Auditory Sensory Overload? Anxiety Disorder??

[richardhicks50]

Hi. My name is Rich and I am 58 years old. I have had mental health issues since my teenage years. i had to get on disability at the age of 40. Even now tht im on my meds steady over the past 15+ years I have just now realized and put the words together that I am having auditory sensory overloads at various times when I attempt to work with the public.

I go to a rather large church these days. I became a door greeter and usher. I started around 3 months ago on every other Sunday. I am not what you say the most outgoing greeter. I have been told i need to smile more...I do the BEST I can. I am usher as well. but when I finish those things and sit at the back of the church I experience extreme a sensory overload. The music and preaching then sounds as if I am at a concert. I cannot focus for the rest of the service. On the days I do sit in my regular seat in church I am fine. No sensory overloads at all.

Most times the episodes go away when i go back to the door at the end of the service letting people out. but the last time I was greeter the episode did not go away until i got home. Yes i had to drive in a haze from and yes by myself. I really think I am a strong person can bear up a lot of crap and hold the steering wheel steady to get home but still could get in a accident if i was not a very careful driver.

I have got to tell my greet team leader and I keep procrastinating doing that. Gu

I was wondering if this is a anxiety disorder, and how in the world do i tell my psychiatrist that I havent seen in 3 months? I only discovered online about sensory overload. I didn't know it until now how to describe what I was going through until now. The only remedy is a catnap, then I seem to be ok at home most of the time. Anyone else experience auditory overloads? Is this in fact a anxiety disorder??

 

[ding]

Do you think you might have Asperger's? Many have sensory overloads. Do you got sensitive smell too?

 

[richardhicks50]

No just very sensitive to sounds and inability to focus during episodes.

 

[ding]

No just very sensitive to sounds and inability to focus during episodes.

But ok just sitting down normally in church?
Probably anxiety then

 

[Jonathan123]

Hi. My name is Rich and I am 58 years old. I have had mental health issues since my teenage years. i had to get on disability at the age of 40. Even now tht im on my meds steady over the past 15+ years I have just now realized and put the words together that I am having auditory sensory overloads at various times when I attempt to work with the public.

I go to a rather large church these days. I became a door greeter and usher. I started around 3 months ago on every other Sunday. I am not what you say the most outgoing greeter. I have been told i need to smile more...I do the BEST I can. I am usher as well. but when I finish those things and sit at the back of the church I experience extreme a sensory overload. The music and preaching then sounds as if I am at a concert. I cannot focus for the rest of the service. On the days I do sit in my regular seat in church I am fine. No sensory overloads at all.

Most times the episodes go away when i go back to the door at the end of the service letting people out. but the last time I was greeter the episode did not go away until i got home. Yes i had to drive in a haze from and yes by myself. I really think I am a strong person can bear up a lot of crap and hold the steering wheel steady to get home but still could get in a accident if i was not a very careful driver.

I have got to tell my greet team leader and I keep procrastinating doing that. Gu

I was wondering if this is a anxiety disorder, and how in the world do i tell my psychiatrist that I havent seen in 3 months? I only discovered online about sensory overload. I didn't know it until now how to describe what I was going through until now. The only remedy is a catnap, then I seem to be ok at home most of the time. Anyone else experience auditory overloads? Is this in fact a anxiety disorder??

Welcome. If we were to draw a graph from day to day about how we react to various problems that arise, we would see how it fluctuates all the time. When you get in even a mildly responsible position as in your church, you react to it in an anxious way.
I would suggest that this is a social anxiety disorder rather than anything else. You are ok at home because there is no pressure.
Sensory overloads in anxiety are common. Sounds that to a normal person are not alarming can resonate with an anxious person and seem louder than they are. Likewise we often have hearing difficulties. Sounds may seem blurred. Do you react and are concerned about what others may think about you? When we suffer anxiety it is not easy to smile. We often put on a brave face to give the impression we are ok when we are in turmoil inside! You do need to tell your psychiatrist about this because they may suggest a different approach. You do need to talk to someone about it. Instead of getting so concerned about it try and accept it as part of an anxiety problem that will go when you accept it for what it is. Not easy by any means. I do know.

 

[MATD]

Gotta agree with Jonathan. I’ve suffered often from “sensory overload” in the past. It’s just another way anxiety can tell you it’s still around. These days I don’t seem to be bothered as much with these “overloads” since I started on Dr Claire Weekes’ acceptance method. You would benefit greatly from it.

 

[richardhicks50]

But ok just sitting down normally in church?
Probably anxiety then

and a few times out of the blue.

