Sensory Overload

Some people with autism have difficulty processing intense, multiple sensory experiences at once. This animation gives the viewer a glimpse into sensory overload, and how often our sensory experiences intertwine in everyday life.
Created as part of Mark Jonathan Harris' and Marhsa Kinder's "Interacting with Autism." Coming in January 1st 2013, IWA is a three-year transmedia project funded by the federal Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ). University Professor Marsha Kinder, the Executive Director of the Labyrinth Project at USC, and Mark Harris are heading a team of filmmakers and artists working to build an interactive, video intensive website that will focus on the best available treatments for autism.
FULL CREDITS LIST:
Director and Animator:
Miguel Jiron
Produced and Developed by:
Scott Mahoy, Creative Director of Interacting with Autism
Sound Designer & Mixer:
Katie Gately
Produced for Interacting with Autism
For more information visit:
interactingwithautism.com
Scenario:
Marsha Kinder
Line Producer:
Ioana Uricaru
Cinematographer:
Alejandro Martinez
Paint Animation:
Laura Cechanowicz
Boy:
Cody Sullivan
Waitress:
Alexandra Boylan
Gaffer:
Katie Walker
Special Thanks:
Mark Jonathan Harris, Shelbi Jay Kepler, Mike Patterson, Candace Reckinger, Kathy Smith
t For more work, check out my website mibaji.com

[@TheNefariousPenguin]

Just want to give people a little more information, this video is a good representation of sensory overload, but it's just that, a representation. All the old sounds are ending and giving way to new sounds. Try opening this video, counting to 5, and opening it again in another tab, then count to 5 and open another. Keep going. Sensory overload isn't just a bunch of grating sounds, it's when every sound, every sense, overlaps together and cannot be filtered out. It feels like your very consciousness is being beaten back by a wall of information that cannot be pierced. You end up trapped within your own skull, as if your eyes are looking inward. It feels claustrophobic. If you were in the same situation wouldn't you cover your ears and scream? So many people with Asperger's do exactly that, and are treated poorly because of it, often bullied or seen as unwanted or even dangerous. But it doesn't seem so unreasonable now, does it?

[@ImaCreativeKiwi]

Yes, that's exactly what it is.

[@haleycarter6152]

TheNefariousPenguin im not diagnosed with autism, but what you just explained is what it is like everyday for me, I try to explain this to my psychiatrist, but she just ups the antidepressant and antianxiety meds, I get to a point during the day when even, just being in group during day services I get to overwhelmed by all the talking, the bright fluorescent lights, the noise of the air conditioner, people shaking there legs to an extent the chairs squeak, and the case manager overloading information, while the other clients are disrupting. that's when all those things get super loud and and it gets to bright in the room, it is to much to handle, so I run from it or I end up in like a trance, stuck in my chair completely shut down, but I run from it and put my headphones in and run home angry at those things it's way to much, I was like this since I can remember, when I was a kid I'd close my eyes really tight and cover my ears and scream, no one ever knew what was wrong and I couldn't explain it, until now this has been so upsetting, and I feel like no one understands, even the doctor doesn't fully understand.

[@TheNefariousPenguin]

Try asking your doctor about "Sensory Processing Disorder" or more specifically "Sensory Modulation Disorder". If they're not familiar with it, ask about seeing a specialist. I really hope this helps even a little.

[@PrincessNinja007]

Haley Carter, have you looked into different diagnoses? Hell even as I was being told I had ADHD I was also being told it could be OCD, depression, bipolar, and a dozen other things with the same symptoms, and that if the doctors were wrong (which they were) drugs would make it worse

[@funnysillyclown]

Perfect explanation.

[@contradictortea6509]

This is by far the best representation I've ever seen.

[@Dougiewoof]

Eran Kaelan agreeged

[@frrogg1]

Exactly what I go through everyday

[@hattercat_23]

Contradictortea it really is

[@Gilbert2988]

You turn into a drawing?

[@saurodeepb]

agreed

[@skaiyzn3398]

the ending made me tear up a bit. Cuz you don't wanna suddenly "act out" the way you do. and it hurts when you upset someone you really care about especially. my mom has put up with a lot.

[@skaiyzn3398]

MoldYeller I think I do (haven't gotten tested yet), but never knew it was a thing or how to express how I experienced them. It's just been normal to me despite knowing something about me felt off from most people.

[@skaiyzn3398]

(Thank you). Because I can become cranky at times and I dislike doing that, but it just comes out that way if I'm in a state of discomfort or panic. I just feel bad anytime I act like that.

[@loz7994]

I totally get you I just had a meltdown after watching the tv with my mum and my cousin, they're eating and talking and nails scratching thier scalps and saliva sounds and the bed sheets rustling and reverting just sent me over the edge. My mum said I had upset her by insulting the way she was eating and I felt awful but it isn't her fault, it's mine and I just can't cope with it at all

[@loz7994]

It happened in my physics gcse as well, people's paper rustling they're pens clicking, squeaking on thier chairs the sound of my own thoughts wers booming... So many people think this only happens when there is too much sensory information but more often than not it happens when there is barely any.. Your brain blows it out of proportion and I literally have to shout my thoughts to get them heard...

[@pungorma]

ZennSkye I make sure when I lash out, it's on an inanimate object

[@a.b.4929]

This was so stressing to watch since I almost had an overload today, watching this left me exhausted. The animation is amazing however.

