Is this sensory overload or an actual condition?

[redrabbit29]

I have a thing about noises, which really puts my entire body on edge and stressed. Particularly being amongst lots of voices having different conversations.

A great example is this weekend.

Me driving with person next to me. He and I were talking.
Two people in the back talking.

It drive me crazy and started to get me headache, heart palpatations, just started to get really agitated and uncomfortable.

Similarly:

• if I am sat amongst people and there are converastions happening behind me and to the side it's the same.
• At a fair ground and around people screaming on rollercoasters
• Certain noises really bother me, like people whisteling - although that could just be as it's genuniely annoying

I did wonder if it's Autism or some other noise-specific thing - any thoughts?

Edited by redrabbit29 on Tuesday 22 October 09:46

[MitchT]

Same here, particularly...

• Whistling, screaming and high pitched sounds in general.
• Multiple people talking at once turning into a mush of noise that seems to swirl around and make me feel disorientated.
• Most restaurants... multiple conversations, the clattering of cutlery on plates, background music and noises from the kitchen all turn the experience into a deblilitating torment.

Makes me feel like all the energy and life has been sucked out of me. When you put your hand under a hot tap without realising how hot the water will be and you recoil and that sudden scalding shock hits you as the heat is taken away. I feel like that all over, both physically and mentally, when I'm subjected to high pitched sounds - it's like a burning, throbbing sensation everywhere inside and out and emotionally as well as physically. When it's lots of people talking simultaneously it's more a sense of confusion, nausia and exhaustion.

My OH thinks I'm on the spectrum, though, when I asked my GP he just stared at me blankly and said "There's no pathway for diagnosing autism in adults in the NHS". Meanwhile the main autism website just goes on about children... child this, child that, child the other... child, child, child, etc. Adult? Go fk yourself!

Look up things like cognitive overload, sensory overload, HSP (Highly Sensitive Person). There's plenty that resonates online.

[Greenbot35]

MitchT said:

Same here, particularly...

• Whistling, screaming and high pitched sounds in general.
• Multiple people talking at once turning into a mush of noise that seems to swirl around and make me feel disorientated.
• Most restaurants... multiple conversations, the clattering of cutlery on plates, background music and noises from the kitchen all turn the experience into a deblilitating torment.

Makes me feel like all the energy and life has been sucked out of me. When you put your hand under a hot tap without realising how hot the water will be and you recoil and that sudden scalding shock hits you as the heat is taken away. I feel like that all over, both physically and mentally, when I'm subjected to high pitched sounds - it's like a burning, throbbing sensation everywhere inside and out and emotionally as well as physically. When it's lots of people talking simultaneously it's more a sense of confusion, nausia and exhaustion.

My OH thinks I'm on the spectrum, though, when I asked my GP he just stared at me blankly and said "There's no pathway for diagnosing autism in adults in the NHS". Meanwhile the main autism website just goes on about children... child this, child that, child the other... child, child, child, etc. Adult? Go fk yourself!

Look up things like cognitive overload, sensory overload, HSP (Highly Sensitive Person). There's plenty that resonates online.

I get similar, I find multiple people, conversations or lots of movement around md puts me on edge. I also hate being watched while I'm working.

My brother is severely autistic so like you I thought I might be too, however I've got worse since lockdown ended and I'm not bothered at all by machinery or when I'm involved in things. Its like background no affects me.

Its interesting to hear other people have similar.

[oddman]

I'm similar. I wonder whether, given our evolutionary heritage, vigilance to noise being a selective advantage, that we're the normal ones and that the people who can function with traffic noise, constant chatter, music, distraction etc. would be gobbled up by a sabre toothed tiger which had crept up on them.

I also have the opposite issue so that if completely absorbed in something, you could set off a small themonuclear device in my vicinity and I wouldn't notice.

ISTM that there is a rising tide of 'noise' whether this is sound, or any form of media competing for our attention that more and more people are noticing their difficulty in tolerating it. There seems to be a corrolating rise in interest in activities designed to switch this off and take focus to one point eg. mindfulness/breath work, cold immersion etc.

[EmailAddress]

MitchT said:

My OH thinks I'm on the spectrum, though, when I asked my GP he just stared at me blankly and said "There's no pathway for diagnosing autism in adults in the NHS".

Try going through your local council site looking for adult autism assessment.

Though ultimately, you'll be referred to online resources and support groups to help yourself.

