Matt and I were watching TV last night. This commercial came on. We couldn’t stop watching it. The way you can’t look away from a car wreck.
It was awful.
We have a big television screen. It was on a high def channel. With theater quality stereo sound.
My breathing became frustratingly shallow. My heart raced – felt like it might beat its way out of my chest. I was panicky. Out of sorts.
The words made no sense. As soon as I caught the thread, the thread had changed. I was completely overwhelmed.
As the commercial ended, Matt paused the television. He looked at me and asked, ‘What the hell WAS that?”
“THAT,” I answered, “was sensory overload.”
If you struggle to understand what it may feel like to have sensory processing challenges, I urge you to watch it. With the volume up.
For extra credit, turn the heat up to 84 degrees, wear a wool sweater with nothing underneath and run the blender while you watch. Got a really bright light? Shine it in right your face.
Perfect.
It’s not quite it, but I think it may be a good place to start.
Twenty minutes later Matt said, “You know, I’m still a little edgy from that commercial.”
Twenty hours later, I am too.
That was scary……..
Comment by Anna — June 9, 2009 @ 4:51 pm |
Wow,
Watching this left me with my heart feeling like it was being squeeze till no end. I was choked up. OMG is this what my little girl feels like when she is trying to process things.
Mrs. wilson I too am a mother of 2 girl’s, 1 typical and 1 with Autism.
Comment by Brooklynn's mom — June 9, 2009 @ 4:57 pm |
Well, if there was ever a question (which there never was), you definitely were not adopted. I had to stop it after a couple (if I lasted that long) minutes and I’m completely agitated now.
Comment by Mom — June 9, 2009 @ 7:55 pm |
You know, my husband and I were watching TV the other night when this came on. We normally mute the commercials but we were both oddly fascinated by this one. SO much sensory overload. OMG.
Comment by niksmom — June 9, 2009 @ 9:33 pm |
I’d watch it but I already have enough sensory overload of my own lol
Comment by Kate — June 10, 2009 @ 12:30 am |
No kidding. Brutal.
Comment by Tanya @ TeenAutism — June 10, 2009 @ 3:47 am |
I’m edgy just from your description! Oh my.
Comment by JoyMama — June 10, 2009 @ 9:32 am |
brooklyn’s mom ~ welcome! love the girl moms!
Comment by jesswilson — June 10, 2009 @ 11:03 am |
I have to admit I laughed at this commercial (b/c of the airport security woman chirping like a bird), but the first part was disturbing b/c of the (what looked like) echolalia and scripting. Sad to think this is similar to what some of our kids go through everyday.
Comment by rhemashope — June 10, 2009 @ 4:14 pm |
you have such good insight and draw such helpful analogies…
this gift you have? it must be very painful at times. and then-
to put it into words? so many people, including myself, are (in a word) frustrated…and thankful for your words. in an ironic sort of way, you calm the overload. not without cost. how do you guard your heart? or don’t you? is that the point of the diary? to get “it” out? you are exceptional.
Comment by Timmy's mom — June 13, 2009 @ 8:12 am |
That’s EXACTLY what a group, even a small-ish group, of people feels like. The only maybe catching one word here or there, can’t put it together, can’t figure out what’s what. That’s definitely it, Jess, the auditory part.
To get the visual part: if the camera kind “swooshed,” instead of just switching scenes, that’s how that is. Oh, and you’d have to have lights flashing on and off the whole time.
Now, little bitty itchy bugs crawling all over your body, some of then biting here or there. It’s not a bad pain, just a little sting.
That’s sensory overload.
Comment by Lydia — June 17, 2009 @ 8:08 pm |