[@MESYETI]

Same i feel so exhausted

[@thewomenwiththepearlearrin4127]

So did I.

[@emiliegottfridson6887]

Same

[@xoutsideraspakavinatigo2650]

I rather looked away, felt this heavy feeling, stress, idk

[@Stephaniesrebornworld]

Same

[@777hasdoneit]

As a mom of a child with autism this is really important for me. Thank you. I do understand better now.

[@jackieChannel.]

How is he now

[@natek4488]

I have Autism myself and I notice little noises, like people tapping their feet or the A/C running, but I can usually brush those off. In order for my sensory issues to affect me, they have to be crazy loud, like construction sites or a vacuum cleaner.

[@hi-zg2wq]

@@natek4488 lucky! I can't seem to filter any noise out.

[@jellypie7682]

As a person with adhd,add and spd thank you for trying to understand what he is going through

[@jaypaint4855]

@@natek4488 for me it’s even further. There usually has to be added stress, and it usually can’t be noise alone. If it’s loud enough, someone running into me can set it off.

[@cassidycornelius4540]

Under normal circumstances, our brain is wired to filter out all the unimportant sights and sounds that we see and hear on a daily basis. For example this may be somebody tapping their pin on a paper several tables away, or maybe a chair being pushed in, or even a door creaking open and closed. -- We usually do not even notice these things as our brain is automatically wired to filter them out so that we can focus on the person talking in front of us or the task at hand. -- Sensory processing disorders are common for people with Autism to experience. Sometimes though, after brain injury, our brain's wiring malfunctions and we can lose the ability to automatically filter all these things out, which is sometimes referred to as 'opening the floodgates.' -- Someone who has a sensory processing disorder is usually constantly aware of every little noise and light around and can be very sensitive to touch and being touched as well. This video is a great example of how it feels to experience a sensory overload and explains it well so that you can better understand what happens in the mind of those who have trouble processing the world around them. -- It's very important to understand that people with sensory processing disorder cannot control it and are not being rude or impolite when they decline invites to attend an event that may cause sensory overload such as shown in the video. Sometimes something as little as eating dinner in a restaurant or watching t.v. with family is too much and can put someone who has this in a very overwhelming and uncomfortable situation. -- This is not something to take lightly and if you've read this far I commend and thank you!

[@Brewsto]

Very insightful, thanks alot. I'm interested in teaching math to kids with ASD. So with this information I'll try to avoid any sensory overload while teaching. What else do I need to know for better teaching?

[@sarahg6458]

wU69pRspi7jtlPfpzk4b I’m really late, but sometimes teachers play videos which for most kids would be at a fine volume, but for people with Sensory Processing Disorder it could be very loud. So I would suggest playing videos or anything at a low volume. Also, being able to have something to fidget with is really calming and helps with focusing. At least when I was in elementary school, I got really upset when I didn’t understand a math problem unless someone helped me through it afterwards. I’m not sure if this goes for everyone with at least SPD, but I was afraid to ask for help so if someone looks like they’re struggling maybe go up to them and ask how they’re doing or something. By the way I have SPD

[@sarahg6458]

SPD can also cause people to crave sensory stimulus, for example while one child will avoid the sand, the other could literally roll in it for hours, both atypical reactions to sand.

[@KCDisney1]

Sounds like me. It ruins my day and get angry 😔

[@xBrennyxx]

This is soooo me. After I got burned out a couple years ago and was home for about 20 months, this part never got better. I hateeee eating in a restaurant or café. All that noise. Shopping is terrible. Loud music and 50 people talking.

[@chaotichoe2759]

This is why I like being alone in my house.

[@classicnobody9872]

J P same

[@kotaleartist]

same.

[@abigailramirez7428]

I also like to alone too

[@MESYETI]

Yes

[@imperfectmyst]

Same

[@charlessmith263]

1:42 point - meltdown stage - the person struck with overload stress decides to stop the trigger of the auditory overload - the sound of the coffee pouring - by knocking the coffee out of the lady's hands, causing the coffee to spill to the floor. Aural sensory overloads in autistics usually start off with a flight stage first - you block your ears to avoid the auditory trigger of the overload - but if the sound triggering it goes for too long or gets louder or louder that it is too loud, the autistic melts down and goes into fight to try to stop the trigger of the oversensitivity.

[@youngamericanferret422]

Exactly. I am worried though that I might get so heightened that I punch a person or something and get into trouble. I had an awful experience with this on Saturday in a busy seaside town and I couldn't breathe and was shaking as I was so stressed. I wouldn't wish this on anyone honestly. I am heightened right now because there is a loud dog next door and I hate that so that is why I am afraid that I might hit a dog if I get so heightened. I just hate it and wish that I could go out and live my life freely without this😔

[@Chilling_pal_n01anad91ct]

I don't think he did it on purpose. 1:38

[@adrianamaza4314]

I have sensory overload and I've been searching for representations like this. By far, the best.

[@scrubscleaning1449]

Hello may I know how do u cope with it

[@Grywng]

Noise cancelling Headphones and keeping away from people as much as possible. The rest is just suffering silently through it.

[@sukisukidaisukij9823]

@@scrubscleaning1449 I dont i just cry

[@jaypaint4855]

It’s perfect, except every sound is heard at once. There’s no filtering.

[@faeline_]

I had a mental breakdown because of this a couple of minutes ago, watching this video almost made me cry...but I don't regret it because it was an insanley accurate representation.

