{"id":199,"date":"2025-06-21T23:54:47","date_gmt":"2025-06-21T23:54:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wholeheartedlyadhd.com\/?page_id=199"},"modified":"2025-06-22T19:50:39","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T19:50:39","slug":"sensory-processing-overstimulation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wholeheartedlyadhd.com\/?page_id=199","title":{"rendered":"Sensory Processing &#038; (over)Stimulation"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"199\" class=\"elementor elementor-199\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-434337a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"434337a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76a7aeb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"76a7aeb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sensory Processing &amp; (over)Stimulation<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c949abb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c949abb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37e072e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"37e072e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Living in a constant pop-up window barrage<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6a36c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f6a36c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24f8dff e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"24f8dff\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c24bad2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c24bad2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Living with ADHD (and often overlapping sensory sensitivities) can feel like you\u2019re trying to use your brain as a web browser \u2014 except every single new sound, light flicker, smell, fabric tag, or temperature shift opens a brand new <strong>pop-up window<\/strong>.<\/p><p>And your brain? Has no ad-blocker.<\/p><p>Some days you can keep up \u2014 swatting them closed like a caffeinated librarian in a whack-a-mole tournament.<\/p><p>Other days? You\u2019re drowning in tabs, the fan is buzzing like it\u2019s mad at you, your bra strap is staging a mutiny, and someone just cracked a can of beer three doors down and your brain is like:<\/p><p>\u201c<strong>STOP EVERYTHING. We need to focus on <em>that<\/em>.<\/strong>\u201d<!-- notionvc: 7a9bb258-f175-48bc-98af-243f3fbb9479 --><\/p><p data-start=\"636\" data-end=\"902\"><!-- notionvc: 4cd9c9ff-aade-43e2-b80a-fa25dac4803d --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80319bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"80319bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d30277 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"4d30277\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7792a3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b7792a3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fb4432 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5fb4432\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>So what\u2019s going on?<\/h2><p>Your ADHD brain has a <em>very generous<\/em> definition of what\u2019s \u201cimportant.\u201d<\/p><p>It doesn\u2019t prioritize. It doesn\u2019t filter. It just kind of\u2026 <strong>lets it all in<\/strong> at full volume.<\/p><p>That means:<\/p><ul><li>All sounds are processed equally \u2014 your best friend\u2019s voice and the fridge\u2019s gentle hum are duking it out in your auditory cortex<\/li><li>Visually, clutter = chaos. Your eyes are screaming for mercy while your brain forgets why it walked into the room<\/li><li>Certain textures, tags, or temperatures feel like full-on assaults<\/li><li>Flickering lights, humming electronics, strong smells, background music \u2014 all of it gets shoved into the same \u201cIMPORTANT!!\u201d folder as actual danger<\/li><\/ul><p>Your nervous system is just <strong>constantly full.<\/strong> Like trying to listen to a podcast, watch a TikTok, and follow a group chat <em>while<\/em> someone pokes you repeatedly with a broom handle.<!-- notionvc: 68126296-bcde-4265-a1e6-4ad239601279 --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9df4eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b9df4eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What sensory overwhelm can look like:<\/h2><ul><li>Snapping at people over \u201cnothing\u201d (because it\u2019s <em>not<\/em> nothing \u2014 it\u2019s the 47th thing)<\/li><li>Feeling exhausted after simple outings or loud environments<\/li><li>Avoiding places or events that used to be fun because your body just can\u2019t<\/li><li>Having strong food preferences or temperature sensitivities<\/li><li>Constant low-level discomfort you can\u2019t quite name \u2014 just \u201cugh\u201d<\/li><li>Needing recovery time in a dark, silent room after normal humaning<\/li><\/ul><p><!-- notionvc: 4719cde0-6702-4799-898c-464dedcad668 --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-370a189 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"370a189\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Okay\u2026 now what?