Sensory Overload and Starbucks!

Yesterday, I spoke at a hospital about my Idaho Aphasia, Apraxia and Dysarthria weekly support group.

The audience for my presentation were other stroke survivors who do not have the conditions referenced in the title.

The stroke coordinator at the local hospital asked me to speak mainly to talk about the Facebook page I developed several years ago.

I post at least three times a week using current articles and YouTube videos about these conditions.

I used my Idaho Aphasia Facebook page as a basis for my presentation. One stroke survivor asked about Aphasia which does not happen to many stroke survivors.

Rather than doing a clinical diagnosis I showed a YouTube video about Aphasia. Showing a video about Aphasia is the whole purpose for my aphasia Facebook page.

I have posted hundreds of articles and videos through the years. Recently, a man from Pakistan who follows my Facebook page asked for help. I’m seeking answers for him given the conditions in his country.

I also showed a video about emotional flooding which is common for stroke survivors. I mentioned that my Facebook page is not just for Aphasia survivors. Rather, I post articles and videos to help all brain injury survivors.

I showed a video about the concept of emotional flooding and the survivors were shocked when they realized that they have the same issues.

So what is emotional flooding?

Here’s a great description:

Following a significant brain injury some people find that exposure to normal, everyday levels of particular stimuli (e.g. bright lights, loud noises or touch), is now uncomfortable, overwhelming and/or distressing. This problem may be referred to as ‘hypersensitivity’, ‘over stimulation’ or ‘sensory overload’. This may lead to fear, anxiety and avoidance of particular stimuli (e.g. keeping curtains drawn to avoid light) and environments (e.g. avoiding noisy situations such as supermarkets).

I had a very graphic example this morning. I went to Starbucks for a business meeting. It was a very complex subject. Two people use the PowerPoint to convey the topic. It is a very important and fascinating concept. The whole presentation including questions and answers took about an hour and a half.

Starbucks is not a great venue when you have a brain injury. While trying to concentrate on the presentation, I became distracted because of the sensory overload. Loud noises, the barista banging coffee grounds, customers ordering, a couple of children laughing loudly, the glare from the front door, etc.

I kept focused yet I got incredibly distracted knowing that a headache was forthcoming.

It was a very successful meeting yet I could not wait to leave. I got into my car and sat silently for five minutes just to regroup my brain capacity.

I drove home carefully yet quickly. I got home and sat in a dark room for about half an hour. And honestly I had to take a massive pain killer.

I do understand the triggers for my sensory overloads. Often because of business needs, I just deal with it. Normally a 90 minute conversation at Starbucks is fine. However, today is Friday and I have had many meetings this week. As a result, a normal 90 minute conversation on a beautiful Friday morning simply blew my mind.

Blowing my mind it’s kind of funny because 20% of my brain is dead tissue.

I cannot wait to sleep tonight. Unfortunately, my wife wants to go to Costco. Talk about sensory overload!

Same as it ever was

When I had my two strokes more than 13 years ago, I was 50 years old. In the ensuing years I’ve had some health issues related to my strokes and other assorted “age related” things. In May of 2023, I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. As a result I have endured two years of pain and the resulting lack of exercise. That summer I tried to walk regularly but my heel pain was too extreme. I tried to do exercises to relieve the pain but nothing helped. In September of 2023 I asked my doctor to give me a shot of Cortizone. We were headed to Boston for meetings and then headed to Maine. I just wanted to enjoy the trip without pain. It helped a lot. Six months later I had the same pain. I went to an orthopedic doctor who prescribed minor physical therapy. It worked for a bit and then the pain got worse. In September of 2024, my regular doctor gave me another round of Cortizone shots so I could travel to Phoenix. It really helped. For a while. In February of 2025, the pain got worse. I went ...

Phantom Blindness and Taking a Break after Strokes

I met with my eye doctor last week about taking some time off from my vision therapy. I have been doing therapy since my stroke almost two and a half years ago. I am tired, and a need a break. My doctor said, “This is completely understandable. Take some time off.” At the appointment, my doctor tested my vision. Because of the strokes, my vision was affected, and I have a problem in my field of vision on the right side. I have a deficit with my right side peripheral vision. However, it is getting better. During the test, I told him that I “sense things on the right side of my peripheral vision.” It seems that I know that something is there, but I cannot really distinguish what it is. He told me that there is a body of thought describing phantom vision or phantom blindness. A Polish researcher, L. Bieganowski, described this phantom blindness this way: “The subject of the paper is the phenomenon of phantom vision. It occurs among the blind (or almost blind...

January

January 10th was the 13th anniversary of my first stroke. After 18 days in the hospital (including my second massive stroke were I lost almost everything) we celebrated my son’s seventh birthday. I wanted to celebrate my son‘s birthday but I had no idea the sensory overload would cause. The flashing lights, the unbearable noise of the crowds and the music, and loud conversations caused me to panic. In the midst of my brain damaged confusion, I had to go to the bathroom. At that point I really didn’t know how to navigate the restaurant even though I had been there many times. I didn’t know the concept of letters and I didn’t know what “men” and “women” were on the doors. My little son gripped my hand and said, “Daddy… I will take you to the bathroom.” Stumbling through the crowded restaurant I was scared. My son guided me to the proper door and asked if I needed any more help. After I finished I came out and he grabbed my hand and took me back to the booth. In January this year, We cele...

Dunham Family and My Stroke Story!

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