[@cricketj467]

Youre asd?

[@grindinghalt6155]

@@cricketj467 nah they are self diagnosing

[@eliotisconfused8180]

Do you mean meltdown ? /nm

[@jaypaint4855]

@@eliotisconfused8180 They kinda blur together so both can be one and the same at times

[@cailey_ava_]

I have autism and ADHD, and I think this is good representation. It’s a everyday struggle people around me don’t understand what I go through on a daily basis. My parents don’t even understand and it’s so stressful. I work so hard and I try my best. But I always feel like a failure . To people who struggle, I love you and I’m proud of you

[@cowboycolts]

Not to sure if I was supposed to listen full volume with earbuds or not, got half way through the video and my entire body just started shaking, I had to rip out my earbuds because I just could not take it anymore

[@andr3wwilliams900]

BowlingGlaceon that’s how I feel every day but I can’t rip off my ears but I do start shaking and moving in ways that might seem odd to people

[@kotaleartist]

it hurt me physically. im stil shaking with a headache

[@Emma-eg7gy]

My muscles started tensing and my leg started shaking, almost cried

[@ferncat1397]

Yep. Had to stop it at 0:59 because it was just too much and I felt like panicking and crying

[@reneisrene1221]

As an undiagnosed kid growing up in NYC I thought everyone experienced life like this, I used to think I was worse with dealing with it than others. The breakdown I had when I found out it wasn't like this for everyone... It was heartbreaking.

[@theregenedmoogles741]

The one and only time I took a trip to New York City with my dad was fucking hell on earth and I was keeping my head down from all the external stimuli hell that is noise and he fucking hit me in the face to look up. Yeah I don't have a relationship with my dad anymore since then

[@Laura-ci3sc]

​@theregenedmoogles741 same. Apart from the dad thing. That really sucks. my family dragged me to NYC. Those were almost the two worst days of my life because of that and now they are dragging me back for a week. I don't know how I can deal with it

[@JMBPro]

You’re not alone my friend, I thought everyone else experienced it too, and I got bullied for it. To this day there’s certain things I can’t cope with and nothing is more upsetting than when others don’t understand or experience it

[@Cragline]

Just so everyone knows: this also happens with ADHD. I have ADHD and this is a pretty accurate representation honestly haha. Thing is with ADHD you're kinda forced into masking your reactions to this type of thing from a very young age. Usually by parents or teachers shouting at you. It's kinda sad that people don't talk about how ADHD and autism can be very similar. Because from my own experience people have always acted like my ADHD is just that I can't focus lol. It's a lot more than that but people just don't realise it. When I was very young I basically stormed out of class because it was very noisy and all that happened was the teacher shouted at me haha. (Which just made it worse so I shouted back lol and got into more trouble) even now when I struggle with sensory shit people that know I have ADHD (most important my parents) don't tend to realise it's because of my ADHD and think I'm just being weird haha and as my dad usually says "just deal with it like everyone else does". Lmaoo Anyway, I just wish people would realise that ADHD is not just hyperactivity and inability to focus haha.

[@moojuice9614]

same here, my mom constantly says i need to “stop being so hypersensitive” and “you’re acting like an autistic person” ☠️ i wonder how she’d react if she could feel every tapping noise around her, only to be told to not be so sensitive after politely asking them(the cause) to stop

[@spellowdino8855]

I have ADHD as well but don’t display a lot of the “classic” symptoms. A lot of the time people are really surprised when I let them know I have ADHD. That’s why I often don’t let people know I have ADHD before they really know me. I can just say things like, “I have sensory issues” or “Oh, that’s called stimming. Certain people do it because…” It feels like there’s no stereotype when specific symptoms are explained in technical terms. :)

[@awkwardcutie]

Yeah it can be very similar and it's common to have both or to have one but a lot of signs of the other but ofc it's different for everyone and ADHD is different from person to person just like autism. I have autism and I have attention issues on paper but not enough to get diagnosed ❤️

[@awkwardcutie]

@@yippeethesogma89 yeah it's hard to know really 😭 I have on paper that I have attention problems but from the investigation I did, I did not get diagnosed with adhd. I've heard attention problems are common within autism tho and often that it's easier to concentrate when you're actually interested but ofc attention problems is more known with adhd. Then ofc you don't have to have a diagnosis to have problems with it so it's hard to say. It can be something completely different as well ❤️ I did however hear about Meares-Irlen Syndrome recently and I thought a lot of things fit me so I googled and like 80% of all autistic people has it according to some of the websites so it's not weird if I have it or you (if you're autistic). It's even pretty common as it is but I guess some people have more severe cases of it ❤️

[@mascotwithadinosaur9353]

Yeah, I have ADHD and I get this too. There's different degrees pf overstimulation, like when I really feel like stimming, or when I straight up avoid a space just bc it's too noisy.

[@sumasian3911]

this is the life i live as someone with ASD, i just wish that people would understand that i'm not being picky or hypersensitive, and i can't turn it off. and with also having fibromyalgia it's even worse because both conditions cause sensory overloads. i wish more people would understand

[@Snowy_Weather]

+guay星星 Same here.

[@alexhodgkinson6718]

You are being hypersensitive. Hypersensitivity is being able to feel more, see more, hear more, taste more and smell more than others. This video is hypersensitivity.

