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

Sharon Heller (Author)

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 the Hardcover edition.

Review

Dr. Sharon Heller has written 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 Paperbacks (December 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060932929
• ISBN-13: 978-0060932923
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #25,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > By Topic > Sense

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

110 of 111 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 (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World (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.

72 of 73 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 "denmarkguy" (Port Townsend, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World (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!

67 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Mab "lattana" (Evans, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World (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.