Sensory Overload is a learning platform for neurodivergent adults. This FAQ explains who the platform is for, how the articles and courses work, how we approach research and lived experience, what you can access for free, and what to expect from paid courses and Full Access.
You do not need to read everything here. Use the questions that are useful to you and leave the rest.

About Sensory Overload

❓ What is Sensory Overload?

Sensory Overload is an independent learning platform for neurodivergent adults.
We create articles, courses and practical resources about ADHD, autism, AuDHD, sensory processing, burnout, executive functioning, anxiety, depression, self-care, self-esteem and other aspects of neurodivergent life.
Our approach brings together:
🔬 Research — making psychological and neurodivergence research easier to understand
🌱 Lived experience — connecting concepts with what neurodivergent life can actually feel like
🛠️ Practical learning — exploring strategies, accommodations, environmental changes and other possibilities
Our aim is simple: to make neurodivergent experiences easier to understand and easier to navigate.

❓ Who is Sensory Overload for?

Sensory Overload is primarily designed for neurodivergent adults.
That includes:
🧠 Adults with ADHD
♾️ Autistic adults
🧩 AuDHD adults
🌱 People exploring whether they may be neurodivergent
🔥 People experiencing autistic or neurodivergent burnout
🎧 People trying to understand sensory, executive-functioning or regulation differences
Many resources may also be useful for partners, family members, coaches, educators and professionals who want accessible explanations of neurodivergent experiences.
You do not need to fit neatly into one category to use the platform.

❓ Do I need a formal diagnosis?

No.
You are welcome to use Sensory Overload whether you have a formal diagnosis, are waiting for an assessment, identify as neurodivergent, or are still exploring whether a neurodivergent framework helps explain your experiences.
You do not need to have everything figured out before learning more about yourself.
At the same time, recognising yourself in an article or course does not by itself establish a diagnosis. Sensory Overload can help you understand patterns and terminology, but it cannot determine whether you meet diagnostic criteria.

❓ What does AuDHD mean?

AuDHD is a commonly used term for the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD.
It is not a separate formal diagnosis. Someone may instead receive an autism diagnosis and an ADHD diagnosis.
The term can be useful because having both may create combinations that are harder to understand when autism and ADHD are considered separately.
For example:
⚡ A need for stimulation and a need for less input
📅 A need for structure and difficulty maintaining structure
🔄 A desire for novelty and difficulty with unexpected change
👥 A desire for connection and a strong need for social recovery
These needs can sometimes appear contradictory. That does not make them less real.

❓ Who created Sensory Overload?

Sensory Overload was founded by Johan Lammers, MSc.
Johan has an MSc in Psychology and writes from both psychological research and his own late-diagnosed experience of ADHD and autism.
His work is particularly focused on ADHD, autism, AuDHD, sensory processing, executive functioning and neurodivergent burnout.
His personal experience does not represent every neurodivergent person. Sensory Overload therefore tries to distinguish between research findings, psychological interpretation, community observations and lived experience rather than treating them as interchangeable.
You can read more on the About page and in the Editorial & Evidence Policy.

❓ Is Sensory Overload a therapy or diagnostic platform?

No.
Sensory Overload provides education and self-reflection. It does not provide individual:
🧪 Diagnosis
💊 Medication recommendations
🩺 Medical advice
🧠 Psychotherapy
📋 Personalised treatment plans
🚑 Emergency or crisis support
Articles and courses can help you understand concepts, explore patterns, find language for your experiences and prepare questions for qualified professionals. They do not replace individual clinical care when that is needed.

❓ What does “neurodiversity-informed” mean here?

It means that neurological difference is not automatically treated as something that needs to be corrected.
But neurodiversity-informed does not mean pretending that neurodivergence is never disabling.
Some difficulties may be reduced substantially through accommodations, environmental changes or support. Others may remain difficult even in a highly supportive environment.
Both can be true.
We therefore consider:
🧠 Individual neurological differences
🌍 Environment and context
📉 Demands and expectations
🧩 Disability and support needs
🌱 Individual preferences, strengths and difficulties
The goal is not to make people appear more neurotypical. It is to understand what is happening and what may make everyday life more manageable, less exhausting or better suited to a person’s needs.

Articles, Topics and Learning Hubs

❓ What topics does Sensory Overload cover?

Sensory Overload covers a broad and growing range of topics related to neurodivergence and everyday life.
Current areas include:
🧠 ADHD
♾️ Autism
🧩 AuDHD
🌈 Neurodiversity
🔥 Autistic and neurodivergent burnout
🎧 Sensory processing and sensory overload
⚙️ Executive functioning
🌧️ Anxiety
☁️ Depression
🌱 Self-care
🪞 Self-esteem and identity
✨ Giftedness and twice-exceptionality
🤝 Relationships and communication
💼 Work, careers and study
🫀 Interoception and body awareness
Some topics have extensive Learning Hubs, courses and article libraries. Others are smaller and continue to develop.
The Learning Hubs, Articles and Courses pages provide the best current overview.

