Posted by IsoM on May 26, 2002, at 21:10:35
In reply to ADD: Overstimulation?, posted by JonW on May 26, 2002, at 10:39:01
Jon, you're much younger than me so the example of my experience with computer/video games may not be the same way you feel about them but it's the best way I can explain it - by an illustration.
Ever seen Sonic the Hedgehog games? I'm sure you have - blindingly fast & lots of visual distractions, especially all the flashing bright-coloured ones. Because I didn't grow up playing games like that, when I watched my son playing it, there's no way I could follow Sonic's motions or keep track of everything. Overstimulation, in a major way!! Way too much movement, colour, flashing icons, etc.
Now in a bland, quiet way, I find shopping overstimulating too. I loathe shopping besides, & especially when I get groceries & need to look through items to find what I want. I have to sort through different colours, labels, size & font of print, not to mention lots of pictures to find the right item & not something that looks similar but is different. So frustrating to get home & find I picked up white flour instead of whole-wheat, or grape jelly instead of grape jam.
Movies too, - lots of special effects, fast, flashing action, loud noises, etc leaves me feeling wired & tired.
It all boils down to having your brain working overtime, trying to sort out an overabundance of sensory stimuli into neat, understandable chunks. What may be easy enough for someone else, can tax the 'paying attention' part of our brain, leaving us mentally exhausted & cranky.
The sensory stimuli can come through any of our senses, even touch. There's clothes & fabrics that I simply can't wear as I'm aware of them touching my skin the whole time. I want to rip them off. So touch, sight, hearing, & smell all can be affected.
poster:IsoM
thread:107643
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020525/msgs/107674.html