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Tasha Oswald

Social Skills in the Workplace: Sensory Overload for Neurodiverse Young Professionals

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Welcome back to my blog series on social skills in the workplace. So far we have discussed the confusion surrounding facial expressions, the importance of a social smile, small talk, and initiating conversations. In fact, I have recently opened a new support group for young professionals on the spectrum! Today, I would like to discuss what happens when you experience sensory overload at work and how you can cope with the discomfort it may cause.

Draining Your Social Battery

In my previous blog, Autistic Adults and Smiling, we discussed your social battery. Now let’s talk about how sensory overload can deplete your battery. Do you feel emotionally and physically drained by the end of the workday? There is a lot that can contribute to this feeling. Often, it is not one thing, but the accumulation of many small things that can cause this feeling.

What depletes your social battery?

Man holding a red battery illustrating low social battery for young adults with aspergers in Silicon valley| autism therapy south bay area | Social Skills in the Workplace | Open Doors Therapy | Palo Alto 94306Sensory overload happens when there are too many stimuli in your environment and your brain simply becomes overwhelmed. When you feel depleted it is more difficult to focus on the task at hand. And, feeling depleted can make you stressed and irritable. Over time, when a person feels chronically depleted it will even take a toll on your physical health. This is an issue that you cannot ignore.
 
I hear the clients in my social skills groups mentioning intrusive situations they have experienced at work. For example, you might be sensitive to loud sounds, people talking near you while you’re working, fluorescent lights, a clothing tag that keeps poking you in the neck, the smell of your co-worker’s lunch, or people walking by. The discomfort these situations may cause can make it hard to concentrate at work.

Tips for Handling Sensory Overload

  1. Make a catalog of all the things that negatively impact your senses while at work. Consider all five of your senses, sight, sound, smell, touch/texture, taste, when you do this.
  2. Try to rank order them, if possible, in order of what bothers you the most.
  3. This week, pick one thing from the top of your list and see if there is something you could do that would help. Often it’s a small change that can make a big difference for you.
  4. Consider joining a support group to discuss these challenges and practice coping techniques.

Workplace Modifications to Cope with Sensory OverloadComputer programmer wearing his headphones while working on his laptop | therapy for neurodiversity palo alto, ca | Social Skills in the Workplace | Open Doors therapy | 94306

  1. Wear noise cancellation headphones,
  2. Eat lunch out of the office. Especially if you have a coworker that is eating something that smells offensive.
  3. Keep a hat at your desk if you need to block out lights while you work,
  4. Shift where you sit at your desk or in your office to reduce the number of visual distractions,
  5. Consider working from home once a week, if telecommuting is possible

Social Skills Groups at Open Doors Therapy

Do you experience sensory overload at work? Have you made any modifications to help cope with these challenges? I’d love to hear from you. Consider joining one of our social skills groups in 2020.
 
If you are neurodiverse and have enjoyed this series on social skills in the workplace, please check back in next week. We will discuss the superpower of hyperfocus and how it can help you at work!

Stay Connected With Open Doors Therapy

Man relaxing at his desk in front of his computers | autism therapy palo alto, ca | Social Skills in the Workplace | Open Doors Therapy | 94306

Thanks for reading this blog series. I hope you learned some tips for dealing with sensory overload at work. If you liked this blog and feel like it applies to you or someone you know, I would love for you to be a part of our working professionals community at Open Doors Therapy.

Here are three easy ways to stay connected with my Silicone Valley/ Bay Area counseling clinic:

  1. Contact Open Doors Therapy and schedule a free 30-minute phone consultation.
  2. Connect with me on Facebook for another way to stay informed.
  3. Sign up to receive my newsletter for news and information on living with neurodiversity

Other Autism Services at Open Doors Therapy

My Palo Alto/Bay Area mental health clinic serves individuals with autistic traits. This includes individuals who identify as having Asperger’s, high functioning autism, undiagnosed autism traits, etc. and their families. I am proud to offer individual counseling, parent counseling, and group therapy for the Silicon Valley area and beyond.  Additionally, our therapists offer support and educational groups for neurodiverse working professionals, college students with autistic traits, gifted youth & caregivers, autistic adults, women who identify as neurodiverse, a summer social skills college transition training program for youth transitioning to college, teens  & caregivers, and a mothers group. To learn more about any of these services, contact our office and schedule a free consultation.

About the Author

Photo of Dr. Tasha Oswald, Ph.D. therapist and practice owner in the Palo Alto, bay area in Silicon Valley. She is smiling and looking at the camera to convey a welcoming and open presence for neurodiverse clients | counseling for autistic adult palo alto, ca

Dr. Tasha Oswald is a trained developmental and clinical psychologist. She is the founder and director of Open Doors Therapy, a private practice in Palo Alto, near San Francisco, CA. She specializes in social skills groups.

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Filed Under: Blog, Social Skills in the Workplace Series, Uncategorized