MissUnderstood: The ADHD in Women Channel ADHD and sensory overwhelm: Itchy tags and tight clothes
Sep 23, 2025
Discover how itchy tags and tight clothes can trigger sensory overwhelm for women with ADHD. Delve into why this discomfort is often overlooked and learn practical strategies to ease daily challenges. Dr. Monica Johnson shares insights into sensory processing difficulties, including how they affect attention and emotional regulation. Explore gender differences in sensory struggles, along with tips for mindfulness and environmental adjustments to create a more manageable routine.
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Three Sensory Response Patterns
- ADHD often involves sensory dysregulation in three patterns: over-responsive, under-responsive, and sensory-seeking.
- These patterns explain why brightness, textures, or the need for intense input can disrupt attention and behavior.
Sensory Load Steals Attention
- Sensory input competes for limited attentional capacity and increases emotional reactivity.
- In ADHD this shift happens faster and recovery takes longer, undermining executive functions.
A Day Ruined By One Scratchy Tag
- A morning scratchy tag can drain focus and lead to leaving without lunch or arriving oversimulated.
- By evening the brain is in recovery mode from unfiltered sensory processing, explaining fatigue and guilt.