[@ImaCreativeKiwi]

I think he means it's not a choice.

[@imnoone122]

actually it´s not that you see more or hear more, etc. The problem is that you receive the same input other people receive but your brain is not good at focusing on only certain things. so while for other people most sounds are in the background, heard but automatically ignored, when you have ASD or SPD you just hear everything at once and don´t ignore the stuff that should just be in the background.

[@ImaCreativeKiwi]

imnoone122 Yes, I think that's it.

[@froggiebeans6928]

I have adhd and this is insanely accurate, and also what sucks is when being around your family gives you sensory overload. My dad and my sister are both really loud and repetitive and they talk over each other, and I always hate eating dinner as a family because of it. My mom understands and lets me have a break because she has adhd as well so she knows what is feels like, but my dad always gets super offended and passive aggressive. Then I end up yelling at them even though I don’t want to, and then I get in more trouble

[@Biancalebron21]

Same here your not alone 🙏❤

[@livi4143]

This is so relatable i almost cried, living with SPD ( Sensory Processing Disorder ) as a kid now, ( 13 years old ) its hard, people think your acting out for attention when its the exact opposite.

[@mauricethegecko9700]

I sometimes try and hide it, like during pep rallies at school. One time though I actually started crying

[@dinosharttt]

Same everybody keeps saying I want attention when I want peace

[@soomiij]

does listening to music help when u go out in public? sorry i’ve just learned about this

[@Snowy_Weather]

This is all so relatable it nearly made me cry. Growing up with Autism, I've had so many moments like this it's impossible to even keep count. I've learned to deal with those moments since then, but I still remember the worst times I've had them very vividly.

[@STARKILLER15100]

Snowy-snow does it get intense as an adult? Because I work in a very noisy and busy restaurant and I can’t just go somewhere to block out the noises because I’ll just get fired so I gotta work through it all. Yet it tires me out a lot having to endure everything for 12-13hours straight. I don’t just shut down when it gets too intense because I can’t so I have to wait until I’m home in my room when sometimes I just sit in the dark and don’t move for hours. Blinds closed and windows shut. No light anywhere. Standby lights are off and no tv or electrical motors running. Just lying there. Helps that it’s dark outside tho, can’t exactly relax like that when it’s daytime, too much distractions going on... need a way to cope with it throughout the day tho so I’m not tired asf when it’s all over :(

[@jillianh2312]

I have SPD and this is how I reacted to this video. It was such a challenge not to press pause. My eyes and body was twitching, I got itchy everywhere, and I one point I started having a total meltdown. Now, imagine living with that and having that happen 24/7 and not being able to control it by simply pressing pause. You can't pause of fast forward through life. Life was not pre recorded for your own pleasure, and it's difficult knowing that it never was and that there's no way to escape the never ending anxiety going on in your brain simply because of your senses.

[@shane4258]

It’s amazing to how people deal with this in their daily life. Respect to people who experience this!

[@JMBPro]

We try our best but sometimes we can’t

[@daraantonelli4152]

Also a very accurate depiction of dealing with sensory processing in relation to ADHD/ADD

[@junkoabe4691]

So show just a little kindness to those with it like the girl in the vid

[@siqxyre8473]

Junko Abe girl?? I thought it was male, oh well.

[@runakinsley3450]

@@siqxyre8473 The barista?

[@Alina_the_Hedgehog]

The problem is that many people don't understand autism, and I don't think it would be of an advantage for an autist to walk around with a sign: "Hey, I'm autistic!" just for strangers around you knowing what one has. Following the misunderstanding comes another problem: people thinking you're rude (like the woman who caught the autist at the beginning of the video) instead of thinking that you're immensely stressed out. That's not just the case with sensory overload but also with other symptoms, though. Sometimes, I don't know wether I should blame other people or not. Especially older people who might not have had experience with that topic before, since research and therapy of mental health problems weren't that much of a topic in society ~70 years ago.

[@dinosharttt]

That is a boy idiot

[@popcornistorturedcorn]

@@dinosharttt They meant the waitress at the end idiot

[@AngeTange]

This is a very good representation of a sensory overload. For me personally, it feels a lot like this, if you imagine having this video going differently in at least three different tabs. It's irritating, smothering, confusing... And you can't just turn the triggers off. I don't know if I am somewhere on the autism spectrum, but I experience moments like this a lot. I would scream and sometimes even have outburtst of rage if it's becoming too much. I can't think straight in those moments, everything is distracting you and you can't calm down, since you can't simply 'ignore' all the stimuli. If I can't flee from this situation, I will either completely shut down, have a nervous breakdown or will try to find ways to stop the triggers myself. Even if it means to break something. I often feel lost and anxious because of that, and I am unable to vocalize how I feel to the people around me. Though, I doubt they would really understand what I mean, if I could. It is tiring and exhausting to fight this day after day on my own, but I guess there's nothing anyone can do about it. But we will all get through this. Sending strength to all the people out there who have to deal with this. You are great.

[@smallbeard]

This one brought a bit of a tear to my eye as it ended. The scary thing is that, this isn't even a representation. This is the raw reality of it. And it's not a sudden attack that happens, it is every moment in every situation every second of every day. Since my early teens I've been coping by having earphones and music whenever I'm not in my own private bubble, and I wouldn't be able to manage every day life outside of my own space without it. Every now and then, yes, I can. Especially as I grow older and learn to cope and learn better and as my overall health improves but, those moments are the exceptions, not the standard. I really love too the representation of transition from reality to animated- not only to empathise the visual impact and artistic expression, but there's this comfort in showing the "personal world" compared to everyone else's. That's very strong, too.

