Sensory overload

[Zoe Girl]

I think this is more mental health or a question for my meditation teacher. I have been tracking how i am feeling with detail. I am paying attention to time of day and mood (see psych in a month). Generally psych says i am doing amazing compared to others, i however just want to not get in trouble at work or at least let it go better. And the usual issue of not being able to say anything.

What i notice is everything, all the time, or at least the first half of the day. It is worse in the morning and more when i get up very early or don't sleep well. I will be driving and see a taco bell and my brain starts making associations, i see a lot of leaves and recall raking every fall as a child, and so on. It is mixed with a depressive tone until about noon or later, this is typical for bipolar according to Dr. The part that i wonder if anyone else has is the sensory overload and associations with everything you see.

[herbgeek]

Yes, I get easily overwhelmed with stimuli. Noises, sensations, smells. This is why its good for me to work from home. I like it quiet, and non-smelling. I use unscented everything, even just being around people who have used fabric softener sheets or even name brand detergents like Tide makes me nauseous/overwhelmed. Let's not even talk about people who reheat fish in the office microwave!

I have a tough time in crowds, even while I love the idea of festivals, I hate the idea of being pushed/shoved/bumped into by so many people. I straighten the sheets before I climb on the massage table, because I'm otherwise distracted/disturbed by the way the wrinkles feel on my skin. I love that shirts now have printed labels instead of attached labels.

[sweetana3]

herbgeek, I think all popcorn should be banned from office microwaves. The burning or other smells always made me sick.

I cannot make a decision when faced with too many choices. Stores are generally not a happy place unless it is just to look at the colors and designs. I find any choice is difficult. However, a thrift store or a garage sale etc. where there might be one or two things and a buy or not decision is so much easier.

[Yppej]

I hate the visual clutter of stores too, and was probably one of the few people who liked the original generics that came in all black and white packaging.

[razz]

"Too many choices means I buy nothing," I told one of the assistant managers in my favourite grocery store as he was tidying a whole variety of orange juice in cartons - with calcium, pulp free, and a number of others - the large choice halts my buying. I wondered afterwards if he verified my thoughts. There are now only two kinds of OJ on display in any one location but more locations for the promo items.

I think having triggers for remembering is normal. A particular smell will set off a whole range of memorable life experiences. A certain word or phrase will do the same thing. Music will bring images from long ago to mind.

[Zoe Girl]

I agree with too many choices! People have commented that it is strange that I don't buy breakfast cereal because it is overwhelming. I have 2-3 breakfasts and that is all. Last year when I was shortstaffed and overwhelmed I would not eat a good dinner because I would wander around and not decide. It became a schedule of dinners for me, like taco tuesday (anything Mexican), pasta on Wednesday, a sandwich or can soup on Monday at work before I went to meditation, etc. I started eating much better.

Sounds like I am not the only one. We had a group meeting yesterday and we only have 4 in our group this year as compared to 20. I used to leave the regular meetings and tear up in the car, it was just too much. I am glad to hear I am not the only one who seriously adjusts their life to sensitivity. I will still check in with my meditation teachers and see if they have any suggestions. one just quit being a nun so she is navigating going into the much busier life we all have. She is currently in the recovering fire zone in California,

Thanks all