Overstimulation that is triggered by sensory input, anxiety or stress. This is where an Autistic person’s brain is getting more information than it can process from their senses. Overload can lead to a fight or flight (Meltdown), freeze (Shutdown) or fawn response (people-pleasing). Sensory overload is a reality many Autistic and ADHD people intimately understand. Many ADHers and Autistic people have a different way of processing sensory input from neurotypicals. Many of us have a heightened experience of certain types of sensory input.