❓ What is a Learning Hub?

A Learning Hub is a starting point for exploring a broader topic.
Instead of trying to put everything into one very long page, a Learning Hub connects related resources such as:
📘 Introductory explanations
📚 In-depth articles
🛠️ Practical guides
🪞 Self-reflection resources
🔬 Science and research content
🎓 Related courses
You can follow a suggested route or simply choose the resource that matches the question you have now.
There is no correct order you have to follow.

❓ Are the articles free?

Yes.
The large article library is free to read. You do not need to buy a course or Full Access membership to use Sensory Overload as an educational resource.
You can use the platform through:
📚 Free articles
🧭 Learning Hubs
🔍 In-depth guides and explainers
📘 Free Basics courses where available
The free library is intended to provide useful education in its own right, not simply previews of paid content.

❓ How are articles different from courses?

Articles usually explore one specific question, concept or experience in depth.
Learning Hubs help you navigate a broader topic.
Courses provide a more structured learning path that connects multiple concepts.
For example, you might read one article because you want to understand autistic shutdown today. A broader Autism course may help connect shutdowns with sensory processing, communication, masking, executive functioning and other patterns.
You do not need to take a course to benefit from the articles.

❓ Does Sensory Overload add new content?

Yes, but publishing more is not the only goal.
Existing articles and courses are also expanded, corrected and updated when:
🔬 Important new evidence becomes available
📝 An explanation can be made clearer or more accurate
❌ An error is identified
📖 Terminology or diagnostic frameworks change
🧩 An important gap becomes apparent
Some of the most important articles may therefore change substantially over time.

Research, Evidence and Lived Experience

❓ How research-based is Sensory Overload?

Research is an important part of Sensory Overload, but not every topic has the same amount or quality of evidence behind it.
Depending on the question, sources may include:
📚 Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
🔬 Peer-reviewed studies
🏛️ Scientific and professional organisations
📖 Academic literature
📋 Relevant clinical and diagnostic guidance
We also consider limitations such as study design, sample size, participant populations and how directly a source supports the claim being made.
Where evidence is limited, mixed or emerging, we try to say so rather than presenting a plausible explanation as established fact.
Our full approach is described in the Editorial & Evidence Policy.

❓ Why include lived experience?

Because research and lived experience can help answer different questions.
Research can help investigate:
🔬 How common is something?
📊 Does a pattern appear across groups?
🧪 Does an intervention appear to help?
🧩 What mechanisms might be involved?
Lived experience can help us explore:
🌱 What does this feel like from the inside?
🧠 How might a concept appear in everyday life?
💬 What language are people using for an experience?
❓ What questions may existing research be missing?
One does not replace the other.
A personal experience can be meaningful and informative without proving that the same explanation applies to everyone.

❓ How does Sensory Overload handle emerging concepts?

Some concepts used by neurodivergent communities have a substantial scientific evidence base. Others are newer, less studied or primarily community terminology.
A term can be useful and widely recognised without every proposed explanation for it being scientifically established.
Where useful, we distinguish between:
🔬 Established research findings
📖 Emerging scientific concepts
🌱 Community and lived-experience terminology
🩺 Formal diagnostic terminology
These are different kinds of information, not a ranking of whether someone’s experience is more or less valid.

❓ Does recognising myself in an article mean I have ADHD or autism?

No.
Recognition can be useful. It can give you language for something you have struggled to explain and help you identify questions worth exploring.
But many experiences associated with ADHD, autism or AuDHD can also occur for other reasons.
An article can help you understand a pattern. It cannot establish why that pattern occurs for you or whether you meet diagnostic criteria.

❓ Does Sensory Overload use AI?

Yes. AI tools may assist parts of the editorial workflow.
This may include:
🧩 Research organisation
💡 Brainstorming
📝 Outlining and drafting assistance
🔧 Editing
📚 Summarisation
💻 Technical tasks
AI is not treated as scientific evidence or as an authority.
Sources and citations surfaced through AI are checked independently before publication. When an important claim depends on a particular study, an AI summary does not replace checking the underlying source.
We also do not present AI-generated first-person stories or simulated accounts as genuine neurodivergent lived experience.
The named human author remains responsible for what is published.

❓ What if something on Sensory Overload is wrong?

It can be corrected.
Research develops, interpretations can change and mistakes are possible.
You are welcome to report:
❌ Factual errors
🔗 Incorrect or broken sources
🔬 Research that may materially change a conclusion
🌫️ Claims that appear more certain than the evidence supports
📝 Wording that gives a misleading impression
Accuracy matters more than defending an older version of a page.

