Here’s What Happens When a Highly Sensitive Person Feels Overloaded
A highly sensitive person feels overloaded by stimuli more quickly than non-highly sensitives do. This stems from, amongst other things, a highly sensitive person’s depth of processing. But when a HSP or your highly sensitive child tells you they feel overloaded, that everything is too much, what exactly do they mean?
What Happens When a HSP Feels Overloaded
HSPs need more time to process and internalise stimuli than other people. When there is too much stimuli there is an overload. Or overstimulation.
Tip: read: 10 Common Reasons Why a Highly Sensitive Child Feels Overwhelmed
This feels uncomfortable, or even unsafe to a HSP who then starts acting from the limbic brain (the reptile brain) instead of the neocortex (the thinking brain). This means instinct takes over and replaces rational thinking. Coping mechanisms kick in. In short, it means that a HSP is not functioning optimally.
You may see meltdowns in your child. Inexplicable tears or anger. An adult may be irritable. They may show a desire to be alone or retreat to a safe place; don’t take this personally!
Tip: read 6 Signs Your Highly Sensitive Child is Overwhelmed (aka Their Bucket is Full)
How Does Overload Feel for a Highly Sensitive Person?
Here are ways that overload manifests itself in highly sensitive people:
- feels like there is cotton wool in your head
- constant busyness in your head
- fatigue – mental and physical
- head feels like it is full of cement – like wanting to drill a hole in it to let everything out
- a need to cocoon
- irritability
- anger
- hard to get to sleep
- constant waking at night
- neck pain
- headaches
- stomachaches
- feeling of stress or anxiety
- worrying abut every little thing
- inability to concentrate – even watching TV is impossible
- self doubt – a feeling of ‘what is wrong with me?’
How to Help When a Highly Sensitive Person Feels Overloaded
Regular alone time, quiet time to recharge, is a necessity for a highly sensitive person, whether that is an adult or a child. The need for seclusion is higher than for non HSPs. Highly sensitives can feel uncomfortable and restless whilst they are processing the information they have taken in. The busier the day, the more this is true. So building in quiet time to a day is essential, but even more important when the day has been busy.
Of course, it’s better to avoid overload in the first place and there are things a HSP can do to achieve this.
- Understand your HS traits – how do they impact your daily life? Take this into account!
- Set good boundaries – understand and accept your own limitations and communicate your own needs
- Plan well – don’t prop your agenda full of activities and appointments. Build in quiet time to your days/weeks
- Learn to recognise when the emotions you are absorbing are from other people. Take a step back and ask yourself, “Are these my feelings?”