[@drek.475]

Jeez, this is so accurate. I know sensory issues are never the same for every person, and it doesn't just apply to sound. Loud, excessive, or high pitched noise can be jarring or even painful, in my case. And it's not every day, either. Some days I'm fine. One day I had a meltdown at violin lessons because everything sounded extremely loud. I know there are people who are avid touch-avoiders because that is one of their sensory triggers. I'm lucky, in a sense, and am a touch seeker. My main sensory issues with touch are my face, especially my eyes and ears. It's so bad with my eyes I can't even put a contact in by myself, let alone have someone else do it. With vision, I'm extremely sensitive with changes in my peripheral vision. Colors don't normally bother me, but colored lights do. Some teachers in my school like to put tissue paper over the lights to give the room a tint, which is very visually straining for me.

[@PassifloraCerulea]

Hmmm, touch too. Never talked to a doctor about any of this to be diagnosed with anything in particular, but I'm quite sensitive in general. Apparently I react badly or oddly enough to being touched that people avoid doing it. Sucks though, I feel touch-deprived :( I'm visiting my parents right now, and constantly wanting to turn lights off and open windows. Something about natural light is so much nicer. Things rarely get quite so overwhelming as they do for others here, but I'm sensitive enough that I totally understand.

[@MariWarii]

@@PassifloraCerulea touch sensory is hell every second is fricking torture

[@ace-demiromantic-girl1129]

I don't have autism but ADD and that is by far the most accurate thing ever. A teacher showed it in school and me knowing all the other way less accurate videos was like: Whelp here we go again. Well... I actually had to leave school afte rwards, was just way to exhausting.

[@h.a.6884]

I had a panic attack because of this in class and I just wanted to cry because everything was so loud and noise and it was just to much

[@peachpopsicle4090]

I know this is extremely old, but same.

[@lewisjones284]

It's disappointing that I've lived 21 years and never known what people with autism have to experience on a daily basis. There should be much more awareness regarding this

[@korahholl810]

YES. WE MUST SPREAD THIS. People at my school still make fun of autistic kids, I myself am autistic and it hurts me like a knife when I hear it.

[@hattercat_23]

I wish my parents saw this video and know how bad it really is, if I freak out over noises my parents get mad, sometimes my dad is sympathetic which I really appreciate when he is

[@lulima6160]

Only after a very late diagnosis of autism and ADHD i can finally understand why i would feel nauseous to the point of throwing up after being in a loud nightclub for a few hours, and why i feel so much better if I turn off all the lights and curl myself up under a blanket after a coming back from intense social and sensory situations. This video is provides an incredible visualization of what sensory overload feels like. Thank you for making it.

[@urmomma1232]

As a teenager diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, this helped me a lot. I showed this video to all of my family so that they understand what my daily life feels like. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you

[@ismt9390]

This is so so accurate! I only found out overstimulation was a thing yesterday. I thought i was just crazy/weird for getting angry or feeling agitated and panicking because of some sounds, crowded places, etc. I'm 24 and i've lived with this for at least 10 years, i didn't even understand it myself, so the people around me thought i was unreasonable. I once almost jumped out the window of my house to catch some kids because i was blinded with rage when they kept ringing our doorbell thinking it was fun.

[@christianalvarado9946]

As someone with aspergers, I'm shocked how well done this representation was. Thanks

[@cbp1357]

I have ASD (formally known as Asperger's syndrome) I've found as I get older I am able to cope better with sensory input. But like all people with Autism, I still have sensory issues. Yesterday I was in a bar with some friends and found myself getting overwhelmed. It's embarrassing being in my mid 20s and struggling with it. But it led me to this video as I was trying to find a way to show neurotypical people what a sensory overload is like. I couldn't have found a more accurate video.

[@seblee122]

This was the best representation. I always thought this was quite normal and everybody experienced this.

[@maverickhistorian6488]

This is precisely the thing I go through everyday. Just watching this is affecting me now. When in public places or supermarkets, I always feel I'm being obstructed or closed in, and I hate people who are too close to me. I'm particularly disturbed by loud noises, when I'm working in my study I often find myself shouting at lorries and vehicles to just shut up. I was diagnosed earlier this year and this is a steep learning curve, when you're in your mid fifties.

[@Devachiah]

I would like to give BIG credit to those who created this short film. I have seen a lot of sensory overload videos but this one is really good...( I myself am autistic ) it captures the unrestly feeling and anxietys that come with it. Great job, thanks!

[@drakenfist]

This video is brilliant!. I have dyspraxia and this was very much my experience growing up. Even now, I can't go to clubs or to a place for a drink because all the noises just jam together and I sit in a corner of the room stunned from all the sounds!. I can't drink alcohol because the more I drink the more overloaded I become! and I throw it up every time. I have to watch what foods I eat and have to watch what I eat while driving. Just today I had a mocha, a chocolate chip cookie and was driving with the air conditioner up at full blast, the sensation of the buscuit coupled with the feeling of the wind, the humidity almost caused me to throw up. I had to stop the air conditioner and concentrate on my breathing.

