What is sensory load in anxiety?

Sensory overload and anxiety are two mental health conditions that are directly related. When a person is in an anxious or depressed state, they may be more prone to sensory overload in a particular situation. Sensory overload can also cause anxiety.

There are many different causes of this condition, including hidden ones, which can make a person more susceptible to sensory overload. At the same time, there are many different methods to manage this feeling and prevent stress.

What is sensory overload?

This is a condition when all 5 human senses - sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste - begin to receive more information than the brain can process. When the brain is overloaded with such information, it can switch to three different modes - fight, flight, or freeze, in response to a possible crisis that makes a person feel unsafe or even panicked.

The sensory load can be triggered by different situations, sounds, or images. Each person has his or her own triggers that can overwhelm them. For example, sensory overload can occur as a result of the following events:

• Loud music or sounds.
• Being in a crowded place.
• Being among emotionally intense groups of people.
• Sudden changes in the environment.
• Unexpected or unpleasant physical contact with other people.
• In case of intensive movement.
• With tactile triggers.
• In case of intense odors.

Sensory overload symptoms

Sensory overload is not the usual feeling of irritation or hostility. Rather, it is a feeling of extreme overwhelm or strong stimulation that a person is unable to control for a period of time. A person in this state usually experiences different types of triggers and symptoms. In sensory overload, a person may be:

• anxious and unable to relax;
• irritable
• hysterical (in children)
• restless;
• experiencing physical discomfort;
• wanting to protect themselves from the source of discomfort;
• feeling stressed, afraid or panicked;
• overexcited or “high”;
• wanting to avoid a situation that causes sensory overload.

A child often throws a tantrum during sensory overload, which is a reaction often mistaken for bad behavior. If you determine the source of the child's stress, you can distinguish between stress caused by sensory overload and behavioral problems.

What are the conditions of sensory overload?

There are a number of conditions that can be associated with sensory overload:

Autism. People with this condition are often prone to sensory overload. Neurodivergent people usually feel overwhelmed in cases that have a wide sensory input. At the same time, scientists do not yet know the exact cause of this condition. However, research shows that if you help children to get exposed to potentially triggering situations in a dosed manner, you can help them cope with the sensory load.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Studies show that about 2/3 of children with ADHD may also have another condition. In this case, there are two most common concomitant disorders - oppositional defiant disorder and anxiety. People with ADHD typically have difficulty concentrating and may also find it too challenging to find and interpret sensory information. This can cause both sensory overload and anxiety.

PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder. Patients with PTSD and GAD, or both disorders at the same time, may experience sensory overload in a variety of unforeseen situations, which can sometimes be specific in nature. For example, a combat veteran may react acutely to loud noises and lights from fireworks. Also, a person with such disorders may find that a huge stadium of people has a large number of sensory inputs to process information and become even more anxious and depressed.

Other disorders. Experts have found that people with various disorders may be more susceptible to sensory overload with anxiety. However, the relationship is not yet fully understood. There are a number of conditions that can cause this overload:

1. Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
2. Multiple sclerosis (MS).
3. Tourette's syndrome.

Also, many people may be prone to sensory overload and anxiety even if they do not have these conditions. In principle, everyone can experience overexcitement and react to it in their own way, especially if the situation is unexpected or depressing. Our article on masking depression will help you recognize your psychological state in more detail .

How to deal with sensory overload associated with anxiety?

There are many ways in medicine to help deal with sensory overload and the anxiety it causes. Although both types of disorder can be destructive, there are ways to help deal with them.

Consultation with a specialist. A doctor will help you with various therapies that allow you to navigate the resources of your psyche. Also, if necessary, he will prescribe a number of medications that will help you cope with the problem. Depending on your age, certain symptoms, and triggers that may accompany the problem, a specialist may recommend anxiety medications or antidepressants.

Taking care of your health. By following a proper diet, leading a healthy lifestyle, and avoiding stress, you can strengthen your emotional state, which will help you cope with any stress. Doctors also recommend practicing meditation, mindfulness techniques, and breathing exercises to help reduce tension if anxiety levels increase significantly.

Therapy. Most people believe that therapy will help them overcome anxiety and develop tactics for managing difficult situations.

Avoiding triggers. When you begin to experience specific sensations, stimuli, or situations that make you feel overwhelmed, you need to immediately distance yourself from them. Talking frankly with loved ones or friends can help you avoid such triggers. 

If you’re generally interested in the topic of mental health, the symptoms of various conditions, and their treatment methods, we recommend reading this article on anhedonia.

Perspectives on sensory load in anxiety

In human life, sensory overload is quite important because it can negatively affect its quality. However, with the help of mental health professionals (psychologists and psychiatrists), as well as the development of self-help methods, you can cope with sensory overload and live a normal, fulfilling life. Also, the ability to manage and control other comorbid conditions will significantly reduce the level of stress on different types of sensory load. In some cases, it may be helpful to use innovative approaches such as muscimol, which can help reduce anxiety and other negative conditions. Even if unforeseen situations arise, you can avoid them or deal with them quickly with the help of various techniques, medications, and the help of loved ones.For more resources on mental well-being and related topics, explore our main page.