life’s hectic everyday schedules and the sensory overload that comes with them are immense. Relentless traffic noise and jam-packed public spaces make matters worse which seems like an unending whirlwind of stimuli. When we’re constantly juggling a million things at once, with long hours at work, and enduring high-pressure environments play a part in pushing us to the brink.
Further, bright lights, colors that pop like fireworks, strong scents, and cluttered spaces all throw fuel on the fire of sensory overload. And when there’s not enough rest and sleep, our brains don’t get the chance to process all that input carrying yesterday’s chaos onto the next day. All of these aggravate the stress symptoms and ruin mental health.
Overstimulation And Mental Health Disorders
Several mental health issues can be intensified or developed as a result of an overstimulated mind. When the brain is constantly bombarded with different stressors and sensory input or information, it can have a negative impact on emotional regulation, cognition, and overall mental well-being.
- Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD): One can develop SPD where the brain has difficulty processing and responding to sensory input appropriately. Highly sensitive people when overstimulated can significantly cause sensory overload and result in emotional meltdowns or withdrawal.
- Anxiety Disorders: Chances are people can have heightened feelings of stress and anxiety. This can also exacerbate existing anxiety disorders. Constant exposure to stressors and sensory overload can trigger the body’s “fight-or-flight” response, leading to persistent feelings of unease and worry.
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Overstimulation can make it particularly challenging for people who already suffer from ADHD to concentrate and focus. The abundance of stimuli may lead to increased distractibility and difficulty sustaining attention on tasks at a time.
- Major Depressive Disorder (Depression): Having a high cortisol level is one of the true signs of stress in a person which can indicate depression. It can also lead to emotional exhaustion and further increase symptoms of depression.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): If a person is already diagnosed with generalized anxiety, an overstimulating environment can create a constant influx of information and stimuli that can lead to persistent feelings of worry and apprehension.
- Social Anxiety Disorder: Overstimulation in social situations can be particularly distressing for those with social anxiety, making it harder for them to navigate and engage in social interactions.
- Insomnia and Sleep Disorders: Excessive sensory input can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia and other sleep-related disorders.
Does Overstimulation Require Mental Health Help?
If the overstimulation is severe and causes additional mental illnesses that interfere with daily functioning then it may be time to seek mental health help. Mild or occasional overstimulation may not necessarily warrant professional intervention, as many people can effectively manage it through self-care strategies.
Treatment options for overstimulation focus on reducing sensory overload, improving coping mechanisms, and enhancing overall mental well-being. Here are some treatment options that can be effective:
- Psychotherapy/Counseling: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and other forms of talk therapy can be helpful if struggling with overstimulation. Therapy will help identify triggers, explore coping strategies, and develop healthier responses to overwhelming stimuli.
- Mindfulness-Based Therapies: Mindfulness practices, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), can help people better understand their sensory thresholds and learn to control them more effectively.
- Sensory Integration Therapy: Therapy can greatly provide some stress relief. It involves working with a trained therapist who’ll help gradually expose to sensory stimuli in a structured and controlled manner.
- Medication: Medications may occasionally be administered to treat symptoms of overstimulation, such as anxiety or any sleep disorders. This option is typically considered when other treatment methods have not provided sufficient relief.
- Environmental Modifications: Reducing clutter, dimmer lights, or the use of noise-canceling headphones can help reduce sensory input and create a more calming space.
- Relaxation Techniques: Practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or guided imagery can help calm an overstimulated mind.
If you’re feeling like overstimulation is messing with your life, or maybe you’ve got a hunch that something more serious is going on with your mental health, don’t hesitate to reach out for some professional help. Connecting with a qualified mental health provider is the way to go. They’ll dive into what’s actually going wrong, create a plan that’s just for you, and be there to support you every step of the way as you work through things and get back on track. Remember, there’s no shame in seeking help and taking that step can make a world of difference in how you feel and how you live your life.
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