Sensory overload more common as I've aged.

[Sabrina]

Wow, I love that! I admire you have so much insight already in your 20s!
"Permission to be autistic", yep, exactly! It took me decades to get there. It is the only way. Otherwise the stress of the sensory overload gets compounded with the stress of selfconsciousness and the certainty that you are being judged and found inadequate.

I'm a big fan of earplugs. Specifically Howard Leight Laser Lite LL-30 ear plugs, corded
They are made for industrial purposes, as safety gear. They are *really* comfortable. Also, they are bright pink and yellow. I wear them to the mall, the bank, the supermarket, hey, even at home sometimes. Or at a coffee shop to block out inane small talk.

When people asks you "are those headphones?" you smile and say "no, earplugs. I don't like noise". And you smile again and go back to your stuff.

People tend to stare and blink and say "Oh!" and leave you alone.
I like to think that somewhere in their NT heads they get a glimpse of the notion that maaybe some people are different or that maybe life is indeed too noisy and they just hadn't noticed

I like to think that perhaps after several interactions with people who give themselves permission to be autistic (thanks @Coupe for the phrase) some NTs will get it and we will have an easier life...

I tried those once, for sleeping, but they were too uncomfortable for me. Nevertheless, last time that I went to the movies (with my kids, the last Star Wars movie) it was so loud, that I had to put my hands on my ears. Next time I'll go to the movies I'm going to wear them. They might not be comfortable enough for sleeping, but I think they might still be better than the hands' solution.

 

[Bella Pines]

I'm in my 40s and am finding the same thing, looking into a sea of NTs all fake laughing and unquestioning makes me feel sick, the hum of 'happy conversation' drives me mad.

I don't think I am getting more sensitive, in fact I don't think anything much has changed, I think I am just more aware of me and my surroundings. It was always there, I was always me, but somehow now I am noticing it more. Not sure what to do about it, but here we are.

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

I'm in my 40s and am finding the same thing, looking into a sea of NTs all fake laughing and unquestioning makes me feel sick, the hum of 'happy conversation' drives me mad.

I don't think I am getting more sensitive, in fact I don't think anything much has changed, I think I am just more aware of me and my surroundings. It was always there, I was always me, but somehow now I am noticing it more. Not sure what to do about it, but here we are.

Weoponry?

 

[sneaky snek]

I'm too stressed and having more sensory overload lately. Adulthood means more stress and I dont have adequate coping skills and aaaaaaaaa

 

[Ambi]

I don't know if anyone else has this issue, or if I'm just absolutely crazy, but I'm no stranger at all to having sensory overload.

I didn't use to have much of an issue with sensory overload that I remember when I was younger, but as I've gotten older it has become more common, I don't really know what the cause of that could be.

Some of the situations/things that have caused an overload for me are brand new, like being in a room with absolutely no one else, but the room is crowded with furniture and other items like that.

Going to the mall where there is a ton of people going every which way constantly and the ear destroying hum that is their various conversations drives me to the point to where I've had to leave and have someone else do my shopping for me. (I'll probably get flak for that one.)

Don't even get me started on strobe lights... those are an absolute nightmare.

It's hard for me to even keep it together being in a room with just a few people that are talking all at once anymore, I really hope I don't sound like a huge wuss, but I'm sure that'll be what some people think when they read this.

I'm wondering if as I get older, I become more and more overloaded with cumulative stressors, then my susceptibility to sensory overload is heightened.

 

[Progster]

I'm wondering if as I get older, I become more and more overloaded with cumulative stressors, then my susceptibility to sensory overload is heightened.

I'm sure that this does happen. Sensory issues are worse when under stress. Or they seem worse, it becomes harder to tolerate them.

 

[LooseEnds]

I am definitely becoming more hypersensitive to sensory stimuli as I age (I'm 51 now). Noise, crowds, visual chaos really get to me far more than they used to. Perhaps this is partly why my NDness never really showed outwardly so much. Also I believe you do lose cilia in your ears I think as you get older, making noise etc more shrill and painful - hence parents telling the kids to 'turn it down'!

 

[Steve0001]

I don't know if anyone else has this issue, or if I'm just absolutely crazy, but I'm no stranger at all to having sensory overload.

I didn't use to have much of an issue with sensory overload that I remember when I was younger, but as I've gotten older it has become more common, I don't really know what the cause of that could be.

Some of the situations/things that have caused an overload for me are brand new, like being in a room with absolutely no one else, but the room is crowded with furniture and other items like that.

Going to the mall where there is a ton of people going every which way constantly and the ear destroying hum that is their various conversations drives me to the point to where I've had to leave and have someone else do my shopping for me. (I'll probably get flak for that one.)

Don't even get me started on strobe lights... those are an absolute nightmare.

It's hard for me to even keep it together being in a room with just a few people that are talking all at once anymore, I really hope I don't sound like a huge wuss, but I'm sure that'll be what some people think when they read this.

I'm in my 50's now and have lost count of the number of half filled shopping trolleys or baskets that I have just walked away from in my hurry to get out of the store. My ex-wife and my current partner have both experienced it and they both put it down to my bad tempered personality. They just didn't get it and I couldn't explain any better, but here I am and it all makes sense now.

 

[Butterfly88]

I'm wondering if the responsibilities that come with getting older are more stressful and could therefore lead to more sensory overloads. Also, as an adult you are expected to do more shopping and other public things than when a child so that could also add to it.

 

[sneaky snek]

I'm wondering if the responsibilities that come with getting older are more stressful and could therefore lead to more sensory overloads. Also, as an adult you are expected to do more shopping and other public things than when a child so that could also add to it.

I realized that I could handle fluorescent lights better during high school, and then I remembered I had at least two school bus rides a day where I could sleep. And a lot less stress too.

 

[Butterfly88]

I realized that I could handle fluorescent lights better during high school, and then I remembered I had at least two school bus rides a day where I could sleep. And a lot less stress too.

Interesting. I could never manage to sleep on the bus, in the morning I was too nervous about the upcoming school day and on the way hone too stressed from the overwhelming school day.