Mental Health Awareness Week | Day 2

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Sensory Overload & Mental Exhaustion: Recognising the Signs

Welcome to Day 2 of our Mental Health Awareness Week series! Yesterday, we kicked things off by talking about why mental health conversations need to include neurodivergent experiences. Today, we’re diving into a topic that hits home for many of us: sensory overload — and how it connects to mental exhaustion and emotional wellbeing.

🤯 What Is Sensory Overload?

For neurodivergent people, the world can feel too loud, too bright, too fast — or just too much. Sensory overload happens when your brain is trying to process more input than it can handle, and your nervous system goes into high alert.

Maybe it's the background noise at work. The scratchy label in your jumper. The pressure of having to make too many quick decisions. Or just the constant stimulation that others don’t even notice.

🧠 How It Affects Mental Health

Sensory overload isn’t just uncomfortable — it can take a real toll on mental health. When overload happens regularly or unpredictably, it can lead to:

• Chronic stress or anxiety

• Shutdowns or meltdowns

• Executive dysfunction

• Difficulty regulating emotions

• Social withdrawal or burnout

When you’re already juggling emotional or physical health challenges, this kind of constant overwhelm can feel like walking through life with no buffer.

🛠️ What Can Help?

Here are a few things we’ve found helpful — and you might too:

✔️ Identify your key triggers — and try to reduce or control them when you can

✔️ Plan ahead for high-sensory environments (e.g. ear defenders, dark glasses, hats, breaks)

✔️ Use quiet or low-light spaces for recovery

✔️ Advocate for accommodations (e.g. remote work, altered lighting, flexible hours)

✔️ Know your signs — feeling agitated? Can't focus? Want to flee? That could be sensory overload creeping in

📚 Free Resource to Explore

We’ve created a Sensory Support Guide full of tips and tools for recognising your sensory profile, planning your environment, and advocating for sensory-friendly spaces.

👉 Take a look at our sensory support here at neuroempowered.org/resource-guides

💬 Why This Matters

You deserve a world where your brain isn’t constantly fighting to keep up — and where your needs aren’t dismissed as “being too sensitive.”

Being aware of your sensory needs isn’t weakness — it’s self-awareness and self-protection. And it’s key to supporting your mental health.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Day 3, where we’ll talk about routines, rhythm, and regulation — and why structure isn’t just helpful, it’s often essential.

With care— The NeuroEmpowered Team