Hatred of sports on TV (sensory overload!)

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So, my step-dad (who's a great guy) loves sports. He loves to watch them on TV; every single type there is to watch.

The problem is that overtime he turns them on, I go into massive sensory overload! I can't function, I shut down because of the noise!

The crowd cheering in the background of whatever game is on is unbearable. It's just constant, random screaming the whole game, or all Sunday for football.

I don't know how to deal with this! He is not the most sensitive guy; he doesn't really get why I get anxiety with say, driving. He says I need "to just do it". It's probably going to be the same with this issue. He'll probably say "Nope, can't turn it down, but you can just go to your room (which is in the basement)". Or something of the sort.

I also hate going to my room in the basement (which is where I am now); it's cut off from everything and everyone, it's dark, smelly and damp, and my "room" is a catastrophe. There's no storage, so all my stuff is everywhere.

I never even knew this was stressing me out so bad until my recent diagnosis of AS, then I read about sensory overload and put the two together.

I can't stand noise. but I can't get away from the barking dog, the sports, or the movies, chatter, whatever.

I just needed to know someone could relate, or that someone would hear me out. Any suggestions are welcome as well.

_________________

Battle Angel Alita

You could go for a walk or go to another room and call a friend on the phone. If you have a car you could go for a drive. You could go outside in the backyard. If you have a dog, you could take him for a walk. By the time you get back, overtime should be 'over'.

I find the noise of football games on TV very unpleasant too. It's a grating kind of sound. But I'm not sure what you can do about it other than asking him to turn it down, or leave the room.

Nope, I cannot concentrate with random background noise ether

Get some closed back cans (full size headphones) and put some music on, blocks out all sound. Other than that, become a minimalist, get rid of everything you cannot store, get out of the house and go for a walk.

Does he have it on loud? If so, can you ask him to turn it down and does he shout at the TV? if so can you tell him to stop screaming? Can you wear ear plugs? Or how about noise canceling head phones? Those are pretty expensive though, 100 bucks.

One thing I can't stand about them is when people start cheering at the screen and getting loud all of a sudden. I just go in the other room but in my apartment, over my dead body. Luckily that doesn't happen here because we don't have people coming over for sports and we don't watch them on TV.

I’m a sports lover too.

However if your not enjoying things then why don’t you just chat with your step father?

You can’t stop him from watching sports, but he’s got to also acknowledge that your living in the house too. I’m sure you can come to some sort of civilised agreement.

If your step father has problems understanding why the sports transmissions freak you out like that, maybe it helps if you remind him of this year's soccer world cup in South Afrika. They had those vuvuzela things there that made an awfull lot of noise all through the games. That got on most NTs nerves as well. Maybe you can try to explain that a simple crowd cheering is to you as unnerving as those vuvuzela things were to everyone else at the World Cup. (Of course, I am assuming that your step father watched any of the World Cup games, which he may or may not have done...)

I have a difficult time with sports programs, too, and I think I know how to help; try to tune it out with books...or, at least, that's what I do....

I don't like the tone of voice in the crowd at sports events, because it sounds too much like anger and fighting. There are a few pubs near me and I have the same feelings at closing time when groups walk past my house, because drunk conversation often sounds like argument.

I think if I was there and part of the group (the sports or the drunks) then I would know that they were not threatening, but from outside it is difficult to shake the feelings of fear - perhaps you could try watching one game to see how it is if you are part of the event?

I cant stand that noise too.. its grating on my nerves and highly irritating. My pop when i was a child constantly had sports on.. cricket, football.. tennis etc

When he got older my nanna made him watch the sport with headphones on or with little earplugs. Maybe see if your father will allow you to buy him a couple of pairs of them to try (big soft ones... or the wee little ones which go into the ear).

or Good ear plugs may work for you (or they may not)... you also could try that (i like the ones which arent foam but more like rubber.. they help induce a stillness).

"i hate sports the way people who like sports hate common sense." [h. l. mencken]

Yeah, I hated it when I had to go to my high school's football games because I was in the marching band. I loved our music, hated everything else about it. It was cold, the fans were loud (not in a melodic way) and the cheers were stupid. The only reason I would ever go again was if I had a kid that joined the marching band. I would prefer going to the marching band competitions more but that's just me.

The only time I hate sports on TV is when it's boring (like Football or baseball), or when it pre-empts a cartoon or some other show I wanted to watch.

I haaaaaaaaaated, for the longest time, Football, baseball and Basketball for pulling stunts like that.

I generally find sports on T.V. rather tedious. I would much rather play than watch. And if the game is beyond my ability to play, I generally do not watch.

ruveyn

I don't like sports on TV because the games take to darn long to complete. Being at the stadium is even worse for me. I once had the chance to see a packers game and just about as much time was spent not playing vs playing due to things like time-outs and TV breaks, not to mention the overload factor from being surrounded by screaming fans and testy police who were doing security at the game.

When insomnia first hit me when I was 11 I would often lay in bed at night listen to the brewers on the radio and the games would just drag on. The pitchers would take for ever to deliver, if their was a thunderstorm nearby, the sound of the lightning on the radio was more entertaining.

I can relate to this. I can't bear the hyped-up noise that goes hand in hand with most popular sports. I'd much prefer it if sports commentators and fans would just appreciate their hobby with quiet dignity and grace. If they can do that with cricket, why not with other sports?

Sounds like you've got the additional problem of your sports fan being resistant to complaints though. I'd just make for that basement and refuse to come out till the game was over. Unless you're in a position to apply sanctions to force him to compromise. I don't suppose it would help to suggest he uses earphones?