Sensory Overload

Thank you for your reply and for the reassurance that it is ok to post here. I wasn't sure how things worked.

I will have a look into Luke Beardon, sounds like it would very helpful. 

What a wonderful card that was from your friend. And so poignant too. I hope that quote is always a beautiful  reminder for you. I'll be remembering that one too, so thank you very much for sharing. 

Yes, like many I have always thought I was overreacting and had to try and push through the sensory issues as they didn't make sense to anybody around me. That's not to judge them, it's impossible to understand when they are not experiencing it too. But it never occurred to me that I can make accommodations for myself and to ask others to help with that too. 

Thank you so much for all the advice you have given, I really appreciate it. 

I don't know how long ago you were diagnosed, but I hope you are doing ok with everything and finding ways that work for you. 

Take care 

I am so sorry to hear that your journey has been such a rough one. Have things improved for you since then? Take care 

Of course it's ok to post. Welcome. Some folks never bother with an assessment and are happy to self identify. I for one am a big fan of that. Not everyone wants assessment stress, but everyone here wants to learn more and help themselves.

A chap I am a huge fan of on the sensory stuff and its consequences is Luke Beardon. Read his books, youtube him. He has a simple equation that makes perfect sense:

Autism + environment = outcome

Or as on the card my lovely friend send me when I was diagnosed:

"When a flower fails to bloom you change the environment in which it is grown, not the flower".

Yes, we need to mitigate the sensory input. Use things like headphones, persaude others to be considerate of our sensory needs, counterbalance with restorative sensory positives. It's hard work, but the more you understand about your sensory profile (what restores and what triggers and how changeable that can be) the better you will get at finding work arounds, the better you will get at negotiating your need, the more you will tailor good solutions for you.

We are all different. The answer for each is different.

Give yourself permission to be demanding for your own need and well being.

I was hospitalised, in May 2019, due to sensory overload. The wait to be transferred from Craigavon Hospital to Holywell Mental Hospital in Antrim took longer than the diagnostic process, as the Southern Health Trust don't have access to the records of the Northern Health Trust.

Hello. 

I just got back from the doctor for exactly the same reasons you mentioned. I thought, gosh, I could have written this. I moved to a new area 6 months ago and I'm still finding it hard to find my feet. That doesn't mean it'll take you that long, just that moving for autistic people is a Huge thing. And the older I get, the more sensitive I am to everything or maybe it's because I'm more aware of the impact... which can't be bad in hindsight. I can't really offer advice, except listen to your needs and act on them when you can. 

Good luck, take one step at a time

Hello, I hope you are doing ok today. 

Thank you so much for your reply, I really appreciate it. The house move is actually a positive, or at least I can see it being that way once things are settled. It's much much quieter than the last place, which was part of the reason for the move. So hopefully  once the changes become familiar, things will calm down there. 

Oo a sensory area is a brilliant idea, thank you. I'm sure I speak for many when I say I'm so used to masking that I even mask when I'm by myself. But actually having a sensory area at home could really help with that. 

Thank you again, I shall spend some time today creating that space. 

Thank you for the reassurance about posting here. I wasn't sure what the rules are, so thank you for that.

Take care

Thank you so much for such a kind and supportive message. That would explain why even the things I love are taking too much energy. I end up staring at nothing for a while. I'm sorry to hear that it is something you experience too, though I am very grateful for the advice and understanding. What a bittersweet that is. Take care and thank you again! 

Stress would definitely heighten things, any noises in your new home are new to you and you don't yet know what they all mean, so your brain is in overdrive processing them all. Is the new place nice? Is it quiet? If the move was positive then you can hope for things to settle down as you get used to it. If the move was for unhappy reasons or to a less good place then that will be making things worse too.

Try to make your new home as beneficial to your senses as possible. If you have free rein then that's great, but even if all you can do is make a little sensory corner to retreat to then that is useful. It might be possible to find a way to soundproof at least part of it? If it is somewhere which is just too loud all the time then can you try to go somewhere quiet each day to recharge, maybe in nature or a library or museum?

It's fine to post here as self diagnosed, pre diagnosis or fully diagnosed, or even non-autistic but wanting to know more!

Hello friend, welcome to the online community. Stress plays a key part in a lot of things and can leave you feeling rundown and quite unwell. Fatigue is a result, I get it a lot, and, if you're not careful it could lead to burnout. My advice, rest when you can and enjoy the high points - ride out the low points. Moving house is a big change, it causes much stress and pressure, new surroundings to get used to. Take it slow, things can only get better.