# https://alisanburak.com/en/1378-2

- URL: https://alisanburak.com/en/1378-2
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- Last updated: 2026-08-15
- Page title: | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alişan Burak Yaşar

> 🧠 Why Do I Get Tired So Quickly? Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) in Adults In everyday life, do you feel completely drained after leaving a crowded p

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April 5, 2026General

🧠 Why Do I Get Tired So Quickly? Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) in Adults

In everyday life, do you feel completely drained after leaving a crowded place, get distracted when certain fabrics touch your skin, or feel as though the noise in a café is driving only you crazy?

Often leading people to be labeled "sensitive" or "easily tired," this experience actually reflects a heritable nervous system trait found in 20–30% of the population. It is not an illness, but a different "way of processing" that handles stimuli from the world more deeply and intensely.

⚠️ The Misdiagnosis Trap: Anxiety or Sensory Overload?
In clinical practice, the greatest risk is that sensory overload (sensory overwhelm) may be labeled as generalized anxiety disorder or irritability.
Physiological Hyperarousal: In individuals with high sensory sensitivity, the brain is in "alarm" mode, so their pupils may remain dilated even before a stimulus appears; this can feel like a state of chronic anxiety.

Overlapping Symptoms: Because responses to sound/light sensitivity can lead to social avoidance, tension, and fatigue, they are often interpreted as merely "psychological anxiety," potentially leading to inappropriate medication or therapy referrals.

Why Does the Brain Work Differently?
This is not a character weakness, but a neurobiological reality.
GABA (the Brain's Brake): When GABA, the chemical that helps the brain filter and inhibit signals, functions differently, an ordinary light or touch may be processed by the brain as a "threat."
Forebrain Differences: Differences in how the regions responsible for attention, memory, and empathy function make these individuals more intuitively attuned to nuances and more inclined to think deeply.

Where Should We Start?
Although sensory regulation programs for adults are still evolving, these 4 steps are fundamental to improving quality of life:
1. Sensory Mapping: Identify which stimuli drain you (sound, touch, smell).
2. Assessment: Have your sensory profile professionally assessed using tools such as the "Adult Sensory Profile."
3. Environmental Adjustments: Make your surroundings compatible with your nervous system by using noise-reducing headphones, controlling lighting, and creating "safe spaces."
4. Professional Support: Work with a mental health professional to determine whether your symptoms stem from an anxiety disorder or have a sensory origin.

Remember: having a nervous system that works differently is not a weakness; when managed appropriately, it can be a capacity for profound perception and empathy.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alişan Burak Yaşar

### [Click here to access the presentation](https://alisanburak.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1paylas.pdf)

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