Your Brain Isn’t Broken -- You’re Just Overstimulated

The Constant Noise

Are you ever half-watching a show, half-scrolling your feed, half-answering texts you don’t even want to answer, all at the same time? You tell yourself you’re “resting,” but somehow, you end up more drained than before.

Well that's called overstimulation, and most of us are living in it daily and not even realizing it. We’ve become so used to having constant notifications, apps open, background tv, endless scrolling, and watching videos at double speed. This overstimulation has become so normal that maybe some of us have forgotten how to live in long silence.

What your mind needs isn’t more — it’s less.

What Overstimulation Really Means

Overstimulation happens when your brain is taking in more than it can process. Whether it’s too much information, too many sounds, too many opinions, or all of it at once.

Social media just makes it all worse. It's literally designed to keep you overstimulated. We reach for our phones the second there’s silence. We think we’re unwinding when we’re rotting on TikTok but we’re actually feeding the very thing that’s burning us out.

You might be overstimulated if:

• You can't sit in silence for an extended period of time

• You start tasks but can’t seem to finish them

• You scroll even when you’re exhausted

• You feel “wired but tired”

• You open your phone for “just a second” and somehow lose an hour

The good news is you don’t need a full digital detox or a week off to reset. Small, intentional changes can make a big difference.

Small, Realistic Ways to Calm Overstimulation

1. Being aware. It’s not totally our faults were overstimulated because our world is simply overstimulating

2. Reduce the visual clutter. A dimmer screen and fewer tabs will help

3. Take a short walk, stretch, or just move in complete silence

4. Put your phone out of reach. Even ten minutes of separation can help your nervous system reset

5. Unfollow accounts that make you anxious or distracted

6. Try one “no-scroll” hour before bed or first thing in the morning.

Overstimulation Isn’t Forever

Feeling scattered, tired, or wired is not a sign that something’s wrong with you. It’s a sign that your brain has been doing too much for too long , and it needs a break. Over time, these tiny resets will help your mind feel clearer, and your day more manageable!