overstimulate
Flood with input
To overstimulate is to provide too much stimulation, whether sensory, emotional, or mental.
The term appears frequently in discussions of child development, where bright lights, loud sounds, or too much activity can overstimulate infants and toddlers, leading to fussiness or meltdowns.
Adults can also become overstimulated, particularly in environments with excessive noise, crowds, or information.
The casino's flashing lights and constant noise overstimulated her senses.
The related adjective overstimulated describes someone in this overwhelmed state.
Excessive simultaneous stimulation
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
- floodedCovered with water
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
- saturatedThoroughly soaked through
swamped · overloaded · engulfed · besieged · deluge · excess · overpowered · information overload
Chronic occupational depletion
- exhaustionState of utter depletion
- drainedEmptied of resources
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
- crashedSuddenly failed or slept
worn out · spent · mental fatigue · shutdown · frazzled · fried · tapped out · wiped out
Intense urban illumination
- loud noisesHigh-decibel disturbances
- crowded spacesAreas densely filled with people
- screensDisplays or filters
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
notifications · caffeine · sugar rush · multitasking · information overload · overscheduling · neon · strobing
Nervously unable to settle
- restlessUnable to be still
- hyperactiveExcessively energetic, easily distracted
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- excitableEasily aroused emotionally
jittery · antsy · overactive · bouncy · wired · amped up · keyed up · hyper
Defeated by sheer volume
- on edgeTense and anxious
- overstressedBurdened past capacity
- panickyOvercome by sudden fear
- fight-or-flightAcute threat reaction
hypervigilant · meltdown · distressed · agitated · irritable · racing thoughts · dysregulated · reactive
sensory overload
Excessive simultaneous stimulation
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
- floodedCovered with water
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
saturated · swamped · overloaded · engulfed · besieged · deluge · excess · overpowered · information overload · cognitive overload
burnout
Chronic occupational depletion
- exhaustionState of utter depletion
- drainedEmptied of resources
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
crashed · worn out · spent · mental fatigue · shutdown · frazzled · fried · tapped out · wiped out · collapse
bright lights
Intense urban illumination
- loud noisesHigh-decibel disturbances
- crowded spacesAreas densely filled with people
- screensDisplays or filters
social media · notifications · caffeine · sugar rush · multitasking · information overload · overscheduling · neon · strobing · cacophony
fidgety
Nervously unable to settle
- restlessUnable to be still
- hyperactiveExcessively energetic, easily distracted
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
excitable · jittery · antsy · overactive · bouncy · wired · amped up · keyed up · hyper · wound up
overwhelmed
Defeated by sheer volume
- on edgeTense and anxious
- overstressedBurdened past capacity
- panickyOvercome by sudden fear
fight-or-flight · hypervigilant · meltdown · distressed · agitated · irritable · racing thoughts · dysregulated · reactive