Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World [Paperback]

Sharon Heller (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 2, 2003

In the publishing tradition of Driven to Distraction or The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing, this prescriptive book by a developmental psychologist and sufferer of Sensory Defensive Disorder (SD) sheds light on a little known but common affliction in which sufferers react to harmless stimuli as irritating, distracting or dangerous.

We all know what it feels like to be irritated by loud music, accosted by lights that are too bright, or overwhelmed by a world that moves too quickly. But millions of people suffer from Sensory Defensive Disorder (SD), a common affliction in which people react to harmless stimuli not just as a distracting hindrance, but a potentially dangerous threat.Sharon Heller, Ph.D. is not only a trained psychologist, she is sensory defensive herself. Bringing both personal and professional perspectives, Dr. Heller is the ideal person to tell the world about this problem that will only increase as technology and processed environments take over our lives. In addition to heightening public awareness of this prevalent issue, Dr. Heller provides tools and therapies for alleviating and, in some cases, even eliminating defensiveness altogether.

Until now, the treatment for sensory defensiveness has been successfully implemented in Learning Disabled children in whom defensiveness tends to be extreme. However, the disorder has generally been unidentified in adults who think they are either overstimulated, stressed, weird, or crazy. These sensory defensive sufferers live out their lives stressed and unhappy, never knowing why or what they can do about it. Now, with Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight, they have a compassionate spokesperson and a solution–oriented book of advice.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Heller, a developmental psychologist, knows firsthand how difficult life can be for people suffering from sensory defensiveness (SD). Symptoms include flinching from touch; overly acute senses of smell; fear of escalators; irritation at certain lights; and eating disorders. While these symptoms are often present from birth, for many other people they can be triggered by some traumatic event. Adding to the pain is the difficulty in diagnosing this ailment-some sufferers are told they have ADD or autism. Heller briefly discusses her own successful therapy and how it transformed her life. The book includes four sections-the first two focus on an overview of the condition, and the second two examine treatment, including diet, medication and relaxation techniques. Useful appendices list alternative treatments and resources. The writing is clear and relatively jargon-free, and sprinkled throughout the book are anecdotes from patients who have successfully battled SD. Patients who have this condition will find this book reassuring, especially since Heller discusses a treatment and usually follows up with a real-life scenario. For example, the section on light therapy ends with a success story of a woman who had learned to cope with her light sensitivity: "[Anna] realized that her eyes were wide open, no longer slits. She had spent years walking around in a haze, blinded by glare, with her brain taking in only a sliver of light." For people with SD, this title will wonderfully supplement their medical treatment.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“A fascinating account of how sensation can run amok and cause problems. ” (New York Newsday)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (December 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060932929
• ISBN-13: 978-0060932923
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 1 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

To heal the mind I believe one must first heal the body. "...the easiest step toward improving the quality of life consists in simply learning to control the body and its senses," wrote Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Toward this goal, my writing focuses on healing sensory processing problems, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges holistically: optimal nutrition (organic and alive!), nature's pharmacy, detoxification (internal and external), cranial/sacral alignment, movement, sensorimotor activities, and vibrational medicine.
For more information about my books or to inquire about consulting, visit my website www.sharonheller.net or email me at [e-mail].

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

150 of 151 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover December 4, 2002

By Bert Krages

Format:Hardcover

This book is well written, comprehensive, and way overdue. If you are a person who gets gets irritated (or loses it) over stimuli that other people seem to tolerate without difficulty, or if you know such a person, then this is the book for you. While other books address the issue of sensory integration in children, this is the only book that I know of that addresses sensory defensiveness as a problem in adults. Among the many strongpoints of the book are its discussions about how sensory defensiveness can be misdiagnosed as other disorders, what it is like to live with sensory defensiveness, and how to improve the ability to cope. The only bad thing about the book is that the five-color dust jacket is a little on the busy side (although not nearly as horrible as the blinking colon signs you see on some digital clocks). Of course, you always have the option of removing the dust jacket. Thank you Dr. Heller.

120 of 123 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Book for those who Experience Life INTENSELY April 28, 2005

By Peter Messerschmidt VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

This book was recommended to me by a friend who knows I'm an HSP ("Highly Sensitive Person," as per Dr. Elaine Aron's research), and who thought I might find some new information to help me deal with my sensitivity.

It was an informative and enjoyable read, even though it turned out that Sensory Defensiveness doesn't particularly apply to me. However, if you are someone who is constantly feeling overwhelmed and irritated by environmental stimuli, to the point where others sometimes think you're slightly crazy, I have little doubt that you will find this book to be filled with "aha moments;" leading to a great sense of relief that there is actually a "name" for the confusing and painful feelings you may have experienced all your life.

