But Why Is My Brain So Overwhelmed? | The Psychology of Sensory Processing and Sensory Stress
Sometimes it's the spoon scraping the bowl. Or the tag on your shirt. Or the wind in your ears. And suddenly...it's all too much. In this episode, Kristin and Laura unpack the messy, invisible world of sensory stress and how it shapes daily life for many people (often neurodivergent). From autistic shutdowns to ADHD overstimulation, they explore why modern environments are hostile to our nervous systems, and what it means to live in a world not built for your brain. They dig into:• What sensory stress really is, and why it's not “just being sensitive”• The difference between ADHD and autistic sensory experiences• Guilt, shame & why masking becomes a survival tool• Why seemingly small things can lead to big crashes• How to recognise, respect, and respond to sensory needs in yourself and others This is a call to stop pathologising sensory needs, start redesigning our environments, and finally ask: what if the world is just too loud and we weren’t meant to tolerate it?