[Patricia Highsmith] was overwhelmed by sensory stimulation - there were too many people and too much noise and she just could not handle the supermarket. She continually jumped, afraid that someone might recognise or touch her. She could not make the simplest of decisions - which type of bread did she want, or what kind of salami? I tried to do the shopping as quickly as possible, but at the check-out she started to panic. She took out her wallet, knocked off her glasses, dropped the money on the floor, stuff was going all over the place. . Andrew Wilson
About This Quote

Sensory overload happens when we are exposed to too many different sensory stimuli. When we are confronted with too much information, we can become overwhelmed. We can become confused and frightened, and our anxiety can quickly escalate. It is not uncommon for people who suffer from sensory overload to develop phobias or anxieties, and their reactions can be so extreme that they become unable to function in most situations. It is important to remember that all of us have a limit on how much information we can process and retain and the more information we take in, the harder it is for us to filter it out.

Source: Patricia Highsmith, I-II Ifi"I IfioiI"IIi1

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