Why am I so sensitive to sounds, lights and textures?

You're Wrong About ADHD

Busy restaurants, crowded shops, noisy offices - everyday places that, for some of us, can feel totally overwhelming. A single loud noise, a bright light, or the scratchy tag on your sweater can spiral into anxiety or exhaustion. Sound familiar? You're not alone.

Sensory overwhelm happens when your brain struggles to filter out all the sights, sounds, and feelings coming at it at once, leaving you feeling overstimulated and on edge. It’s not just “being sensitive”—it’s how your nervous system reacts to the world around you.

This week on the season finale of You're Wrong About ADHD, Sam and Katie look at sensory overload with Dr Khurram Sadiq, a consultant psychiatrist who specialises in ADHD and Autism. Together, they explore what sensory overload actually is, why your brain sometimes just can't handle everything and share advice for managing it.

Dr Sadiq is currently writing Explaining AuDHD, an accessible guide for understanding autism and ADHD as a combined diagnosis. The book is set to be released in April 2025.

We’ll be back on Wednesday for the bonus episode of You're Wrong About ADHD. You can get in touch with the team by sending your questions and stories to [e-mail].