[LyndsySimon]

This sounds very much like what I deal with. I see it as a side effect of ADHD, which I see as a difference - not a deficit - in my ability to process incoming information. Getting overwhelmed is difficult to deal with, but it is accompanied by the ability to hyperfocus.

My first-line coping strategy is to close my eyes. That seems to help significantly, as if visual processing consumes a limited mental resource that I can free up to apply to structuring my thoughts. I have no idea if there is any science to back that up - but I also don’t care. Coping is about developing useful mental models for dealing with the world around you, not necessarily about being technically correct.

I also careful control my facial expressions when I’m around others and do this. My goal is to have them think that I’m concentrating on something (which, really, I am) and not upset or distressed. This also provides them a cue that usually results in their pausing or slowing down further information for a moment, which helps.