The ADHD Skills Lab
Why You Snap at 3pm: The ADHD Sensory Overload You Didn’t See Coming
Apr 7, 2025
Feeling overwhelmed by 3 PM? It might not just be your to-do list. Discover how ADHD affects your nervous system, making some stimuli feel unbearable. The podcast shares hilarious studies, including one where researchers zapped participants to test sensitivity! Learn why ADHD brains skip crucial stress signals and how hidden overstimulation drains your focus. Plus, insights on recognizing when your sensory overload is spiraling you toward burnout. Tune in for a blend of humor and groundbreaking research on living with ADHD.
23:35
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Quick takeaways
- Adults with ADHD experience heightened tactile sensitivity and sensory overload, greatly impacting emotional regulation and functioning throughout the day.
- Neurotypical individuals recognize distress from sensory stimuli while ADHD individuals often do not, leading to unacknowledged discomfort and subsequent overwhelm.
Deep dives
Sensory Processing and ADHD
Research indicates that adults with ADHD exhibit altered somatosensory processing, specifically heightened tactile sensitivity and lower tolerance to sensory stimuli. A study involving 27 adults diagnosed with ADHD found they reported greater sensitivity to touch and other sensory stimuli than neurotypical individuals. The participants underwent a series of tests, including receiving electrical stimulus while their reactions to touch were monitored, revealing that they reacted more negatively to these sensory experiences. This suggests a distinct difference in sensory processing among ADHD individuals, potentially contributing to challenges in self-regulation and emotional responses to sensory overload.
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