How to Defuse Invasion of Sensory Stimulation (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

People who have difficulty processing sensory information, such as people with autism, those with sensory processing disorder (SPD), or people who have a very sensitive condition (highly sensitive), sometimes experience attacks of excessive sensory stimulation. This overload condition occurs when a person experiences sensory stimulation that is too heavy/much/strong to be able to handle it, such as a computer trying to process too much data and getting too hot. This condition can occur when many things are happening at once, such as hearing people talking while the television is playing in the background, surrounded by crowds, or seeing multiple screens or flashing lights. If you or someone you know is experiencing a rush of sensory overstimulation, there are things you can do to help reduce its effects.

Step

Prevent Overstimulation

1. Understand the rush of overstimulation. This overburden can occur in different ways in each person. Symptoms may include panic attacks, being overactive (“hyper”), being quiet, or suddenly behaving in disarray (like a tantrum, but unintentionally).

   

   • In leisure time, ask yourself about the signs of overstimulation of the senses. What triggered it? What behaviors do you (or a loved one) engage in when you start to feel overwhelmed? If you are a parent or caregiver, during this relaxing time you can also ask your child about the rush of sensory overstimulation, for example about triggers.
   • Many people with autism use different "stims," which are repetitive motor movements, more intensely during a rush of overstimulation than at other times (such as moving the body back and forth when excited and clapping). when subjected to a rush of overstimulation). Think about whether you have a particular stimulus that you use to calm yourself down to deal with the rush of overstimulation.
   • Loss of the ability to function normally, such as speech, is often a sign of a severe overstimulation attack. Caregivers and parents especially need to pay attention to this in children who experience a rush of overstimulation.

2. Reduce visual stimulation. People who experience a rush of excessive visual stimulation may need to wear glasses indoors, refuse eye contact, move away from people who are talking, close one eye, and bump into people or objects. To help reduce visual stimulation, reduce items that hang from the wall or ceiling. Store small items in drawers or boxes, and arrange and label the boxes.

   

   • If there is too much light, use bulbs with regular bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs. You can also use a slightly dim bulb instead of a bright one. Use sunblocks to reduce light.
   • If there is too much light in the room, use glasses to help.

3. Lower the volume. Overstimulation of sound for example includes being unable to mute background noise (such as someone talking at a distance), which can interfere with concentration. Some sounds are very loud and annoying. To help reduce overstimulation of sound, close any open doors or windows to reduce the sound coming in. Lower the volume of distracting music, or go somewhere quiet. Minimize verbal directions and/or conversations.

   

   • Wearing earplugs, headphones, and silencers are very practical ways to do when the sound is too loud.
   • If you are trying to communicate with someone who is experiencing overstimulation of hearing, ask yes or no questions instead of open-ended questions. These kinds of questions are easier to respond to, and can be answered with an up/down motion of the thumb.

4. Reduce physical touch. Excessive physical touch, related to the sense of touch, for example, includes being unable to cope with being overwhelmed by being touched or hugged. Many people who have problems with sensory processing tend to be hypersensitive to touch. Thus, being touched or thinking they will be touched can exacerbate the rush of overstimulation. Sensitivity to physical touch includes sensitivity to clothing (hence, the person experiencing it prefers soft fabric textures) or touching certain textures or temperatures. Know what textures feel comfortable and which don't. Make sure that the new clothes worn are touch friendly.

   

   • If you're a caregiver or friend, listen to anyone who says touching hurts and/or backs away from you. Understand the pain and don't keep touching the person.
   • When interacting with people who have extra touch sensitivity, always remind them when you want to touch them, and always do so from the front, not from behind.
   • Follow the guidance of an occupational therapist to understand more about sensory integration.

5. Take control of olfactory stimulation. Certain types of odors or odors can be overwhelming. Unlike visual stimulation, you can't cover your nose so you don't smell. If the olfactory stimulation becomes excessive, consider using unscented shampoos, detergents, and cleaning products.

