A Tiny Tool That Changed Everything

Welcome to my Unmasking Autism series. This is where I share what I’m learning as I begin to understand my autistic experience and gently come home to myself. These posts are personal, honest, and written with tenderness for the parts of me that have spent years surviving.

One of the biggest surprises in my unmasking journey has been realizing how much of my daily stress is sensory. Not emotional in the way I always assumed, not “I’m just anxious,” but sensory in the truest sense. My nervous system gets overloaded by input, and sound is one of the fastest ways for me to tip into overwhelm.

So lately, I’ve been paying attention to small supports that make everyday life feel safer. And this one has been a shockingly big deal for me.

Ear Plugs Are My New Best Friend

In line with learning that my ears are very sensitive to sound, and that noise can set off my nervous system, I’m also learning how much I appreciate ear plugs.

There is a sentence I never thought I would say in my life.

But it’s true.

I find it so comforting to wear ear plugs, and it brings me almost instant relief. The first time I really noticed it, I was surprised by how quickly my body softened. Like my shoulders dropped. Like my chest unclenched. Like the invisible urgency inside me turned down a few notches.

It was subtle and huge at the same time.

And what’s funny is that I don’t even fully understand the science behind why it helps me so much. I just know that it does.

When I wear them, the world feels less sharp. Less chaotic. Less demanding. It’s like my nervous system finally gets a little space to breathe, because it’s not constantly bracing for sudden sounds, overlapping conversations, clanking dishes, loud engines, store music, or that general public noise that most people seem to filter out without thinking.

I don’t filter it out.

I absorb it.

And I’m realizing how much energy that has been costing me.

Ear plugs don’t make life silent, but they make it softer. They take the edge off. They help me stay in my body instead of floating above it. They help me remain present when I’m out in the world instead of slipping into that tense, vigilant state where I’m just trying to get through the experience.

Lately, I’ve found myself almost living in them, especially when I leave my house.

And I’m learning that this isn’t dramatic.

It’s supportive.

It’s the same way someone wears glasses to see clearly or uses a brace for stability. It’s a tool that helps my nervous system do what it’s trying to do without constantly being overloaded.

I also think there’s a deeper piece here for me.

Because choosing ear plugs is not just choosing comfort. It’s choosing to believe myself. It’s choosing to stop minimizing my needs. It’s choosing to stop powering through overwhelm just because other people can.

For a long time, I thought I had to tolerate everything to be an adult.

But the more I unmask, the more I realize this.

Maturity is not forcing myself to suffer quietly.

Maturity is learning how to care for myself well.

So yes, I’m that person now. The one who keeps ear plugs in her bag. The one who uses them at home, in public, whenever I need to take the edge off the world.

And instead of feeling embarrassed, I’m trying to feel proud.

Because I’m finally giving my nervous system what it’s been asking for.

If you’re sensitive to sound, easily overwhelmed in public spaces, or you’ve ever felt like the world is just too loud, I want you to know you’re not alone. There are small supports that can make a big difference, and you don’t have to wait until you’re in full meltdown or shutdown to use them.

I’m still learning what helps me regulate, and I’m realizing that the best tools are often the simplest ones. Ear plugs don’t fix everything, but they help me stay grounded. They help me move through the world with a little more peace. They help my nervous system feel safer.

And maybe that’s the point of unmasking, at least for me. Not becoming tougher. Not forcing myself to “handle it.” But noticing what hurts, naming what I need, and letting myself be supported without shame.

xo,

jd

Thank you for being here. If any part of this resonated, I hope you feel a little less alone. I’m still learning, still unmasking, and still choosing compassion over shame one moment at a time.

Sharing all of my favorite wellness products here

This post may contain affiliate links