Gotta agree with Jonathan. I’ve suffered often from “sensory overload” in the past. It’s just another way anxiety can tell you it’s still around. These days I don’t seem to be bothered as much with these “overloads” since I started on Dr Claire Weekes’ acceptance method. You would benefit greatly from it.

what about medicine. I am on Prozac and Abilify. Where can I find out about more Dr. Claire Weekes acceptance method?

 

[ding]

and a few times out of the blue.


what about medicine. I am on Prozac and Abilify. Where can I find out about more Dr. Claire Weekes acceptance method?

On YouTube

Why you take abilify with Prozac? If because Prozac don't work so good, then try another antidepressant. Those antipsychotics are terrible when you try to come offa them

I give you list of things I did to help my own anxiety.

- listen to Claire Weekes
- daily meditation
- regular exercise (swimming is best one)
- cut out junk food
- read self help books but not CBT ones
- reach out to other folk
- find new hobby, anything ok

 

[Jonathan123]

and a few times out of the blue.


what about medicine. I am on Prozac and Abilify. Where can I find out about more Dr. Claire Weekes acceptance method?

On Amazon you will find all her books. The best one is a compilation of all her works. 'Essential help for your Nerves.' They are all very helpful as are her recordings on You Tube.

On YouTube

Why you take abilify with Prozac? If because Prozac don't work so good, then try another antidepressant. Those antipsychotics are terrible when you try to come offa them

I give you list of things I did to help my own anxiety.

- listen to Claire Weekes
- daily meditation
- regular exercise (swimming is best one)
- cut out junk food
- read self help books but not CBT ones
- reach out to other folk
- find new hobby, anything ok

I'm glad you mentioned CBT. While many have found it helpful I never have, and I never recommended it. Why? Because, like most modern therapies, it is mind and body only. It leaves out the essential part of mankind that makes us human and apart from the animals. Spirit! What is Spirit? It is that indefinable something in mankind that can create. It is love, empathy and compassion. Now most fight shy of this because it smacks of religion which it most certainly is not. Yes. religious people can be Spiritual. But generally religion just muddies the waters and is so often a power base to control others. The teachings of Christ, Buddha and such prophets stand alone. They have been misinterpreted out of all recognition of the original meaning. As a counsellor I found that strong religious beliefs can often cause more anxiety. The idea that we have 'sinned' in some way and are being punished is not uncommon.
Certain sects in religion brainwash their followers into false beliefs so that they have control over them. Adler, that great 20th century psychologist called his theory 'The will to power'. He was right. It is all about power and control. Politics and religion have a lot in common! I do appreciate that opinions on this subject differ, and it is my own opinion based on experience. I have seen so many religious people come for help riddled with fear and anxiety because they have supposedly 'sinned. in some way, Guilt can be a very corrosive emotion.

 

[ding]

On Amazon you will find all her books. The best one is a compilation of all her works. 'Essential help for your Nerves.' They are all very helpful as are her recordings on You Tube.


I'm glad you mentioned CBT. While many have found it helpful I never have, and I never recommended it. Why? Because, like most modern therapies, it is mind and body only. It leaves out the essential part of mankind that makes us human and apart from the animals. Spirit! What is Spirit? It is that indefinable something in mankind that can create. It is love, empathy and compassion. Now most fight shy of this because it smacks of religion which it most certainly is not. Yes. religious people can be Spiritual. But generally religion just muddies the waters and is so often a power base to control others. The teachings of Christ, Buddha and such prophets stand alone. They have been misinterpreted out of all recognition of the original meaning. As a counsellor I found that strong religious beliefs can often cause more anxiety. The idea that we have 'sinned' in some way and are being punished is not uncommon.
Certain sects in religion brainwash their followers into false beliefs so that they have control over them. Adler, that great 20th century psychologist called his theory 'The will to power'. He was right. It is all about power and control. Politics and religion have a lot in common! I do appreciate that opinions on this subject differ, and it is my own opinion based on experience. I have seen so many religious people come for help riddled with fear and anxiety because they have supposedly 'sinned. in some way, Guilt can be a very corrosive emotion.

Es corretto

Since time immemorial regimes have controlled subjects with rules and guilt. No better way to make folk feel guilty than using religious rules. The Romans knew this and invented our buddy Jesus

CBT sucks a rat's ass. What Jon123 said es corretto. It fails most patients. It works on consciously changing your thoughts. Change your anxious thoughts and you get fine and dandy. Piffle. It's high time a difference approach was taught at pyscho school.