Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental brain pattern prevalent in millions of people worldwide.
Imagine your internet browser with dozens of tabs open at once. Each tab is a different thought, chore, or distraction, all demanding your attention. The computer slows down, struggles to keep up, and sometimes even freezes. This is like a child with ADHD, feeling overloaded and unable to concentrate on just one thing because their mind is juggling so many different thoughts and stimuli at the same time.
The Troubles Of Overstimulated ADHD
As a psychologist who has worked with thousands of kids and teens, that is what most of the kids and teens I work with feel like everyday. That buzzy feeling of constantly being distracted and feeling like one is, “on the go” can leave them (and you) feeling frustrated by the inability to get anything done.
Many people don't realize that those with ADHD can become overstimulated, making symptoms like restlessness, trouble focusing, and impulsive behavior even worse. This makes everyday life much harder for those affected.
It is important for parents to understand what overstimulation means for those with ADHD, what triggers it, how to recognize it, how to make their ADHD child understand, and some effective strategies that can help reclaim calmness.
ADHD and Overstimulation
Overstimulation in ADHD is a state where an individual’s brain is affected by too much sensory input, more than it can handle. It reaches a state of overwhelm, resulting in difficulty processing information, inability to focus (a contrast to overfocused ADHD), increased anxiety, heightened frustration, and irritability.
Overstimulation can really impact various parts of everyday life for kids and teens, from their ability to focus in school to their interactions with friends and family.
For example, students with ADHD may struggle to focus, leading to academic performance; it can increase the likelihood of mistakes at work, leading to burnout and job dissatisfaction; it can make it difficult for people to engage in conversation, leading to feelings of isolation; it can worsen mental health conditions, contributing to reduced self-esteem, and more.
What Does Overstimulation Feel Like?
While the definition of overstimulation sounds similar to the concept of hypersensitivity with both potentially happening in people with ADHD, the two actually differ.
Hypersensitivity happens when one enters a state of unrest and anxiety every time a stimulus is present. On the other hand, overstimulation happens when a certain amount of stimuli exceeds your sensory threshold and triggers intense discomfort.
Imagine hypersensitivity as walking into your teen’s bedroom where the music is loud – it bothers you and puts you on edge because you are sensitive to loud music every time; it’s a reaction to one specific stimulus.
Overstimulation, on the other hand, is like being in that same bedroom but with the LED strip lights also blaring and flickering– you become overwhelmed, even if lights don’t normally bother you; it’s a total sensory overload that can lead to discomfort.
What Are The Signs of Overstimulated ADHD?
For people with ADHD, overstimulation can feel like entering into a party where you don’t know anyone, but everyone is welcoming you, asking questions, greeting, shaking your hand, giving you welcome hugs at the same time. It’s as if your brain is caught in a downpour of information, emotional stimuli, and sensory input, leaving patients disoriented.
Being aware of the signs of overstimulation and understanding the triggers behind the symptoms is a powerful first step toward finding the most suitable strategies to manage them.
There are tons of strategies and interventions to manage ADHD behaviors in children. But when overstimulation strikes, it’s a ripple effect, impacting different aspects of daily life:
- Overstimulation can make it challenging and difficult to process information, concentrate, and remember things; your child enters into this mental fog clouding their cognitive abilities.
- Some people may experience dizziness, nausea, headaches, fatigue, and other physical discomforts.
- Being overwhelmed and on edge can also be emotional manifestations of overstimulated ADHD. These can be coupled with irritability, mood swings, and anxiety.
- Withdrawal from social interactions and the reduced ability to stay still are typical behavioral responses of overstimulation.
The onset of overstimulated ADHD can already be experienced before the age of 12, when the signs of ADHD start to manifest.
What Causes Neurodivergent Sensory Overload?
Overstimulation, also known as Neurodivergent Sensory Overload, is comparable to a secondary symptom that individuals with ADHD and other psychological conditions experience.
Overstimulation can be a sign of ADHD, but empirical evidence has yet to suggest that overstimulation causes ADHD as the etiology of ADHD involves a complex of genetic vulnerabilities and environmental risk factors.
Several factors contribute to overstimulation in persons with ADHD:
- Sensory Overload: People with ADHD can be overstimulated by noise, bright lights, or crowded environments. Overstimulated people have difficulty receiving information because they cannot focus on one piece of information. For example, instead of listening to only one sound, they hear and try to accept all the sounds present.
- Emotional Overload: ADHD patients placed in emotionally intense situations, making them feel excited, angry, surprised, anxious or stressed, can eventually become overstimulated.
- Cognitive Overload. The need to multitask or process large amounts of information can quickly overwhelm someone with ADHD. Their brains can struggle to manage compared to normal brains, resulting in a sense of chaos.
- Environment: Settings that lack structure and are unpredictable can be particularly challenging for people with ADHD. If the environment is chaotic, it can exacerbate symptoms of overstimulated ADHD.
Overstimulated ADHD in Children Vs Adults
Overstimulation can occur in children, adults, and teens with ADHD. However, it’s often prevalent amongst the younger children with ADHD because their brains are still developing and sensitive. Additionally, their ability to refocus, block out distractions, and control their attention is quite limited at this stage.
Overstimulation amongst adults with ADHD manifests more through impulsive behavior, rather than hyperactivity amongst children.
Compared to adults, children most often have more chances of surpassing the symptoms of overstimulated ADHD with the right treatment and guidance.
How to Deal with ADHD Overstimulation?
Overstimulation in ADHD manifests in many ways. The good news is, it doesn’t have to rule your child’s life (and your family’s). When feeling overstimulated, managing it involves a combination of self-awareness, environmental adjustments, coping strategies, and the help of a professional.
Here’s what you can do when experiencing overstimulated ADHD and regain control:
- Transfer to a more sensory-friendly environment. It has been observed that grounding oneself in a more peaceful place with softer lighting, reduced noise levels, and free of clutter, can help one cope faster.
- Practice deep breathing, meditation, and other mindfulness techniques to help restructure one’s thinking and calm the mind and body.
- Take regular breaks in between work to help prevent overload.
- Create structure in your family’s daily life by establishing routines. Having a routine allows your ADHD children to revert when they start feeling overstimulated. It is recommended to also break tasks into smaller, more manageable activities so they don’t get mentally overloaded.
- Seek professional support. Therapists and ADHD coaches can help you find customized strategies and support. There have been recent studies validating the effectiveness of psycho-education, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, neurofeedback, and third-wave therapies that focus on emotional regulation, in alleviating symptoms.
Navigating overstimulated ADHD can feel a bit like navigating a storm without an umbrella. But remember, with a little patience, some practical tools, and a supportive community, you can learn to move through your child’s unique ADHD journey.
Citations:
Magnus, W., Nazir, S., Anilkumar, A., & Shaban, K. (Updated 2023). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441838/
Weibel, S., Menard, O., Ionita, A., Boumendjel, M., Cabelguen, C., Kraemer, C., Micoulaud-Franchi, J-A., Bioulac, S., Perroud, N., Sauvaget, A., Carton, L., Gachet, M., Lopez, R. (2019). Practical considerations for the evaluation and management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Adults. L'Encephale, 46(1), 30–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.encep.2019.06.005
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