What
is sensory overload? Wikipedia’s definition is as follows:
Sensory overload occurs when one or more of the body's senses experiences
over-stimulation from the environment.
Sensory
overload has been associated with a number of disorders including autism. When
Riley was younger, sensory overload was constant. Understandably so. Everything
is “new” when you are little. New experiences, new feelings, new surroundings,
new people, new, new, new.
Often times I forget what it must be like for Riley. And then something happens to me (like the dentist yesterday) and I am reminded how challenging it must be in Riley World with everything constantly coming at you full speed ahead.
To try and explain, my
perception of sensory overload goes something like this…I decide to go to my
high school reunion. Never mind what year. In anticipation I go out to buy a
new outfit (black…ALL black with hopes that black will make my 10lb weight gain
only look like 5). I’m a little nervous as I have not seen
many of these people for “x” number of years. Nope. Still not telling.
I
Google the venue. A little pressed for time, I am sure I will remember the
directions without having to write them down. Why are you laughing?? I happily
get in my car. There’s not a cloud in the sky, I turn on some music and off I go.
About 15 minutes into the trip I realize the venue is farther away than I
thought and I start to worry that I will late. There’s an accident on the
bridge so traffic comes to a standstill. Gah! I start to get a little more
anxious.
Finally
traffic starts to move but then I notice it starts to rain. Just enough to be
annoying. Just enough to notice that my windshield wipers are smearing more
than clearing. It starts to get dark. I notice that I am now late and I may be
a little lost. GAH!!
I
have no GPS so have to rely on my aging memory. I think I see the street but I
can’t quite make out the sign. I can’t see that far…in the rain…in the dark and
why the hell is the music so loud!!
As I drive through the intersection I
realize that was my street. I try and
find a place to turn around. I turn onto a side road. An unlit, gravel, side road.
With potholes. The size of craters. I think I may have left my muffler 10
potholes back. Why the eff are there no damn
street lights!!!
And
then…my gas light comes on. Seriously?? I tell myself I can fill up before I head
home. I finally get back on track. Only I’m not. Apparently I need East Avenue
instead of West friggin’ Avenue so not only am I late…I am on the opposite side
of the city. Why don’t they make pants
with elastic waists and I think I forgot to rip off the damn tag on my blouse
and WATCH OUT YOU STUPID PEDESTRIAN!!!
OMFG!!! DON’T YOU KNOW YOU
SHOULDN’T WEAR ALL BLACK ON A DARK, RAINY NIGHT!!!!! Oh. Right.
With
that I decide to bail on the reunion and head home. I can only hope that I
won’t run out of gas before I get there.
That,
my friends, is my perception of sensory overload. That is how I can only
imagine Riley feels the majority of time. How he DOES it is beyond me.
As
Riley has gotten older his coping abilities/strategies have improved ten fold.
As
I have gotten older my coping abilities/strategies have…well…not.
Ironic
isn’t it.
