It’s been said that a surefire way to tell if you are a women with ADHD is if you had a tag collection as a kid. Certain things can really annoy the ADHD brain than that irritating scratch on the back of your neck, the pull of a too-tight waistband, the poke of an errant underwire, or the bark of an anxious dog. Only for ADHD brains that irritation creates rage, frustration, distraction, and emotional overwhelm, instead of a perfect pearl.
What is Hypersensitivity?
Hypersensitivity is not a disorder but it is an attribute common in women with ADHD. Some of the symptoms of hypersensitivity includes loud, sudden noise, bright or flashing lights, fast objects, strong Odors, too much information, coarse fabric or tags, clothing that’s too tight, hair rubbing against skin, too many people (can cause claustrophobia), strong feelings (their own or other people’s), minor disagreements or frustrations and tactile sensitivity
Why is the ADHD brain more Sensitive?
Think of your brain as your sink, and information drips slowly out of the faucet and is filtered on the way. However for a women with ADHD, your faucets are turned on all the way up to the highest settings and your brain floods your system with every sensation noise is heard, and everything within eyesight rushes into the brain because of the inability to filter out all the extras.
Emotional Sensitivities– Women with ADHD emotions are often stronger, more sudden, and more overwhelming. These heightened emotions then flood and overwhelm the ADHD brain, often causing people to act out in rash and seemingly irrational ways. But, when you look at what’s really happening- it makes a lot more sense.
Noise sensitivity- You may be sensitive to certain sounds such as repetitive clicking of a pen or a ticking clock. Or maybe loud noises are more triggering, like kids playing, people chewing loudly, or the unexpected bark of a dog.
Touch aversion –Touch aversion can result from tags on your clothes, the feel of beauty products on your skin, or the sensation of jewelry that’s too tight against your body.
Visual sensitivities –Light and visual sensitivities can include flickering lights, repetitive movements, and even sunshine. Smells of perfumes, gasoline, and other strong odors can become overwhelming to those living with hypersensitivity.
Movement sensitivity- Being in an elevator or in a large crowd, can prove too much and result in an emotional or physical response.
Strategies for handling ADHD Hypersensitivity for women
Respect your brain– Honor what does and doesn’t work for your brain. Don’t force it to do things it doesn’t do well.
Give yourself space– When you get overwhelmed, walk away. Give yourself space from the things that are overwhelming you and center your mind. Once your system has settled down, then decide if and how you want to re-engage.
Block it out– Don’t hesitate to use noise-canceling headphones, blue light blocking glasses, or other strategies for blocking all that extra stimulation.
Set boundaries and expectations: Once you know what overwhelms your brain, you get the chance to set the boundaries to protect it. Have a friend with three loud kids and two barking dogs? Suggest you meet at a park or for a girl’s lunch. Feel overwhelmed in crowded venues? Say no to the giant concert and agree to go to a small outdoor concert instead.
Share it– Sharing your sensitivities will help the people closest to you understand and respect your boundaries. Let them know what it feels like to you (maybe even share this article) and watch as attitudes change and compromises are reached.
Change it up– Overwhelmed by the giant superstore? Head over to your local grocer instead.. Don’t make your brain handle all the extra stimulation over and over- start brainstorming ways to change it up.