<\/h2><p>There\u2019s no \u201coff\u201d switch for your pop-up parade, but we can absolutely tweak the settings. In the deep dive, we\u2019ll talk strategy \u2014 but for now, here are some quick tools:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Noise-cancelling headphones<\/strong> \u2014 your brain deserves some peace<\/li><li><strong>Visual simplicity<\/strong> \u2014 reduce clutter = reduce chaos<\/li><li><strong>Clothing that doesn\u2019t fight back<\/strong> \u2014 sensory-friendly everything<\/li><li><strong>Weighted blankets, stim toys, fidgets<\/strong> \u2014 regulated body = regulated brain<\/li><li><strong>\u201cCool down\u201d rituals<\/strong> \u2014 dark rooms, low lights, quiet time<\/li><li><strong>Name it to tame it<\/strong> \u2014 even just saying \u201cI\u2019m overstimulated\u201d can help you pause and reset<\/li><li><strong>Tell your people<\/strong> \u2014 it\u2019s okay to say \u201cHey, my brain\u2019s full of static right now\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc3f634 elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"fc3f634\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\" style=\"--divider-pattern-url: url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; preserveAspectRatio=&#039;xMidYMid meet&#039; overflow=&#039;visible&#039; height=&#039;100%&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 120 26&#039; fill=&#039;black&#039; stroke=&#039;none&#039;%3E%3Cpath d=&#039;M54,1.6V26h-9V2.5L54,1.6z M69,1.6v23.3L60,26V1.6H69z M24,1.6v23.5l-9-0.6V1.6H24z M30,0l9,0.7v24.5h-9V0z M9,2.5v22H0V3.7L9,2.5z M75,1.6l9,0.9v22h-9V1.6z M99,2.7v21.7h-9V3.8L99,2.7z M114,3.8v20.7l-9-0.5V3.8L114,3.8z&#039;\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;);\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e5f6a8e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e5f6a8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This section links to a full <strong>Sensory Processing &amp; Stimulation Deep Dive<\/strong>, where we\u2019ll explore:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What sensory overwhelm <em>actually<\/em> is and why ADHD brains are so prone to it<\/li>\n<li>The link between executive dysfunction and filtering stimuli<\/li>\n<li>How to tell when your body is nearing meltdown mode (before it crashes)<\/li>\n<li>Strategies for navigating sensory hellscapes like grocery stores and group chats<\/li>\n<li>Building a sensory toolkit that works for <em>your<\/em> brain \u2014 not someone else\u2019s Pinterest board<\/li>\n<li>How to talk about your sensory needs without apologizing for having a nervous system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b319055 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"b319055\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-95d9e21 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"95d9e21\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f67fe57 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f67fe57\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-346a247 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"346a247\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/wholeheartedlyadhd.com\/?page_id=152\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-heart\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M458.4 64.3C400.6 15.7 311.3 23 256 79.3 200.7 23 111.4 15.6 53.6 64.3-21.6 127.6-10.6 230.8 43 285.5l175.4 178.7c10 10.2 23.4 15.9 37.6 15.9 14.3 0 27.6-5.6 37.6-15.8L469 285.6c53.5-54.7 64.7-157.9-10.6-221.3zm-23.6 187.5L259.4 430.5c-2.4 2.4-4.4 2.4-6.8 0L77.2 251.8c-36.5-37.2-43.9-107.6 7.3-150.7 38.9-32.7 98.9-27.8 136.5 10.5l35 35.7 35-35.7c37.8-38.5 97.8-43.2 136.5-10.6 51.1 43.1 43.5 113.9 7.3 150.8z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Deep Dive<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sensory Processing &amp; (over)Stimulation Living in a constant pop-up window barrage Living with ADHD (and often overlapping sensory sensitivities) can feel like you\u2019re trying to use your brain as a web browser \u2014 except every single new sound, light flicker, smell, fabric tag, or temperature shift opens a brand new pop-up window. And your brain?&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":152,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"hide","_kad_post_layout":"narrow","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-199","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wholeheartedlyadhd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wholeheartedlyadhd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wholeheartedlyadhd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wholeheartedlyadhd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wholeheartedlyadhd.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=199"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/wholeheartedlyadhd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/199\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":369,"href":"https:\/\/wholeheartedlyadhd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/199\/revisions\/369"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wholeheartedlyadhd.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wholeheartedlyadhd.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}