   

   Remove as much of the unpleasant odor as possible from the environment. You can buy unscented products or use homemade products, such as homemade toothpaste, soap and detergent

Overcoming Excessive Stimulation

1. Take short breaks. You may feel overwhelmed when surrounded by a group of people or small children. Sometimes situations like this are unavoidable, for example at family gatherings or business conferences. If you can't leave the situation, you can take a break to help recover. Pushing yourself will only make it worse and it will take you longer to recover. Taking a break can help recharge your energy and get you out of the situation before it becomes unbearable.

   

   • Meet your needs immediately, then other things will be easier to deal with.
   • If you're in a public place, consider asking for a minute to go to the restroom, or saying "I need to get a drink" and then going outside for a bit.
   • If you are in a house, find a room to lie down and rest for a while.
   • Say, “I need some time alone,” if people are trying to follow you and you can't stand it.

2. Find your balance. It's important that you learn your limits and set them, but also don't limit yourself to "too much" so you don't get bored. Make sure that your basic needs are met, as the stimulation may affect you in the form of hunger, fatigue, loneliness, and physical pain. Also, make sure that you don't try too hard.

   

   Meeting these basic needs is important for everyone, especially for highly sensitive people or those with SPD

3. Set your limits. When faced with a situation that could cause a rush of sensory stimulation to become excessive, set some limits. If noise is distracting, consider visiting a restaurant or shop at a quieter, less rushed time. You may want to set limits on the amount of time you spend watching television or at the computer, or socializing with friends and family. If there is an important event to be held, prepare yourself throughout the day so that you can handle the situation to the best of your ability.

   

   • You need to define the boundaries of the conversation. If a long conversation is draining you of energy, you can politely excuse yourself.
   • If you're a caregiver or parent, keep an eye on your child's activity and find patterns when he watches television or uses the computer too much.

4. Give yourself some recovery time. This may take a few minutes to several hours for you to fully recover from the onslaught of excessive sensory stimulation. If the "fight-flight-freeze" mechanism (fight or flight or "freeze") has occurred, this means that you may have become tired. If you can, try to reduce stress occurring later on as well. Alone time is often the best way to recover.

   

5. Try some stress-relief techniques. Trying to reduce stress and establish healthy ways to deal with stress and overstimulation can reduce the level of tension in your nervous system. Try yoga, meditation, and deep breathing as ways to reduce stress, find balance, and even gradually feel secure.

   

   Use the coping mechanism that helps you the most. You certainly have a definite sense of what you need, such as moving your body or going somewhere quiet. Don't worry about whether this is going to look weird or not, just focus on what can help you

6. Try occupational therapy. For adults and children, occupational therapy can help reduce sensory sensitivity and gradually reduce the rush of overstimulation. Treatment results will be better if started early. If you are a caregiver, seek out a child therapist with experience dealing with sensory processing issues.

   

Helping People with Autism Overcome the Onslaught of Excessive Stimulation

1. Try a "sensory diet". A sensory diet is a way to help a person's nervous system to be regular and efficient, thereby providing healthy and regular sensory stimulation. Sensory diets include using sensory stimulation through interactions with other people, the environment, activities scheduled at certain times of the day, and recreational activities.

   

   • Think of a sensory diet that you can live with as a healthy and balanced diet. Of course, you want the person to get the "nutrition" they need from a variety of sources, but not too much or too little, as this has to do with growth or a healthy and functioning body. With a sensory diet, the person will have a balanced experience of different sensory stimulations.
   • So, if someone is overstimulating the sense of hearing (by sound), you may need to reduce verbal stimulation and instead use more visual stimulation, by staying in less noisy places or wearing earplugs. However, the sense of hearing still needs "nutrition", so you also give the person time to listen to his favorite music.
   • Reduce unnecessary sensory stimulation by limiting visual material in the room, allowing the use of cell phones or earplugs, wearing comfortable clothing, using unscented detergents and soaps, and so on.
   • The purpose of the sensory diet is to calm the person and normalize his level of sensory stimulation, teach the person to control his desires and emotions, and increase his productivity.

