{"id":13190,"date":"2023-10-02T15:21:43","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T07:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/?p=13190"},"modified":"2025-03-31T20:04:49","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T12:04:49","slug":"overstimulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mindvalley.com\/blog\/overstimulation\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways to heal from the toxic reality of overstimulation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Picture this: You\u2019re staring at your laptop screen. Eyes flickering across the different opened tabs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ping!<\/em> You get a notification on your phone. And another one, and another, and another…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A looming deadline casts a shadow over your growing pile of to-dos. Yet somehow, a side trip into the vortex of social media has gripped your attention. And the next thing you know, two hours have gone by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, overstimulation\u2014you invisible culprit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur world has always been full of things designed to distract us<\/em>,\u201d says Nir Eyal<\/strong>, a habit-forming expert and trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s Becoming Focused and Indistractable<\/em> Quest. It\u2019s the reality of our modern society, unfortunately, coercing our minds into a perpetual state of buzzing anxiety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what exactly ties together this unnerving mental static, and more crucially, how can you silence it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding the complexities of overstimulation is the first step. And from there, you can pave your path towards mental clarity and tranquility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is overstimulation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overstimulation is simply physiological and psychological overload. These excessive burdens can happen through any of the senses\u2014sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell\u2014and also mentally through the overconsumption of information or multitasking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An example of a physical<\/strong> one could be a complete sensory overload at a concert\u2014your hearing with music, your sight with the dazzling lights, and your touch with the bustle of the crowd. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And with mental<\/strong> overstimulation, it could be as simple as responding to emails, scrolling through social media feeds, trying to complete a task, and shopping online\u2014all while rewatching all 10 seasons of Friends<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While juggling is the societal norm (and, perhaps, an expectation), research shows there are major downsides to it. One study<\/a> published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking<\/em> discovered a link between multitasking and symptoms of depression and social anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what this shows is that being constantly bombarded can not only weaken our ability to think but also harm our mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What sensory overload does to our brain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our brains process approximately 11 million bits of information per second<\/a>, but consciously, we can only handle about 40-50 bits. This means the majority of stimuli we encounter are processed subconsciously. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientifically speaking, the prefrontal cortex\u2014the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, controlling impulses, and focusing attention\u2014takes a direct hit during sensory overload. During this time, it struggles to sift through the influx of information, resulting in mental fatigue, anxiety, and impaired focus and decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s amusing to picture our brains as browsers with too many tabs open. But, the truth is, overstimulation is a real, physical challenge that can hamper our daily functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADHD and overstimulation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the 1980s, ADHD (attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder) diagnosis was relatively uncommon, impacting just one out of every 20 children. Presently, the situation has dramatically shifted, with ADHD emerging as one of the most prevalent mental conditions among children. In fact, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reports that an estimated 6 million children<\/a>, ranging from ages 3 to 17, have been diagnosed at some point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They go on to say that the cause and risk factors are still being researched. But what is known is that genetics are a huge factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those with ADHD often have brains that struggle to filter sensory inputs<\/a>. Consequently, they tend to have a reduced capacity for handling stimuli, reaching a point of sensory overload more rapidly than those without the disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So while overstimulation doesn\u2019t cause ADHD, it surely doesn\u2019t help those who have it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What causes overstimulation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this always-buzzing digital era, the sneaky culprits behind your overstimulation can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n