[@jessipanda]

I was expecting she was going to yell at him at the end and when she didn’t, the realization set in, and now I’m crying because most everyone in my life has or continues to get mad at me when I’m the one holding my knees in a ball just trying to be okay. Nobody deserves that… they deserve the woman at the end 😭😭

[@skywalkerchick]

This is a great representation; I actually work as a barista, but it can be super overwhelming for me to be on the coffee bar because so many machines back there make loud noises and are all whirring and churning at once, plus all the people in the cafe chatting loudly to one another, plus the drive-thru headsets that everyone has to wear, it’s just often too much for me. Thankfully my coworkers are understanding and usually plant me in positions that are much less loud/hectic, but I’ve worked other jobs that didn’t understand why I was overwhelmed and it ultimately became too hard to keep those jobs.

[@mvskty]

When my anxiety heightens day to day I occasionally have these moments where everything that’s making even a tiny sound gets too loud and I want so badly to just curl up into a ball. This is such a good representation of how it feels and it’s nice to know I’m not alone here :)

[@KennieKii]

This is amazing representation. Thank you so much for allowing others to understand how being on the spectrum feels like.

[@racheljoankoh7847]

This video always brings a tear to my eyes. Thank you for making us seen.

[@SashiXD5]

It’s just like that! I just want everything to stop but it keeps going everyone keeps doing things and they won’t stop. I love how this animation visualizes it perfectly

[@notaninfodump5929]

I don’t have autism or autism spectrum disorder, but whenever I get anxious or dealing with grief, I feel similarly to this video, it doesn’t even have to be loud. I don’t go to parties because I get anxious cause of the loud music, and just the overwhelming amount of people. I haven’t been able to run because I can’t filter out the noise when I run and my anxiety makes me hear my heart in my ears. If I had to deal with this everyday, I’d probably cry everyday. People with autism are tough for being able to deal with this.

[@jaypaint4855]

I’m glad to see now that i’m not just overreacting like people tell me. This is something that many experience, and it isn’t “normal” whatever that word means

[@MsTinkerbelle87]

My family watched this and it made them cry, they didn’t realize how bad it was for me. Thank you!

[@kendeadrick]

Never ever knew what a sensory overload could ever feel like. I’m so glad I found this video. My boyfriend said it was spot on. Great work

[@JasperGrooters]

For me my sensory overloads just started a few years ago, around the age of 17. I'm 19 now and they've only gotten worse and happen more frequently. I've had a girlfriend for 4 years now, and her and my family try to be understanding, but I feel like I'm pushing them away because of this. Most of my day consists of trying to filter out as many impulses as possible, but somehow I still manage to get to the point of overflow (that's how I call the 'breaking point'). My girlfriend has told me that she really struggles with the fact that sometimes she can't tell me something too enthousiastically or can't go to the city with me without me having to rush to a quiet place every now and then. Sometimes I just feel like I really exaggerate the way I feel and that I should just be able to withstand all these impulses, but my brain just keeps telling me I can't. I know that this is just a youtube comment session, but I just needed some place to throw it all out.

[@ImaCreativeKiwi]

I think this is the best SPD simulation I've seen yet.

[@peachpopsicle4090]

Fr

[@Blender.bunker]

This is why I prefer the woods

[@pumpkinismissing]

FR!

[@DeepForestRex]

I have very mild autism with very mild sensory processing disorder. I can somewhat filter out senses, but that filter can easily get exhausted. The my sensory filter (or however you call it) isn't very good either. The airport and school is a very scary place for me, with sounds coming from all over the place, and loads of movement. I just panicked the in airport today, and I was very embarrassed, people were looking. Sensory overload is something very painful. And we missed our flight, so basically combination of unpredictability and sensory overload. A nasty combination that is. Many autistics get anxiety from unpredictability. Sensory overload makes me feel claustrophobic. But of course, sensory overload is different for every autistic individual.

[@flameplasmainian85724]

This hits right at home. I have autism and get overwhelmed at music because it forms names in my head and whispers them on repeat to me

[@ABCDecay]

This video gave me chills at how accurate it is.

[@RyanTheLion]

Loud noises and unexpected noises and noises that startle me and noises when I am in my safe space overload me

[@solayahh4363]

I am on the Autism Spectrum and this video was such a good example of a Sensory Overload.

[@elainebleazard7279]

This was completely and exactly what I feel. This is a perfect representation to it. I always go to this video when I want to show someone what it feels like for me. What I think is crazy is that it shows the sound waves. A lot of other people might think that was put in there for the visual representation, but when I get sensory overload, I do see sound wave sort of things. It is crazy. When my siblings scream, sometimes, my vision would go black, white, gray, and red. Everything had a tint of red. I think this was so perfectly made. It freaked me out when it was playing and I had to stop it for a while. So crazy. So perfectly represented. I dont even have autism, but I still go through this. So crazy.

[@BloxxingDinosaurus]

My ears hurt from this, and I don't even have sensory overload. This has definitely portrayed it perfectly.