Once you're baked-in as an adult, you're the only person that can adjust your behaviour and reactions. Through work and practice.

There is guidance out there though.

The bks about neuro-divergent, or typical experiences is all wk though. Just because there are more grey squirrels, doesn't mean the red ones are the interlopers.

[EmailAddress]

Sensory overload could be looked as as similar to anxiety. Some techniques for quashing that may help you OP.

As well as treating stimulus like Road Craft and practising to prioritise input. Focusing on a tier of importance, which by definition, will begin to push out the unnecessary which your brain is trying to log in the background.

[Pete102]

My Brother was diagnosed with Autism as an Adult, I guess there must be pathways available in this respect.

I am also very sensitive to sensory overload in respect of noise. Interestingly enough it seems to be worse in the morning, my partner has a habit of emptying the dishwasher after breakfast and I find it unbearable while I am working.

[Rebew]

Pete102 said:

My Brother was diagnosed with Autism as an Adult, I guess there must be pathways available in this respect.

I am also very sensitive to sensory overload in respect of noise. Interestingly enough it seems to be worse in the morning, my partner has a habit of emptying the dishwasher after breakfast and I find it unbearable while I am working.

My brother was also but I believe he had to work quite hard to get the diagnosis. I think part of the problem is that a diagnosis for a child with Autism will open the door to all sorts of help and allowances at school etc. whereas a diagnosis for an adult is far less beneficial, it gives you a label that you can use but most employers are unlikely to particularly care and in most cases it just serves to confirm what you already suspect.

[EmailAddress]

Pete102 said:

I am also very sensitive to sensory overload in respect of noise. Interestingly enough it seems to be worse in the morning, my partner has a habit of emptying the dishwasher after breakfast and I find it unbearable while I am working.

Empty it yourself. Being in control of the noise will render it moot/ mute.

[gregs656]

I bought a pair of loop ear plugs for loud concerts and music events, but I find my self using them in other situations now as well - particularly if I am already feeling a bit irritable or low on energy.

There are a number of brands who produce similar kind of ear plugs.

[ATG]

Rebew said:

Pete102 said:

My Brother was diagnosed with Autism as an Adult, I guess there must be pathways available in this respect.

I am also very sensitive to sensory overload in respect of noise. Interestingly enough it seems to be worse in the morning, my partner has a habit of emptying the dishwasher after breakfast and I find it unbearable while I am working.

My brother was also but I believe he had to work quite hard to get the diagnosis. I think part of the problem is that a diagnosis for a child with Autism will open the door to all sorts of help and allowances at school etc. whereas a diagnosis for an adult is far less beneficial, it gives you a label that you can use but most employers are unlikely to particularly care and in most cases it just serves to confirm what you already suspect.

It is of course beneficial in helping people to understand themselves.

[98elise]

redrabbit29 said:

I have a thing about noises, which really puts my entire body on edge and stressed. Particularly being amongst lots of voices having different conversations.

A great example is this weekend.

Me driving with person next to me. He and I were talking.
Two people in the back talking.

It drive me crazy and started to get me headache, heart palpatations, just started to get really agitated and uncomfortable.

Similarly:

• if I am sat amongst people and there are converastions happening behind me and to the side it's the same.
• At a fair ground and around people screaming on rollercoasters
• Certain noises really bother me, like people whisteling - although that could just be as it's genuniely annoying

I did wonder if it's Autism or some other noise-specific thing - any thoughts?

Edited by redrabbit29 on Tuesday 22 October 09:46

It could well be autism. My daughters boyfriend is on the scale and he can't have the radio on in the car. Its the presenters speaking rather than music, so similar to you. He finds it very uncomfortable.

He's OK with music so we can use Spotify when he's in the car.

[DeuceDeuce]

I’m similar.

Could be Misophonia.

[Pete102]

EmailAddress said:

Empty it yourself. Being in control of the noise will render it moot/ mute.

This is the way, and usually I would. It tends to be the occasions I have a heavy morning workload when she will do it, what's telling is how quickly it puts me on edge (just for clarity, we live in an apartment so my office / kitchen is quite close).

In regard to my brother, I am not sure exactly how he ended up with an official diagnosis, I will ask him. I do know that it has helped him immensely in understanding his previous behaviors and crucially, how to manage his future behaviors in a better way. This is included attending an Autism support group, weekly therapy sessions, changing his approach to certain things and becoming more aware of his social boundaries and why they exist.