Courses

❓ What kinds of courses are available?

Sensory Overload uses several recurring course types.
Depending on the topic, these can include:
🧭 Basics — an introduction to the key concepts
🪞 Personal Profile — exploring how a topic may show up in your own life
🛠️ Coping Skills & Tools — strategies, accommodations and environmental changes
🤝 Supporting Someone — understanding how to better support another person
🔬 Science & Research — exploring the evidence in more depth
Not every topic contains every course type.
The Courses page is the best source for what is currently available.

❓ What course topics are available?

The course library includes learning across areas such as:
🧠 ADHD
♾️ Autism
🧩 AuDHD
🌧️ Neurodivergent anxiety
🔥 Neurodivergent burnout
🪞 Self-esteem
🌱 Self-care
✨ Giftedness
🌈 Neurodiversity
The library continues to change, so the Courses page provides the most reliable current overview.

❓ Are there free courses?

Yes.
Several Basics courses are available for free.
They provide an accessible starting point if you want structured learning without immediately purchasing a paid course.
Free Basics courses are intended to provide useful foundational education in their own right rather than functioning only as incomplete previews.

❓ How are courses structured?

The exact structure varies by course.
Depending on the topic, courses may include:
📘 Short lessons organised around one theme
🪞 Optional reflection questions
🛠️ Practical exercises
📋 Worksheets, checklists or frameworks
🧠 Models that connect different concepts
🔬 References and research explanations where relevant
You do not need to use every element for a course to be useful.

❓ Do I need to complete everything?

No.
A course is a resource, not a test.
You can:
🪞 Answer a reflection question in detail
💭 Think about it briefly
📝 Write one sentence
⏭️ Skip it
🔁 Return to it later
You can also read only the parts that are useful to you.
Self-understanding should not become another performance demand.

❓ Are the courses suitable if I am in burnout or have very little capacity?

They are self-paced, but no course can guarantee that learning will feel manageable during severe burnout or very low-capacity periods.
You can use a course slowly and selectively.
For example:
⏸️ Stop after one section
📖 Read without doing the exercises
🪞 Skip reflection questions
🔁 Return weeks or months later
🌱 Use one useful idea and leave the rest
You do not have to turn a course into another project that needs to be completed.
Sometimes one useful explanation is enough for now.

❓ How long does a course take?

There is no required pace.
A Basics course may be explored relatively quickly, while Personal Profile, Skills & Tools or Science courses may be more useful when revisited gradually.
How long you take can depend on:
🔋 Energy
🧠 Processing capacity
🔥 Burnout or stress
📅 Available time
🪞 How much reflection you want to do
Finishing quickly is not the goal.

❓ What if a strategy does not work for me?

Leave it.
A strategy being useful for some neurodivergent people does not mean it has to work for you.
You can:
🛠️ Adapt it
🧩 Combine it with something else
🌍 Change the environment instead
🤝 Ask for additional support
📉 Reduce the demand
🚪 Leave the idea aside entirely
Strategies are options, not obligations.
Sometimes the most useful change is not becoming better at coping with a demand but changing or removing the demand itself.

Pricing and Access

❓ How much do courses cost?

Sensory Overload offers free courses, individual paid courses, topic bundles and broader Full Access options.
Because prices and packages can change, the relevant Store or product page is the source of truth for the current price.
This avoids the FAQ becoming outdated whenever pricing changes.

❓ What is a Course Theme Bundle?

A Theme Bundle groups several courses around one topic.
It may make sense if you want to explore one area more deeply without buying each included course separately.
For example, a theme might combine:
🧭 Basics
🪞 Personal Profile
🛠️ Coping Skills & Tools
🤝 Supporting Someone
🔬 Science & Research
The exact contents differ by topic, so check the relevant bundle page before purchasing.

❓ What is Full Access?

Full Access is designed for people who want access to a broader part of the course library rather than buying individual courses or bundles separately.
It may be useful if:
📚 You expect to explore several topics
🧭 You are not yet sure which area will matter most
🔄 Your learning needs may change over time
💰 Several separate purchases would cost more
If you only want one or two courses, individual purchases may make more sense.
The aim is to offer different access options rather than push everyone toward the largest package.

❓ Do I need Full Access to use Sensory Overload?

No.
Depending on what you need, you can use:
📚 Free articles
🧭 Free Learning Hubs
📘 Free Basics courses
🛠️ Individual paid courses
📦 Topic bundles
⭐ Full Access
You can use a substantial part of Sensory Overload without buying anything.

❓ Is the free content intentionally limited so I have to buy a course?