After a thorough descriptive introduction, the author covers the ins and outs of Sensory Defensiveness in four sections. Part One talks about the basics of Sensory Defensiveness, giving many examples of the different ways people experience the condition. Heller also talks about the brain, and the neuroscience involved, and explains how Sensory Defensiveness falls along a continuum from fairly mild to debilitating.

In Part Two, entitled "Secondary Effects," the author describes the many ways in which Sensory Defensiveness contributes to other issues and illnesses in life. This includes issues from difficulty with maintaining a healthy social life, to actual mental disorders ranging from Anxiety to Social Phobias to OCD and much more.

Part Three introduces readers to the ways we may be engaged in activities that are overstimulating, and offers a range of suggestions for how to "turn down the volume" on stimulation.... Heller's notion of a "Sensory Diet" is about creating an environment that reduces the number of "triggers" that contribute to making the world feel overwhelming and out of control. Part Four is pretty much an extension of Part Three, except it applies to actions we can take for OURSELVES, rather than for our surrounding environment. This includes such things as diet, body awareness, posture, exercise, forms of physical therapies and more. These two sections include many pointers for better living that would be suitable even for those who are *not* Sensory Defensive.

A cautionary note, especially if you are an HSP reading this. Whereas Sensory Defensiveness shares many traits with being an HSP, the two are far from identical. Having studied *both* fairly thoroughly over the past 8 years, my observation is that a number of HSPs are likely Sensory Defensive, but so are many people who are NOT HSPs. Most noteworthy, Sensory Defensiveness is a "condition," while being Highly Sensitive is a "neutral trait;" thus it is fairly important to remain objective in diagnosis.

Final thoughts: Highly Recommended (9 out of a possible 10 bookmarks)-- this is one of the first comprehensive works on Sensory Defensiveness, and it is very well done. Do keep in mind that this book does NOT suggest a pharmaceutical treatment; there is no "magic pill" to make Sensory Defensiveness disappear.

Thanks for reading! Read more ›

90 of 92 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An answer to a life long question September 3, 2004

By Mab

Format:Hardcover

I have spent my entire life dodging bright light and loud music/noise. My inability to handle The simple sound of crunching or a change in the temp. during the day made me feel crazy and lonely. After years of this, my system has shut down so badly that I am physically ill to the point that I have had to take semesters off from school and shut out my entire life just to get by. This is the first time in my entire life that it not only makes sense but it changes it. I can't believe the diffrence it makes just to know what is wrong with me and that it is 't in my head. This book should be read, not just by people suffering this horably debilitating disorder but everyone. When u think your friend is being picky or emotional, it may not be. S/he could be suffering more than u know. Possibly one of the most important books I have ever read.

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is changing my world July 15, 2005

By sheina

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you cringe at noises other people don't notice, if you squint even on cloudy days, if you hate the feel of certain things - BUY this book! I have been mocked by friends & family for years for being "oversensitive" & reading this has totally changed my world.

She explains the biology & science of sensory defensiveness as well as techniques & suggestions for reprogramming your brain.

I highly recommend.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's All Too Much January 21, 2006

By BeatleBangs1964 TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

George Harrison's 1968 stellar gem, "It's All Too Much" could be a description of sensory overload. "It's all too much for me to see...it's all too much for me to take..." describes the autism/Asperger's (a/A) experience.

If you are on the spectrum or know somebody who is, make this book your best friend. It does an exemplary job of explaining strong reactions to sensory stimuli. For example, I knew a very young child with Asperger's who, from infancy on always checked toys to see if they were soft. Hard toys were discarded and the child also complained about certain tastes and foods that caused "funny-bad" feelings and "felt nasty in your mouth" such as "lumpy potatoes" and "nasty ketchup." She also detested the smells of talcum powder and vinegar, saying they "were stinky" and made her "feel like throwing up."

That same child insisted on keeping her hair back in a ponytail because she didn't like the way her hair felt touching her skin. Her idea of punishment and hell was being forced to forgo the ponytail and suffer having her "hair getting in the way and making my skin itch," as she said. She also refused to wear certain things due to the level of discomfort they caused; preferred loose, comfortable clothing and, like everyone on the spectrum detested loud noises and cowered under tables upon hearing sirens. The child explained at 3 that "sirens make me hurt everywhere" and "jello is nasty - it shakes in your mouth; doesn't taste much so why eat it?" To this day, she finds jello repulsive.

This book is the voice of hope and reason. The child mentioned above at the time of this review has two degrees and is an expert in certain areas, one of which is Asperger's Syndrome.... Imagine how liberating it must be to learn that these strong feelings don't separate you from your fellow man, but rather creates a bond with countless others who share them!

For anybody on the spectrum and for those who know people who are, be sure to read this book! Read more ›