What I do to calm overstimulation

Hello loves!

How are you today ?

I chose this picture to invite calm into our conversation:) so I hope you enjoy it .

I hope your day is going great, you have found a moment of joy, peace, or your whole day is going great.

Today I am coming to you with a topic about overstimulation. What I do in moments of overstimulation when it all feels too much and overwhelming.

I think you have already read my post about HSP’s, self — compassion and self — acceptance , if not, here is the link. It will also help you understand more about where I am coming from. But I think that you don’t have to resonate with being an HSP to understand what I am talking about or take something useful for yourself.

Let’s get to the topic. I can already recall many moments from my life where I was dealing with overstimulation, so we will definitely have what to talk about.

Get your favorite cup of tea, a candle, create your space safe how you can and desire, and let’s begin:)

This post is not meant to be psychological, professional advice, I am not a specialist. I am here to give you insight into my journey, what I do and how I take care of me in these moments.

Overstimulation in my life

For me it has been very common all throughout my life, since my sensitivity is very high and has been like that since childhood.

Overstimulation is not new or rare. With so much information around, noise, images, views, sounds, stimulation, having too much of it is a very familiar thing for me.

Just recently I was out of the house doing many things, going from one task to another, in crowds, on public transport, seeing lights change from outside to inside lighting, the air change from outside to inside a shopping center, phone screen, computer screen, video here, video there, music this, music that, I can keep on going. My jacket not fitting how I feel comfortable and so on. Phew… It is a bit much, isn’t it?

Have you had an experience like that?

And this does not mean we stay in our 4 walls and not go out, we can find how to love life, enjoy it, be in it and take care of our needs.

What I do in moments of overstimulation

First thing I do is realize I am in one. It was necessary to understand how my body, how I respond and what is happening in me when I am overstimulated. For example, do I get anxious, do I get tired , everything feels fast and like “walls are caving in”, like I don’t want nobody to touch me or come to me, feeling the urge to cry, or getting fidgetty, I just can’t wait for my alone time. OR just many little moments of that during the day and at the end it all adds up.

The first thing I do is realize what is hapening. Right then and there I take a deep breath, I realize what state I am in and I take a moment to say “I love you, you are safe” to myself. Not to change how I am feeling, but just to show I am there for myself and I got me. What helps me is consciously slowing down the pace, closing my eyes if I can, deep breathing, repeating loving words in my mind, slowing the way I move, putting a hand on my heart, having a sip of water as well.

Some outside things that can help — noise canceling earphones, something to cover my eyes and “turn off” the light inviting calm, meditation music, music that is close and familiar to my heart, sometimes it really calls for a nap as well, haha.

If anyone is around me, I am learning to practice expressing what is happening, in a healthy way expressing what is going on in me and what it is that I need. I had to learn not to put this as a pressure on others, but to express it in a healthy way to ask for understanding.

For me personally, I also include spiritual practices to protect my energy overall throughout the day. Having an item that has this purpose and carrying it with me, whenever I need to I call for it to assist. Like a ring, a crystal, or what I desire. And practices for cleansing are as well important for me, I have developed practices right for me to cleanse the energy of myself, my space. By no means this a substitute for real inner work, I find this to be a helpful tool.

What I found to work as well was giving my body the opportunity to fully relax, to learn how it is to be in a peaceful, safe, relaxed state. Taking a moment to relax every part of my body and breathe. Doing this in a safe space where I know I will have time for me, where I won’t be disturbed, to be fully present, building the inner knowing that it is safe for me to be relaxed and to not be in tension all the time.

The body can be tense after a day/ moment like that and I really have enjoyed this practice of inviting peace, relaxation and safety. Both nurturing myself in the moment and when I can fully relax. I really needed that, how about you ?

But this is how I handle it, how I handle moments of overstimulation and overall inviting calm. How about you? What is your favorite practice?

Hope you enjoyed this time we spent together and maybe you even found something that resonated with you. If you did , I am happy you can take it with you on your journey 🙂

Have a wonderful rest of your day!

With love and light.