[@Lesbiel]

the overwhelm this just triggered in me by watching.... i had to audio stim get through. what powerful validation & what a great resource to share w loved ones so they can informatively help you when you have sensory overload 💛

[@alexandarkovac3806]

I have been formally diagnosed since two years old, and have been... Verified I guess is the right word at about 15 or 16. This is an excellent representation. It however still needs to maintain clarity for all of you, of each sound being its' own new thing where the previous fall away to introduce it. It was still very effective, mind you I tend to unfocus my vision as a way to reduce stimulus in high stimulus situations, and I unfocused my vision subconsciously a few times through that. If you haven't experienced it before, we can't describe it properly. It doesn't translate exactly to words, nor visuals, nor to audio. It's a combination that stretches beyond just the video. It's like trying to explain heart burn to a person who has never had it. Sure they can have the knowledge, but they won't understand the sensation. You can't empathise, but you can sympathise. Please be as understanding as you can. If you'd like methods to try and help people you know who deal with it, please have a serious conversation with them in a low sensory input environment. Comfortable over ear headphones work well for me. Make sure they are good at sound isolation (E.G. Can't hear the world around you well, should struggle to understand other people's speech without the headphones playing anything.). They also need to be comfortable, what works for construction sites is not comfortable. Take them with you while looking for these things even if it is meant to be a gift. It's far more worth it for them to know they'll like it. Whenever I travel through Sydney for Uni, I typically have the headphones on unless I'm with a group. I've personally done exposure therapy for myself in regards to Sydney (not professional exposure therapy but more just experienced it to the point where that specific set of triggers is bearable), but I still much prefer having the headphones. I hope you have a lovely day.

[@User_forbidden]

Thank you for sharing! ❤

[@raiLeurTA]

Damn this video is 6 years old and still to this day so accurate. I'm tearing up right now.

[@JesterEnthusiast]

I recently got diagnosed with autism, and I’ve probably had sensory overload plenty of times but I’ve never been taught about it so I never knew what it was or what it felt like, I still can’t realise when I have sensory overload and this video helped me a little to realise what it is and how to recognise when I’m in sensory overload

[@elliottroses]

Katie Gately did an amazing job with the sound design

[@liaia7375]

When this happens, i usually just do nothing because i know nothing is gonna happen to me and i'll be fine.. then i started to listen what other people is talking from cafetaria near my house.. after all of that ends.. it's just silence and pure bliss It's kind of amazing that i can hear something so far away with such clarity.. it's loud and disturbing but still awesome

[@insi7639]

This is extremely accurare and helpful to explain it to others. I have this Kind of overload in exactly this way because of ptsd and it is horrible. With this Video i can explain to my parents why supermarket is not easy for me

[@grooglyboogly]

this captured sensory overload so well…my goodness!!

[@liviaspaes]

Esse vídeo nos faz perceber como é angustiante e estressante para os autistas esses momentos que para nós parece tão normal. Fiquei bem sensibilizada assistindo e me colocando no lugar dos autistas.

[@druidshollow]

having spd fucking sucks man this is such a good representation of it

[@Dougiewoof]

puzzlii I know I have it too and I agree this is how it fells

[@inactiveaccount753]

Oh shit I feel bad about myself after watching this one... Last week some mature guy bumped into me - hard! He didn't apologize and was desperately trying to get on the bus. I got angry immediately bc my grocery bag broke. But when I think about it now he seemed lost - his facial expression looked kind of scared. The man just wanted to catch a bus, only the bus was on his mind and the bus didn't stop where he usually stops. He could have ASD, it would explain his confusing and scared behavior. I know he will never read this but dude.. I'm sorry I got angry! And I´m sorry ppl with ASD have to suffer from this disorder, it sucks when no one understands you :(

[@kaylakain6039]

I feel like this I have autism and suffer really bad from lots of people and loud noises and people overly talking I even get overwhelmed being around some people who are much worse then me I shout in frustration as people have stared at me I have a swing to help me with my anxiety and autism and I love to go out and explore nature of quietness

[@aftabanimates1068]

This is incredible. As a Guy who has Autism and an animator I can say that I now understand what this animation is trying to tell me about Autism.

[@wholemilk9696]

I love this video glad I'm not the only one who experiences high sensory

[@guiltparade1116]

This made me cry. My life would be so much better without this severe sensory sensitivity

[@cheekybananaboy3361]

This give you such a good understanding of what it's like. This video is incredibly disturbing and yet everything in it is completely normal. Wow. Just goes to show how strong our perceptions can be

[@jordanh6181]

Thank you for uploading this video! This is how I feel daily in my town

[@isabellaassis3820]

I had one of those at school when i was 6 years old. I remember i cried a lot, my mom came to pick me up and i told her and my teachers that I was crying because i was missing my dad ( i lived with him a long time before, so everyone understood). I didn't tell the truth because if I told them that I coudn't control/filter my thoghts or my feelings with all that noise they would have called be dramatic and blame me for the hole situation.

[@plzleavemealone9660]

Noise cancelling headphones really help. They are expensive but for people with sensory processing disorders they can really help. Changed my life for sure.

[@alyssavon5246]

This raised my heartbeat so much I could feel it.

[@missknipe3199]

It feels so good to see it put into artistic form so well

[@Jodipodi55]

I cried while watching this. It is so hard to explain to anyone what this is actually like thank you so much.

[@whitneyjohnson347]

I just had to come back to this video because my boyfriend doesn’t understand sensory overload and watching the video made me cry because he’s the one person who should understand me

[@NeaLopezProductions]

I don't have adhd or autism and I haven't been diagnosed with spd, but I still understand this well, at least to a degree. It's happened a few times to the degree that feels like some kind of variation of a panic attack, where I was sobbing uncontrollably for hours and could barely walk or talk. It isn't just people with diagnosed disorders, some people just have a brain wired that reaches that point a lot sooner than other people

[@PotatoCouch666]

In my case: It's not that the sounds are louder, but there is so much of it that I can't filter. Visually it works exactly the same for me. And when you are having a not-so-good day The impact is more heavy then usual. I am glad I don't live in the city anymore.

