When the world feels too loud

Many of the people I coach recognize it: feeling overstimulated after a busy workday, struggling with loud noises, or feeling drained after a meeting full of small talk. Sensitivity to stimuli often shows up in introversion and giftedness, but also in autism, ADHD, and high sensitivity. Yet in each of these, it means something slightly different. So how does that work?

Sensitivity to stimuli means that your nervous system reacts more strongly or quickly to signals from your environment. Sounds, light, movement, emotions of others—everything can come in more intensely. Neuroscientific research shows that this is related to how the brain filters and processes stimuli (Koch et al., 2016).

Rest

For introverts, the main factor is the need for rest and time to process (Laney, 2002). The nervous system of introverts is more sensitive to dopamine, which makes busy environments more tiring.

Gifted individuals often experience sensitivity to stimuli through their intense way of thinking and feeling. Their brain makes quick associations and processes information deeply, which can easily lead to a feeling of “too much” (Dabrowski, 1967; Piechowski, 1997).

Autism

In autism, sensitivity to stimuli is often more pronounced and broader in scope. It can involve sensory input (sounds, smells, touch), but also social stimuli. Research by Robertson & Baron-Cohen (2017) shows that people with autism often have different sensory processing, meaning signals are less effectively filtered.

ADHD

In ADHD, the main challenge is stimulus regulation. People with ADHD are not always oversensitive, but they struggle to direct their attention: too many or too few stimuli can cause restlessness. According to Sonuga-Barke (2005), this is linked to differences in the brain’s reward system.

High Sensitivity

High sensitivity (Elaine Aron, 1997) is a personality trait in which people process subtle signals deeply. It resembles the sensitivity seen in autism or giftedness, but there is an important difference: highly sensitive people also often enjoy their sensitivity, for example because they notice subtle nuances and have strong empathy.

Overlap

The overlap lies in the experience of overstimulation. Whether you are introverted, gifted, autistic, have ADHD, or are highly sensitive: too many stimuli can lead to fatigue, stress, and even physical complaints.

The difference lies in the cause and processing. In autism and ADHD, it is often due to structurally different stimulus processing in the brain. In introversion and giftedness, the need for depth and processing time plays a role. In high sensitivity, it is about deeper processing and noticing subtle signals more quickly.

Strength

Do you recognize yourself in sensitivity to stimuli? Then it can help to explore where it comes from for you. Is it mainly your need for rest (introversion)? Your fast thinking and feeling speed (giftedness)? Or do you identify more strongly with the characteristics of autism, ADHD, or high sensitivity?

The answer can help you manage stimuli more effectively. Because whether you need more quiet time, structure, or learn to enjoy your sharp perception—sensitivity to stimuli can, if you handle it consciously, also be a strength. I’d be glad to talk more about it with you.