Overstimulation is when your brain gets too busy and can’t keep up with everything happening around you.
Imagine you're at a super fun playground, there are swings creaking, kids laughing, music playing, and someone even pops balloons right next to you. All of that together becomes too much for your brain to handle at once. That’s overstimulation!
Like a Full Plate
Think about when you’re eating your favorite meal, you take one bite and it's perfect. But if you try to eat three big bites all at once, it might feel like your mouth is full of everything at once. Your brain feels the same way when it gets too many things at once.
When It Happens
Sometimes, overstimulation happens because there are too many sounds, too much light, or too many people around you. It’s like being in a room where everyone is talking at the same time, your brain just can’t listen to all of it clearly anymore.
You might feel tired, confused, or even want to hide for a bit, and that’s totally okay!
Examples
- Imagine being in a noisy classroom with bright lights and multiple people talking at once, that's overstimulation.
- Eating a very spicy dish when you're not used to it can feel like overstimulation for your taste buds.
- Watching too many videos on a screen all at once might make someone feel overwhelmed.
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See also
- What are chronic anxiety disorders?
- What are anxiety levels?
- What are cognitive-behavioral models?
- What are elevated anxiety levels?
- What are cognitive distortions?