Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi
I have just come back from being at a bowling alley and they have arcade games there. I didn’t really feel like going but we had kids and they wanted to go. After awhile I got this awful headache and sicky feeling and feeling unsafe. My eyes starting going funny like I couldn’t see properly. I’m home now and the headache and sicky feeling still won’t leave. I am currently alone in my bedroom and the feeling of unsafeness has gone but I have the shakes. Am I just having an off 5 minutes with a headache or could it be sensory overload? What are your tips
I’m looking in to getting one but I’m prone to losing things…
Anxiety is the consequence of overload beyond a certain limit. It's a response mechanism in form of the signals it sends: headaches, shakes, the feeling of danger. It should subside by simply removing the source of overload or, finding a better way to work with the source (if it's our kids for example) though helpful ways of engaging reasonably.
If my son wants to go to out, I'll take my ear plugs, maybe sunglasses. He's in his 20s so in a cafe he'll find a window with natural light for me or sit in the chair with the painful LED.
My father simply has a gaming system he can control the volume. So everyone can play at home comfortably. There's ways to win for everyone.
Hi Andi, it sounds like sensory overload and anxiety (due to the shakes). I get the same thing on a regular basis including migraines. It's not a nice feeling but it will pass with time. It helps me to remove myself from the situation, use my fidget toy to keep me occupied and listen to some calming music.
Hope you feel better soon.
It's difficult to find good earplugs that fit and are effective.
I wouldn’t be able to do a puzzle book around the kids and knowing me I’d lose it haha. I did think about getting those Loop Earplugs but everything falls out of my ears that’s what I only wear over the ear headphones
I get sensory overload and feel overwhelmed. Recently, I was in the lobby of a major London hospital and there was a load of noise. What freaks me out is hearing the multiple noises individually, all at the same time.
Like JT wrote, ear plugs can help. Listening to your favourite music through head or ear phones can help. I also bring a word puzzle book to concentrate and focus on something I like - to redirect and calm my racing, overloaded mind. I realise my last 2 suggestions may not be good for family outings where you would interact with others!
I can appreciate this. I get a lot of headaches and they always become migraines.
After being in the city, or at work when I was onsite with a lot of sensory input. I think it's common, so yes I think it is likely.
Try meditation each morningz then use inner ear plugs when out in noisy places, should help a lot