2. Avoid overreacting to an aggressive level. In some cases, people who experience a rush of overstimulation may become physically or verbally aggressive. As a caregiver, it's hard not to take it as a personal attack. This reaction is more like panic and not something that describes her character at all.

   

   • Often times, physical aggression occurs because you are trying to touch or hold someone or block the way out, causing them to panic. Never try to attract someone or control their behavior.
   • A person who experiences a rush of overstimulation rarely reacts to the point where it can cause serious harm. Remember, he really doesn't want to hurt you, but just wants to get out of a situation that's overwhelming him.

   Pay attention to vestibular stimulation. People with autism who experience attacks of excessive sensory stimulation may become overly sensitive in terms of the perception of balance or body movement. He may be prone to motion sickness, lose his balance easily, and have difficulty coordinating hand and eye movements.

   If the person seems overwhelmed or "frozen" from the rush of overstimulation, you should try to slow down your movements. Also, practice moving slowly and carefully changing positions (transition from lying down to standing up, etc.)

   Helping Someone Deal with Sensory Stimulation

   1. Intervene early. Sometimes, a person does not realize that he is struggling, and may push for longer than he should or try to stay "strong". This will make things worse. Intervene on her behalf if she seems stressed, and help her take time to calm down.

      

   2. Be merciful and be understanding. Your loved one feels overwhelmed and angry, and your support can put them at ease and calm again. Love them, empathize, and help respond to their needs.

      

      Remember, that person didn't do this on purpose. Judging him would only make his stress level worse

   3. Provide a way out. The quickest way to stop the rush of overstimulation is often to get the person out of the overstimulating situation. See if you can take him outside or to a quieter place. Ask him to follow you, or offer to take his hand if he can accept a touch.

      

   4. Make the surrounding area more "friendly". Turn down the lights, turn down the music, and ask others to make room for your loved ones.

      

      The person must know if the people around him are watching him and may be embarrassed to be noticed like that

   5. Ask permission before you touch him. When experiencing a rush of overstimulation, a person can have a hard time understanding what's going on, and if you startle them, they can mistake it for aggression. Offer up first, and talk about what you're going to do before doing it, so they have a chance to back off. For example, “I want to get you out of here,” or “Would you like a hug?”

      

      • Sometimes, people who experience a rush of overstimulation can be soothed with a hug or a gentle caress on their back. But other times, touch can make things worse. Just offer it, and don't worry if they say no. It's not because he doesn't like you or any other personal reason.
      • Don't trap them or hinder them. They will panic and throw a tantrum, for example by pushing you out of the door so they can get out.

   6. Ask simple questions with yes or no answers. Open-ended questions are more difficult to process, and when a person's mind is in turmoil, he or she is unable to form answers correctly. If your question requires only a yes or no answer, the person can respond by nodding or giving a thumbs-up sign.

      

   7. Respond to his needs. The person may need to drink water, rest, or move to another activity. Think about the thing that is most helpful at the moment, and do it.

      

      • As a caregiver, it's easy to respond to your frustration, but remind yourself that she can't fight her behavior and she needs support.
      • If you see the person using a harmful mechanism, signal someone else what needs to be done (for example, to a parent or a therapist). Holding the person's body will cause him to panic and throw a tantrum, putting both of you at risk of injury. A therapist can help plan for changing the treatment mechanism used.

   8. Encourage composure, whatever it takes. The person may become calmer when moving their body back and forth, under heavy blankets, humming, or enjoying your massage. It doesn't matter if it seems odd or "age-inappropriate," as long as it calms him down.

      

      If you know something that usually calms her down (for example, her favorite stuffed animal), bring it to her and put it within her reach. If he wanted it, he would take it

      Tips

      In adults and children, occupational therapy can help reduce sensory sensitivity and gradually reduce the rush of overstimulation. The results of this treatment are more effective if started at an early age. If you are a caregiver, seek out a therapist with experience dealing with sensory stimulation attacks

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