# OVERWHELM ### An Autism & Sensory-Overload Anthem **[Verse 1]** The lights are buzzing like a siren in my head, Every little sound is louder than you said. Shoes on the floor, a phone across the room, Voices crash together and there’s nowhere left to move. Tags against my skin, somebody brushing past, Every tiny feeling hits me twice as fast. I’m nodding, I’m smiling, I’m playing my part, While every single signal is setting off alarms. **[Pre-Chorus]** I’ve been masking all day, Trying hard to fit the scene. You see me standing quietly — You don’t hear what’s underneath. **[Chorus]** I’m overwhelmed, overwhelmed, The whole world’s turned the volume up too loud. Too much light, too much sound, Too many people pressing in around. Overwhelmed, overwhelmed, My senses hit the ceiling and my words fall out. Give me my headphones, give me some space, Let me find the rhythm that can bring me back to place. If I rock, if I stim, if I need to disappear, Don’t stop me — That’s how I make the world feel clear. **[Verse 2]** Please don’t touch me when I’m trying to come down, Don’t fire ten questions when I can’t make a sound. I might lose my words, I might stare at the floor, I might need the same safe thing I’ve needed before. Turn the big light off, close the busy door, Take away the pressure, I can’t process any more. Give me something familiar, something soft to hold, Let my nervous system slowly let go. **[Pre-Chorus]** I’m not being difficult, I’m overloaded inside. Sometimes silence is the only way I can get back to myself tonight. **[Chorus]** I’m overwhelmed, overwhelmed, The whole world’s turned the volume up too loud. Too much light, too much sound, Too many people pressing in around. Overwhelmed, overwhelmed, My senses hit the ceiling and my words fall out. Give me my headphones, give me some space, Let me find the rhythm that can bring me back to place. If I rock, if I stim, if I need to disappear, Don’t stop me — That’s how I make the world feel clear. **[Bridge — Quiet / Spoken]** Lower the lights. Lower your voice. One question at a time. No touching without asking. No forcing me to speak. No telling me to look at you When eye contact is too much for me. Let me flap my hands. Let me pace. Let me hide beneath a blanket. Give me time. Give me quiet. I will come back when my senses settle. **[Build]** I spent the whole day blending in, Learning every line. Laughing when you laughed at things I didn’t understand in time. Now the mask is getting heavy, And I’ve got nothing left to give. So let me drop the performance — Let me simply exist. **[Breakdown / Anthem Chant]** Turn it down! Give me space! Let me stim! Let me pace! Ask before you touch! Give my words some time! Different doesn’t mean less — This nervous system is mine! **[Final Chorus]** I get overwhelmed, overwhelmed, When the whole world turns the volume up too loud. Too much light, too much sound, But I know what helps me find my ground. Overwhelmed, overwhelmed, I don’t have to hide what my body’s telling me now. I can wear my headphones, I can step away, I can choose the quiet when I’ve reached my limit today. If I rock, if I stim, if my words disappear, Stay gentle. Stay patient. Give me room to breathe in here. **[Outro]** Dim the lights. Close the door. I’ve taken in enough — I can’t take any more. Not forever. Just for now. Let me breathe. Let me stim. Let the noise fade out. I’ll come back in my own time When the world turns down.
