I'm experiencing much the same thing with my Overeaters Anonymous group. It's usually about five people too. I really enjoy it even tho it is pretty heavy at times. I feel compassion for the women who cry and i like feeling compassion, like to think of myself as a compassionate person. But it *is* a shock to the senses to spend time with five brand new people who are being candid about their suffering. At this time all i have been offering is my silent support, my presence and attention. Also, i have been opening the room and setting it up specially for the maximum comfort of all. Still, the meeting is rather hard on me, especially if the person sharing speaks rapidly in a loud voice or if someone just chats off-topic.

But overall, i am delighted to have met this vibrant robust supportive group of women around my age. It's at a good time of day for me (morning) and in a good neighborhood in a nice venue tho the room itself is rather shabby -- partly why i try and dress up the table which everyone seems to enjoy.

Like you, i know the sensory overload and over-stimulation will decrease with each exposure. This week will be about my fifth meeting so it shouldn't be such a shock to my senses anymore. Only thing is, i have been going out for coffee with one of the women after and i don't know if i can continue as this just increases the stimulation. I'm feeling really sensitive right now and it's probably a bad idea to prolong the experience by going out after. She's a lovely supportive wise philosophical senior woman who teaches me a lot and i do *so* enjoy our time together but it takes me that much longer to recover and i have lots of self-care to get done.

Maybe i will skip it until i am caught up on my self-care?