Help with sensory overstimulation

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A couple of ideas that work for me.

1. Carbs and sugar (cookies, etc.) can be stimulating. Try protein. A spoonful of peanut butter or a nut butter (preferably without sugar but that isn't always possible) is incredibly helpful. Sometimes I go to a grocery store and just buy lunch meat and eat it straight. Nothing spicy!

2. To recover from the overstimulation - do whatever you can to simulate a cool (not cold), dark, completely quiet room, preferably in a small space. Sometimes I will go to a restroom, choose the handicapped stall because it usually has enough space on the floor that is clean, sit down in the corner so I can feel the wall behind me and next to me, close my eyes, put my hands over my ears to block noise and just sit there until I start to feel better. In the circumstance you described you could have him sit in the car with his eyes closed and hands over his ears with the A/C on enough to keep him cool. The movement of the car may be relaxing for him like it is for a baby or it may be stimulating so you will have to get a sense of what works for him.

3. Always carry ear plugs if he is sensitive to noise. Even if they do not block everything out they can reduce the degree of the reaction or slow it somewhat. If he is sensitive to light, sunglasses mould also be helpful.

I hope this helps!

I used to suffer from sensory overstimulation, but it was successfully treated, and I haven't had it for several years now. Still need to self-manage, but I seem to be out of the danger-zone.

The simplified pathology of the condition is explained in the last 20 minutes of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw1dEj6A4ro
The precise treatment steps are not described in there, but it does provide a background to some of the cofactors which will need to be addressed. It has subsequently emerged that iNOS/nNOS overexpression also plays a role, but that wasn't known at the time that the video was made.

I wall it off, inside. I depersonalize, until I feel safe.

Then, when I am in a relaxing situation, I feel start to feel upset, for awhile.

Krista_the_pixie, thank you for asking this question and for being such a insightful and good friend to Erik. By asking these questions you and everyone on this thread who has commented have provided so much help. Peace to you, your friend and everyone here who has shared their experiences and insights.

Unlike what was posted in a previous post, I can get massive overload from one trigger. I am much more sensitive if my energy is low or if I am dealing with other stuff, but even if I am doing well, all it takes is one trigger to set me off sometimes.

When it happens to me, I need to remove myself from the situstion or the trigger has to stop. That is imperative. Then I need a quiet and still place to recover. Recovery can take a few seconds to a few weeks depending on how badly I was affected.

When I am overloaded I need the people around me to be very soft and gentle not only in their voices but in their body movements also because other people's body movements overstimulate me as well. When someone is overstimulated you can help by eliminating or cutting as much stimuli as possible.

I feel over stimulated at the idea of touch (especially hugs). This bothers me because I hate refusing hugs. Any suggestions on self-soothing regimens?