Are these "sensory overloads"?

Post Reply New Topic

So I often have some sort of "attacks", in places where there are lots of movement, people, noise, etc. I have no idea what these attacks are, though. Basically, they come on suddenly - I lose my ability to integrate all the incoming information in a coherent whole. I hear, see, etc. various pieces of information, but they make no sense at all. As a consequence, I'm completely disoriented, can't walk without assistance, and so on. I can't comprehend language, and so I can't really respond, although I can speak. The most acute and severe part of these attacks lasts for about 1 hour to 3 hours. However, they take around ~12 hours or more to completely go away.

Are these sensory overloads? Or "shut downs"? What are these? This stuff is very disabling, and they tend to happen especially in places which are unfamiliar. These are very disabling. I can't go to familiar places or to places with too many people or noise and movement.

I´d say sensory overload and shutdown. Quite severe.

I have moments myself, especially in malls, of that un-integrated sound- and movement chaos, but I´ve never experienced a shutdown like the ones you describe. It must be frightening.

I maintain control, but tend to cut off the sense of my body, so I´m basically a head. Very far away, I can feel two legs walking, but there is no connection.
I feel, that it is not me moving, but shops and goods that slide on a band instead. A little unreal, but not unpleasant at all.