You are at work, trying to focus on an important task, but the fluorescent lights above seem unbearably bright. The hum of conversation from nearby coworkers blends into the clatter of keyboards, forming an inescapable wall of noise. Suddenly, you feel your heart rate increase, your shoulders tense, and your thoughts become disorganized. By the time you get home, you are exhausted—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally drained.
For many people, this is an occasional annoyance. But for those who experience sensory overload regularly, it can make everyday life feel impossible to manage. Whether at school, at work, or even in social settings, the struggle to process sensory input can lead to frustration, anxiety, and isolation.
How Our Brains Process Light and Sound
To understand sensory overload, we need to first explore how our brains handle sensory input. Light and sound enter the nervous system through the eyes and ears and travel to the midbrain (mesencephalon), which plays a crucial role in processing these signals.
- The superior colliculus, located in the midbrain, helps us process visual information, determining what is relevant and what can be ignored.
- The inferior colliculus does the same for sound, filtering out background noise so we can focus on what matters.
However, when these systems become overactive or dysregulated, they struggle to filter out irrelevant stimuli, causing everything—lights, sounds, even textures—to feel equally intense and overwhelming. This is what happens in sensory overload. Instead of experiencing a balanced response to the environment, the brain processes everything as equally urgent, leading to a state of chronic overstimulation.
The Midbrain, the Limbic System, and Anxiety
The midbrain does not work in isolation—it has strong connections with the limbic system, the brain’s emotional center. When sensory signals from the midbrain overwhelm the system, the amygdala, a key structure in the limbic system, may interpret the overload as a threat. This triggers a fight-or-flight response, flooding the body with stress hormones and increasing feelings of anxiety.
Over time, repeated exposure to sensory overload can condition the brain to anticipate stress in everyday environments, leading to heightened anxiety even in situations that should feel safe—like going to a restaurant with friends, attending a lecture, or walking through a crowded store.
How Sensory Overload Affects Daily Life
Sensory overload does not just create discomfort—it disrupts daily functioning. Here is how it can impact different aspects of life:
At School
- Bright classroom lights and noisy hallways make it difficult for students to concentrate.
- Background chatter and movement can feel overwhelming, making it hard to focus on lessons.
- Increased anxiety and frustration may lead to withdrawal from class participation.
At Work
- Open-office environments with constant movement and noise can make it difficult to complete tasks.
- Meetings, especially those with overlapping voices or fluorescent lighting, may trigger stress responses.
- Social interactions with colleagues may become exhausting, leading to avoidance.
In Social and Family Situations
- Loud family gatherings or parties can be too much to handle, leading to irritability or withdrawal.
- The unpredictability of social environments can make outings stressful rather than enjoyable.
- Relationships may suffer when sensory overload is misunderstood as moodiness or disengagement.
Supporting Yourself or a Loved One
If you or someone you love struggles with sensory overload, there are practical strategies to help manage it:
- Create Sensory-Friendly Environments – Use noise-canceling headphones, blue-light blocking glasses, or soft lighting to reduce excessive stimulation.
- Schedule Downtime – Taking breaks in quiet spaces can prevent the nervous system from becoming overwhelmed.
- Practice Breathing Techniques – Slow, deep breaths can help calm the fight-or-flight response and regulate the nervous system.
- Set Boundaries – It is okay to leave an overstimulating situation or to communicate when an environment is too much to handle.
- Engage in Sensory Diets – Gentle, structured exposure to sensory stimuli can help desensitize the nervous system over time.
Chiropractic Neurology Approaches to Sensory Overload
Chiropractic neurology offers non-invasive, drug-free interventions to support sensory processing challenges by targeting the brain’s ability to regulate sensory input. Some key approaches include:
Neurocognitive Therapy
Stimulating the frontal lobe through neurocognitive therapy can enhance executive functioning, helping the brain better regulate sensory input and emotional responses. This may involve working memory exercises, cognitive training tasks, and attention regulation techniques to improve sensory processing and reduce anxiety.
Vestibular and Oculomotor Therapy
Since the midbrain plays a role in vision and balance, therapies that stimulate the vestibular (balance) and oculomotor (eye movement) systems can help improve sensory integration. This might involve specific eye-tracking exercises, balance training, or gaze stabilization exercises.
Brain-Based Sensory Integration Training
This involves light, sound and touch and finding ways to help the brain reintegrate these sensory stimuli in a safe and gradual way. When the perception of any one of these senses is too heightened, a chiropractic neurologist can find therapy approaches through an in-depth examination that improve the integration of these sensory stimuli so that they are less and less overwhelming.
Final Thoughts
Sensory overload is not just an inconvenience—it can be a profound challenge that affects every aspect of life. Understanding how the midbrain, limbic system, and sensory processing interact can help individuals develop strategies for managing overload and anxiety. Chiropractic neurology offers targeted, non-invasive solutions to help the brain process sensory input more efficiently, leading to improved focus, reduced anxiety, and a greater sense of well-being.
By creating sensory-friendly environments, setting boundaries, and exploring brain-based therapies, individuals struggling with sensory overload can reclaim their ability to engage with the world without feeling constantly overwhelmed.
If you or someone you love is suffering from overstimulation and you would like to learn how chiropractic neurology can help, contact the team at Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center today. We look forward to hearing from you.
Written by Sophie Hose, DC, MS, DACNB, CCSP
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