Sensory Overload

How interesting. I am learning about my Bipolar I disorder and hadn't heard about this one. It's so true, but I am OK with lots of noise that drowns itself out. If there are certain noises that stand out, or are loud and repetitive, then I just can't take it. I need to leave the area. It drives me bats and I get VERY irritable to the point where I've confronted people in a semi-aggressive manner. Not good. But with the meds I can tolerate a little more.

I've always always had an extremely heightened sense of smell. I can't do candle shops or those body/bath stores. It gets to me on a strange internal level. I can't concentrate. It's just too much. On the flip side, I can walk into someone's house and tell them within 2 minutes if one their pets has urinated on the carpet and exactly where. If it's multiple locations it takes me longer. Certain animals' urine has a strange woody/sweet smell. Don't judge. It just smells that way to me. People tell me it's not supposed to smell that way.

BF is a yeller. Instead of telling the dog to stop whining. He will shout it.
It makes my head want to explode
He walks, talks, watches tv all very loudly
Well, at least he does not slam the doors as much as before

...sometimes I think what the heck am I doing with him?

Yes, I am very sensitive to too much noise. My kids are very active and like to make loud noises. It drives me nuts. Too many sounds puts me on edge and I get irritable.

Also flashing lights. I can't stand blinking lights. Slow blinking is ok but I can't even look at a strobe light.

Going to echo everyone else and say yes. Without a doubt. I can go into full blown meltdown when there's too many stimuli. More than one person talking at once gets me really irritable and snappy. Loud TV is awful. Anything high pitched makes me feel physically sick.

I have a diagnoses of Aspergers though so it's more than expected for me. Strangely, loud TV and music are huge triggers for me BUT I love loud music through my earphones. I suppose it blocks everything out.

I feel the same way. My spouse turns up the stereo, and it really really hurts my ears. I can do crowds if there is a line, a single file line, but crowds of persons, rushing pushing, I have to vacate.

This is why I avoid malls this time of year. I'd I go to a mall, I take a bus, and I just keep to myself. I almost got violent because everything that was going on around me. I wanted to start punching people.


I told my fiance that I do not want to go for this exact reason...

I love MY loud music, just not other people's loud music.
You know, unless, of course, if they have good taste! Which brings us back around to my music. Haha.

Just left my wife at an Irish pub where she wanted to go for a St. Patrick's Day bash. Yes, the people were friendly(and well lubricated, as was my wife) and the music was great, but after an hour, the din of the crowd, the crowd itself, the music, the heat(we're in Florida)... Fortunately, only about five blocks from our apartment, so I walked.

Even before rapid cycling, I was never totally comfortable with crowds or noise, but now I have major sensory overload. My wife, at 70, is still a party girl who likes to have a few drinks and boogie. And when she's hyper(her mood swings back and forth), she'll tell me, with an attitude, she'd rather go to a place by herself than with me if I'm not going to enjoy myself. That really makes me feel great.

as others have said I avoid crowds ,, totally unable to pick out voices if there is background noise...can get real upset and nervous over particular sounds,,have to use a fan to drown out sounds to relax or sleep..one of the reasons I keep to myself and seldom go out of the house except to work....

I can't stand crowds or noise either. I saw my favorite rock musician a few years back and i just prayed for the concert to be over. My ex used to like to spend long nights at a dance club and discouraged me from coming because i always wanted to go after a couple hours -- i know how you feel.

yep!! I also get really stressed/irritated by too much bright light and heat.