The Little I Knew About Sensory Overload

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I am on the high end of the autistic spectrum, as is everyone I know known to have AS. I was talking to an older friend with AS, who has experiences with other Aspies.We were talking about our shared condition, and I brought up sensory overload problems. I remember it was never a problem for me, except as a small child. My friend told me that some on the spectrum have it so badly that they can only communicate electronically.

I was shocked learning this at first, but it makes perfect sense, really. I figured this forum may have some people like that, and that these people may want to share their stories. Does anyone here have such a stimulation problem, or knows of someone with that problem?

The other day, I wasn't doing so good. Very anxious. On edge more so than normal.
I went to the grocery store.
Ordinarily, the grocery store, or any store for that matter, is a clatter of noise and lights and people, and can be very disconcerting.
On this occasion, it went a bit beyond that, and upon my entrance to the store, I experienced true sensory integration. The sounds of people and beeping registers mixed with the endless fluorescent lights, and brightly colored displays, and the movement and the chaos..... it all blended together into a fluid, perceptual soup. I was awash in my own sensory input for a moment, until I was able to sort it out to the point I could function.
I walked into the store, got what I needed, and left.

over-load.

That happened to me in a casino once.

I know exactly what your friend means.

I'm not so "high up" on the spectrum. I'm more in the middle of it. I can communicate verbally, but only certain things. The more standardized the conversation, the better I do. If you want to have a truly novel conversation with me, you'd best do it in writing. I do important communication in writing, even with my own parents. I can't communicate things like how I feel, explain anything multi-step, or describe things verbally.

I can do one-shot deals. I am okay. I am not okay. Put that here. Go away because you're too loud. The trees are lots of colors now. I like Halloween. ALl of that could be verbal, with effort.

I feel let down because you said that you would spend time with me, but instead you went out. First, make a right on Maple Street, then make a quick left on Oak Street. The way the leaves are falling off the trees and settling on the ground, it seriously makes their yard look like a big pot of Autumn Soup. All of that... no chance of verbal. It would have to be written.

I have extreme hypersensitivity. When it's dark out, every light I see has a massive halo that takes up my entire field of vision. So, when there are a lot of lights, it's very distracting. They all run together. I can see them in the light, too, but it's so much more pronounced at night. I'm not diagnosed, but everyone knows that I have auditory processing disorder. Need I go through all the symptoms? THe most frustrating for me is that I can't hear one person's voice when there is almost any noise at all. It runs together. Touching my skin makes it feel like I'm on fire. Clothes have been a major issue lately. As a little child, I used to strip them all off! Now, I've just entirely stopped wearing anything but cotton pants with elastic in the waist. Fashion gives way to tactile defensiveness. I have major texture issues with food to, and I self-limit my diet, though again not nearly as badly as I used to.

My mom, who has spent the last 21 years talking to me says, "no one knows what you're talking about when you talk. When you write, there's a whole nother (ahem, I'm just quoting her) person in there. It's amazing, the difference."

I love to write

Interesting, I can still speak but getting a whole sentence out like that without making a mistake is near impossible. I usually shorten my sentences down to a few words so I don't have to struggle with getting out many words.

When I'm under sensory stress I can only say 3 to 5 words like 'too much noise' or 'one person at a time.'

My sensitivity to touch is not as bad as it one was. Clothes still itch me and there one material I can't wear. It's this rough sort of material similar to the shirt you wear at a soccer match.

So do you feel like the person who writes is you, the one that speaks, is you? Or can you blend them into one person who is yourself?

I posted this last night, and now it's not here. If it somehow posts, twice, forgive me.

They are both me. The person who writes is just unimpeded me. When I write, it's like I am walking around in a room with the lights on, able to step over and around whatever is in my way. When I speak, for the most part, it's like someone has turned the lights off but given me a flashlight. I have some ability to get around those things, but not nearly that of what I when. Sometimes, I lose my words altogether (this happens daily). Under stress, anxiety, or a lot of frustration, I'm unable to speak at all. Then, it's like I'm trying to walk around in a dark room with sunglasses on.