"A few weeks ago, a viral tweet perfectly captured a phenomenon familiar to many of us. The post ― a response to someone's question "what's your biggest ick about yourself?" ― read simply: "i can be really mean when i'm overstimulated." Judging by the retweets, it seems 55,000 people could relate. If you've ever snapped at your partner after a bad day, or had an outburst during a frustrating call with a customer service agent, you may understand the meaning behind the tweet. We're not exactly at our best in moments like these, but they're part of the human response to being overstimulated."
"When we're stressed out, the prefrontal cortex goes from reflective and rational to reactive, Anway said. In these conditions, your brain's not thinking about maintaining relationships or effectively solving problems, Riaz noted. Instead, it's panicking. More, your body's stress response system (also known as your "fight, flight or freeze" response) activates, regardless of whether you are dealing with an actual stressor or just a perceived one, according to Riaz. Your stress response then affects your mood."
Overstimulation happens when sensory input overwhelms the brain's processing capacity, producing feelings of overwhelm and reduced regulatory control. The prefrontal cortex, which enables rational decision-making, becomes less active under stress, shifting the brain from reflective to reactive modes. The body's fight-or-flight-or-freeze response can trigger even from perceived threats, amplifying emotional responses and speeding reactions. That dysregulation can lead to snapping at partners, outbursts during frustrating interactions, and other behavior changes. Restoring nervous system regulation and re-engaging the prefrontal cortex supports better mood, problem-solving, and relationship functioning.
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