What, if anything, helps with unbearable sensory issues?

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I am new to the idea that I am very likely high functioning.

I am post menopausal and my sensory issues are the worst they’ve ever been. Sounds & smells are my biggest problem areas.

I have depression and anxiety. Other than the occasional benzo or medical cannabis, I really can’t tolerate the side effects from psych meds. So mostly I just suffer.

I am curious about how others cope because I am at a loss.

Psychiatrist keeps pushing meds that I know will likely cause more harm than good.

I'm not sure there are meds for sensory issues.

I suffer with sounds. I hate sudden loud noises, or noises that are unbearably loud or annoying. It does rule my life and I hate it.

Avoidance if not needed is the best therapy. Ear muffs or noise cancelling ear muffs can help with the sound sensitivity and/or auditory processing stuff. I find the former work best as they're cheap and cut out all frequencies since I have both, and if I need to hear people I'll just pull the right one off as the hyperacusis isn't as bad with that ear. I don't have any issues one on one or with a handful of humans away from crowds (especially indoors), so I don't need to wear such there. Ear plugs are the least obtrusive, but it can be annoying taking one out to hear someone and then putting it back in.

Tranquilizers will dull the senses, which will lessen the severity, but side-effects likely aren't worth it if they also don't treat another condition. Various antidepressants might make things worse depending. Sedating antihistamines might help depending. They don't really prescribe anti-glutamate stuff for these things, but I guess some of the anticonvulsants do do that.

Rest helps me most.
Avoiding what makes me uncomfortable, unless there's no other option. I wear earplugs in public transport and supermarkets.
Sufficient sleep.

Among meds, I find Brintellix to make me a bit more resistant to overload but that's very individual and it may have opposite effect on you - in my case, benzos made me more anxious not less, so it's really up to a person.

Plenty of sleep, which is just what is hard to get when upset. I go live in my car in the woods for a while.

Occupational Therapy and Interoceptive training for the parasympathetic limbic system
Vagus nerve stimulation (e.g., Dr Stephen Porges and the Safe Sounds Protocol)
Interoceptive and proprioceptive exercises like yoga, to promote mind-body integration
Sensory diets - shutdown and rest
Sensory toolkits - keep sensory items that you enjoy in your car, your bag, etc for emergencies
Some meds do help - Brintellix, possibly benzos, CBD oil, or THC



https://integratedlistening.com/ssp-saf ... resources/