'Sensory sensory': what is this sensation that occurs when the brain can't take it anymore and collapses
Loss of control, restlessness, anxiety and exhaustion. These are, to name a few, the most common forms of sensory overload, a state in which the brain expresses stress from having received too much information that it cannot process and in response to which it takes three types of paths: fight, flight or freeze.
At such times, everyday tasks can seem impossible to accomplish and it can be difficult to maintain sanity. But even though the symptoms may feel like they will never go away, they usually take between half an hour and an hour to subside (for those who have experienced these sensory crises on multiple occasions, getting out of the state of overwhelm can be quicker through calming or regulating practices).
The triggers for this condition can be many and even simple:
It may also happen that symptoms appear and you don't know for sure what is causing this discomfort, but one thing is certain: it is not that you are losing your mind, but rather that it is a common mental state.
These crises, known in English as “sensory overload”, were first identified in the 1970s by the American therapist Anna Jean Ayres, who detected that the brain of certain people is not able to process all the information that reaches it through the seven (not five) senses to provide a clear image of what is happening both internally and externally.
In addition to the five traditional senses – touch, hearing, taste, smell and sight – Ayres considered it essential to take into account two other senses, that of body awareness (proprioception) and movement (controlled by a set of structures in the inner ear) . When the brain is unable to integrate information that reaches more than one of these senses simultaneously, it feels as if it were receiving contradictory signals. In short, it cannot give a general meaning to it all.
Cleveland Clinic psychologist Grace Tworek explains that when it happens, sensory overload can be almost paralyzing. “Suddenly, you become the human equivalent of a computer with a blue screen,” she says. She also clarifies the origin of this discomfort: “It’s the sympathetic nervous system that lets us know that something is happening.”
The sympathetic nervous system is the part of the body that is responsible for 'activating' the fight or flight response because it perceives that one is in danger or facing a stressor from the outside world.
“It can happen to anyone, although it is known with certainty that it affects people with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) more frequently and intensely,” he explains. Psychopedagogy graduate Stella Maris De Vita. She adds that increased sensitivity to the senses can also be caused by other conditions such as sensory processing disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and Tourette syndrome.
People with ADHD often have difficulty concentrating and may feel particularly challenged when it comes to detecting and interpreting vast amounts of sensory information. The research, “Sensory processing in adults with ADHD: a systematic review,” concludes that “this is likely due to differences in the structure and chemistry of an ADHD brain that change the way it processes, receives, and organizes stimuli.”
In addition, some research suggests that helping children and people with autism expose themselves slowly to potentially triggering situations and stimuli may help them avoid experiencing sensory overload to an intense degree.
According to the Cleveland Clinic in the United States, sensory overload can be caused by a variety of different sensations, so what triggers it in one person may not trigger it in another. However, they mention some stimuli as recurring:
In addition to those mentioned above, De Vita lists others that are also common:
“In children, sensory overload can manifest as nervous breakdowns or tantrums and can be confused with bad behavior,” she points out.
As for the possibility of treating the discomfort, reducing it or, if possible, avoiding it, the Attention Deficit Disorder Association recommends, as a first pillar, seeking help from a trained professional who can help design routines and recommend environmental modifications to meet personal needs.
Another essential step in dealing with crises is to explain to loved ones or close ones what it feels like when sensory overstimulation appears and what are some of the detractors that incite this state (if they have been identified) instead of hiding it. “You can try proposing alternatives for meetings or social events. For example, suggesting going to a quieter restaurant instead of a noisy bar,” they indicate.
Learning relaxation methods , such as yoga, deep breathing, or meditation, are also excellent ways to promote calm and reduce stress caused by sensory overload. “You can also use visually appealing elements, such as a photograph of a peaceful landscape; or if certain smells cause nausea, always carrying something with a rich aroma can be very useful ,” they add from the institution.
THE NATION
lanacion