No.
Free educational content is intended to stand on its own.
Paid courses mainly add structure, progression, reflection and connected learning. They are not intended to withhold the basic answer from the free article.
A free article should still give you something meaningful without requiring a purchase.

❓ What if I cannot afford a course?

If the current course price is a barrier, you can contact Sensory Overload to ask about available options.
You can also continue using the free article library, Learning Hubs and available free courses without purchasing paid content.

Accounts and Using the Platform

❓ Do I need an account?

You can read public articles and Learning Hubs without creating an account.
An account is needed for enrolled courses and other account-based learning features.

❓ Is my course progress saved?

When you are logged in, your course account can keep track of progress so you can leave and return later.
You do not need to complete a course in one sitting.

❓ What devices can I use?

Sensory Overload runs in a web browser.
You can use:
📱 A phone
💻 A laptop or desktop computer
📲 A tablet
There is no separate app you need to install.

❓ What language is Sensory Overload in?

The main Sensory Overload platform is currently written in English and is intended for an international audience.
Some examples or references may reflect European contexts because of where the platform was created.

❓ Is my data private?

Sensory Overload uses website, account, course and ecommerce systems that require some personal information to function.
The Privacy Policy is the definitive source for information about:
🔒 What data is collected
🍪 Cookies and analytics
💳 Purchase processing
🗄️ Data storage
🤝 Relevant service providers

Accessibility and Neurodivergent Learning

❓ Is Sensory Overload designed for neurodivergent learners?

Yes, although no design can work equally well for every neurodivergent person.
The platform aims to make learning easier to navigate through:
🧭 Clear structure and headings
🧩 Information broken into smaller sections
🪞 Optional rather than compulsory reflection
🛠️ Practical examples
🔬 The ability to go deeper when you want more detail
⏸️ Self-paced learning
Some readers want a short answer. Others want every caveat, mechanism and citation.
Where possible, Sensory Overload tries to support both.

❓ What if I find a page overwhelming?

You do not need to finish it.
You can:
⏸️ Stop and return later
🔍 Scan the headings first
📖 Read only the section relevant to your question
🧭 Return to a Learning Hub for a broader overview
🛠️ Take one useful idea and leave the rest
You are not using the site incorrectly because you do not read every word.

❓ What if my needs seem contradictory?

That can happen.
Neurodivergent needs are not always simple or consistent.
You might want:
⚡ Stimulation and quiet
📅 Structure and flexibility
👥 Connection and solitude
🔄 Novelty and predictability
This can be particularly recognisable for people with co-occurring autism and ADHD, but conflicting needs are not limited to AuDHD.
The goal is not always to find one permanent solution. Sometimes it is more useful to notice which need is strongest in a particular context.

❓ What if I need more support than information can provide?

Information has limits.
Some people mainly need explanations or language for their experiences. Others need substantial accommodations, practical assistance, clinical care or ongoing support from other people.
Needing more support does not mean you are using neurodiversity incorrectly or have failed to find the right strategy.
A website cannot replace support that needs to be individual, practical or clinical.

Feedback and Contact

❓ Can I suggest a topic?

Yes.
Suggestions can help identify questions, experiences and gaps that deserve better coverage.
Useful suggestions include:
❓ Questions you repeatedly run into
🧩 Topics for which good information is difficult to find
🌱 Perspectives that seem missing
📝 Feedback on existing articles or courses
A suggestion does not guarantee that a particular article or course will be created, but it can inform future priorities.

❓ Can I give accessibility or neurodivergent-friendly feedback?

Yes.
Particularly useful feedback includes:
🎧 Unnecessary sensory or cognitive load
📝 Language that feels unclear or unnecessarily clinical
🧩 Missing perspectives or support needs
🧠 Assumptions that all neurodivergent people experience something the same way
🛠️ Tools or exercises that create more pressure than they reduce
A platform cannot simply declare itself neurodivergent-friendly and assume the work is finished.

❓ Can I report an error or question a source?

Yes.
You are welcome to flag:
❌ Factual errors
🔗 Incorrect or broken citations
🔬 Evidence that may change an important conclusion
🌫️ Claims that appear more certain than the evidence supports
📝 Wording that may unintentionally misrepresent an experience
Accuracy matters more than defending an older version of a page.

❓ Where should I start?

There is no single correct starting point.
🧭 New to neurodivergence? Start with a Basics resource or Learning Hub.
🧠 Exploring ADHD, autism or AuDHD? Start with the relevant introductory guide or Basics course.
🔥 Burned out or overwhelmed? Start with Burnout or Sensory Overload content and take only what you have capacity for.
🪞 Trying to understand your own patterns? A Personal Profile course may be useful.
🛠️ Looking for practical changes? Start with Skills & Tools content.
🔬 Want the evidence? Start with Science & Research content.
You do not need to choose the perfect route. Start with the question that matters to you now.