Overstimulation

Not wanting to go

Knowing I should want to go

Going anyway

Sitting in the car

Too many bright lights

Loud noises

Too many things are touching me

The car door

My roommate

The back of the seat

My clothing

Closing my eyes

Take away one of the senses

Hoping it will help

The lights go away but the eyes still hurt

So bad

Hug my emotional support water bottle

So tight to my chest

My fingers turn white

This is keeping me afloat

Subconsciously rocking

Self-soothing

Get out of the car as soon as you can

Once you reach your destination

Keep holding the water bottle

Keep rocking

Open your eyes

You need to see where you are going

Lean against the wall outside

As everyone goes in

One of them comes out

Asks what’s wrong

You tell them

Too many things

Too

Many

Things

All at once

They understand

Ask if they can help

Not this time

Get back in the car

Become one with the door

Your roommate is too close and

Keeps touching you and

She doesn’t know she needs to

Stop

Keep holding the water bottle

Keep rocking

Close your eyes

Take away one of the senses

Hoping it will help

Focus on the music

Block out the conversation

Ignore the pounding in your head

It is all-consuming

Do not let it consume you

But that is too difficult

Do not let it consume all of you

Keep holding the water bottle

Keep rocking

Keep your eyes closed

Memorize the turns

You know where you are

You can see it in your mind

The images in your mind are too bright

Turn it down

It won’t go down

Turn it off

Go from pictures to words

The type is too bright

Turn it down

It won’t go down

Turn it off

Think about the music

Think about the turns

Keep holding the water bottle

Keep rocking

Keep your eyes closed

You’re almost back

The DJ plays a song you know

She says that it’s for you

They’re the one that knows

Keep holding the water bottle

Keep rocking

Keep your eyes closed

Hum along to the song

Don’t think about it

No words

No pictures

They’re too bright

Keep it dark

You’re back

Wait for the end of the song

Before you get out

Keep holding your water bottle

Stop rocking

Keep your eyes closed

The song is over

Keep holding the water bottle

Stop rocking

Open your eyes

Get out of the car

Make a grabby motion with your

Arms still around your water bottle

She needs to know you appreciate it

While the words still won’t come

Squeeze her hand

Keep holding the water bottle

Stop rocking

Open your eyes

Get back into your room

Close the door

Stand

Keep holding the water bottle

Stop rocking

Close your eyes

Breathe

In

Out

In

Out

In

Out

In

Out

Open your eyes

Set down the water bottle

Change your mind and pick it back up

Take your meds

Drink some water

Put the water bottle back down

Get into bed

Cover yourself with the weighted blanket

Hold your pillow

Lay still

Close your eyes

Please find peace

Please sleep

Turn it

All

Off