[@atlasthetitan463]

I want to show this to my sister. She makes fun of my autism saying that I can’t have it because if I did, I’d try to mask it. The fact of the matter is I did. I tried to. Unbeknownst to me though, I was surrounding myself with other people with Autism so I just ended up mirroring them. I was never truly able to “blend in” as that part of me was bent. And when I put on my headphones to escape it all, I still end up being made fun of. She wants to understand why I need them so bad when I didn’t need them for the rest of my life. I did. I just didn’t really know that until now. I still need time to even come to the term that I am Autistic. I was only diagnosed a few months ago. And it still shocked me. I still hold myself to the standards that my sister put on me for so long. The standards that I put on myself. I hope she realizes one day. I hope she realizes that it isn’t just noise. It’s painful. Everything at once just makes me cry. And she thinks it’s funny.

[@Black_R0s3]

I had an overload yesterday and this video is done really well and I definitely feel like that’s how I felt. 😢🎉❤

[@hellhoundz_133]

As a person with Aspergers Syndrome (high-functioning autism) i can say that this is INCREDIBLY accurate beyond a shadow of a doubt

[@zoecreates9776]

I AM NOT ALONE I HAVE THESE SO MUTCH AND IT MAKES ME WANT TO PEEL MY SKIN OF WHEN I FOUND OUT I HAD AUTISM IT MADE SO MUTCH MAKE SENCE I WAS TESTED FOR WEEKS IT WAS SO HARD

[@dinosharttt]

I got it when I was 2 I got born with it I wish I didn’t cause it’s really hard and with the adhd and odd everybody things I want attention but I’m actually trying to be in peace at home but the teachers and parents think different

[@annaverhaegh6712]

Great representation! I can resonate with this in a way. There are certain noises that I can't stand. Its ok once, twice, maybe a third time, but after that it gets too much. It's not only sound that can be overwhelming. After all they are sensory overloads, so there are also, colour, objets, taste, touch, and even smell, which I tend to get a combination of everything!

[@simplymoxie2090]

I have autism and I'm in the percussion. For our end of the school year rehearsal, we had to play a song on these loud bucket drums. One bucket drum is very loud. There's was about 30-40 people in the percussion, all playing the bucket drums! I asked my teacher if I could sit it out. She said yes, thankfully, and whenever I got sensory overload I was aloud to leave the classroom and relax outside. I need to show this video to my friends so they know how to treat me when I'm having a sensory overload.

[@dcdoomy4182]

Are you…are you serious ?💀

[@simplymoxie2090]

@@dcdoomy4182 Yup.

[@dcdoomy4182]

@@simplymoxie2090 libtard world we’re coming to lol 💀

[@anonillustrations8680]

I've just recently started experiencing sensory overload. I didnt know what it was at first but its gotten to the point where I get extremely angry when it happens and sometimes violent and I'm an Extremely nice and patient person. It's so out of character for me

[@sarahg6458]

I have Sensory Processing Disorder and this is so accurate. When I was little I cried every time we went bowling, and I felt miserable because I had sensory overloads. I still do now but I don’t cry, I kind of sit back. Yesterday at gym we were playing volleyball and balls were all over dropping from the air there was a lot of noise I was right next to the speaker, and I didn’t realize I was having an overload until I was about to cry. Also someone told me “don’t be afraid of the ball” and I was like “w0W whO iS sHE t0 tELL m3 n0T to bE aFrAid oF tHe bALL” but there was no reason for me to be mad so then I decided I had to go to the bathroom to calm myself down because the fact I was so upset over nothing was another sign I had an overload and for the rest of the day my senses were out of control

[@nerdbfs_subs]

As someone who has sensory overload alot this made me tear up

[@brittneyharfield]

im personally not on the spectrum, but i do get sensory overload when it comes to my GAD so this freaked me out. but this representation, is the best one ive seen.

[@abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz3010]

I have ADHD and this is very relatable. I reach a threshold in which I just can't get anything anymore.

[@tuckerbearden01]

Most accurate representation ever made!!!! Omg thank you! I can't watch it all the way through because it causes me to panic but thank you

[@Tibootje2008]

As someone with autism this is so relatable, mostly at home i can get so overstimulated its like i could explode in tears any second

[@kawosdhdos]

I watched this with headphones and it kinda gave me some asmr tingles. I like the sounds. Noise music. It doesnt really overwhelm me unless I close my eyes and have multiple tabs of it open at a time

[@eggersgaming]

This was such great representation it made me feel uncomfortable but not nearly as much as when I have sensory overload. Just know when you are looking for what it is like to have whatever you are looking into. It is nothing compared to the real thing.

[@Kloudkaya]

I used this video to try and explain how I feel to my mom. It helped a lot, thank you.

[@summerbunnygirl1628]

Dang. I had no idea it was this bad. Thank you for making this, it was super interesting to watch.

[@L3GacY3]

Had an overload today (I have ADHD) I first watched the video yesterday and didn’t understand because I’ve been masking so much of my ADHD without knowing and not taking it seriously enough, after the overload I had (20 minutes ago) I understand this SO MUCH.