Have you ever been told that you are too sensitive?
Too emotional,
Too reactive,
Too easily overwhelmed.
What if that's not actually what's happening?
What if your nervous system is simply noticing?
If you're autistic or on that spectrum,
Your nervous system is often taking in far more information than people realize.
While someone else might walk into a room and notice a conversation that's happening,
Your brain may also register the fluorescent lights,
The hum of the air conditioner,
The scratchy tag on your shirt,
Somebody's perfume,
Subtle shifts in facial expressions,
The emotional tone of the room,
And the fact that the chair feels just a little bit uneven.
This isn't something that you're choosing to pay attention to.
Your brain is simply processing an incredible amount of information all at once.
Our brands are constantly deciding what information is important and what can safely fade into the background.
For many autistic people,
That filtering process works differently.
Instead of automatically tuning out the hum of the lights,
The sensation of your clothing,
Or the several conversations happening nearby,
Your nervous system continues to register them.
It's not that you're trying harder to notice these things.
They simply remain a part of your awareness.
And that takes energy.
Your brain is working hard to make sense of all of that incoming information while also navigating social expectations,
Changes in routine,
Transitions,
And the uncertainty of everyday life.
Much of this work is completely invisible to the people around us.
Many autistic people have spent years believing that we are too much,
Because they become overwhelmed more easily than others.
But overwhelm isn't a character flaw.
It's often the natural result of of a nervous system that's been carrying an extraordinary amount of information for a long time.
Imagine carrying around a backpack.
Most people are carrying one with a few books inside.
Yours may be carrying every sound,
Every light,
Every social cue,
Every expectation,
Every sensory experience,
And the effort that it takes to make sense of all of those things.
By the end of the day,
Of course you're tired.
Of course,
You need quiet.
Of course,
You need a chance for your nervous system to reset and recover.
The goal isn't to become less aware.
Many autistic people notice incredible details,
Patterns,
Creativity,
And nuances that most people miss.
That awareness is a part of who you are.
The goal is to recognize when your nervous system has been carrying too much for too long.
And to respond with compassion instead of criticism.
So here's one small practice I'd love you to try today.
Before asking yourself,
What's wrong with me,
Pause and ask instead.
What has my nervous system been carrying today?
To spend a moment noticing.
Maybe it's noise.
Maybe it's social interactions.
Maybe it's a lot of decision making.
Maybe it was masking.
Or maybe it's simply that you've been trying to process the world without enough opportunities to recover.
You don't have to solve it in that moment.
Simply noticing shifts you from self-judgment to self-understanding.
Your nervous system isn't broken.
Is working incredibly hard.
And it deserves the same compassion that you offer everybody else.
If someone came to mind to you while you were watching this,
Consider sharing it with them.
Sometimes understanding ourselves begins by realizing that we're not alone.
Your comments help other people feel that way as well.
So if this resonated with you,
I would love to hear more about that.
Thank you so much for spending some time with me today,
And I hope to see you on the next video.
Take care.
