Are you sensory empowered or is your sensory system in charge of you?
It can be very hard to know if you need support with your sensory system. It’s often just part of how we’ve felt our whole lives and we don’t know how it could be different. If you read my post “The Facebook Post That Unlocked My Autistic Sensory Awakening,” you know that I had no idea that I had sensory challenges until the pandemic shutdown allowed me to feel life without overwhelm. Before then, sensory overwhelm was like breathing, something I rarely noticed my body doing. I also suppressed most of my sensory reactions so that I wouldn’t feel the need to lie in a sensory deprivation tank all day. And that exhausted me! I was surviving instead of thriving, living under the thumb of these sensory reactions that I either didn’t recognize or felt I could do nothing about.
So how can you know if your sensory system is in charge of you or if you’re meeting your sensory needs in a way that puts you back in charge? Here are ten questions to ask yourself:
Do you often feel overwhelmed by life and just want to be alone?
Do you have seemingly random strong reactions that you can’t control?
Do you buy the latest sensory gadgets, but they often don’t feel right or enough?
Do you often feel burnt out and you don’t know why?
Do you feel bored or blah if you have to sit still or be quiet?
Do you avoid certain places or situations (that most people don’t) because they just make you feel out of sorts?
Do you have a lot of “bad habits” that you just can’t shake, like chewing your nails, constant fidgeting, or breaking things?
Do certain things, like smells, noises, or foods, seem to bother you more than they bother other people?
As a result do you hide it when something bothers you, because you don’t want to stand out as different?
Do you have a constant feeling of seeking something you’re missing, like an itch you can never scratch?
How many “yeses” did you have? Some of these experiences will ring more true for you than others depending on if you’re sensory avoidant or sensory seeking, or a combination like most people are. It can be especially hard to figure out when each of us has 8 sensory systems in our body that all interact and can each be over- or under-sensitive. But these overarching feelings can be the key to seeing if you have a sensory system that needs more attention. And if you had more than one “yes,” I’d say it needs that attention.
I asked at the beginning if you are sensory empowered or if your sensory system is in charge of you and I’d love to hear your answer! If you are in a sensory disempowered place, it may feel like an impossible feat to ever take control of these aspects of your life. It may feel inevitable that your sensory system is so sensitive that it calls all the shots. Or you may feel like you’re already doing everything you can. But unless you already have enacted a personalized sensory empowerment plan, there is still more you can do. There is hope!
A sensory empowerment plan is my improved version of a sensory diet that I develop with coaching clients in my 8-week Sensory Empowerment Program. We evaluate your sensory system, develop the plan together, and work on implementing it in your life. It truly is the key to living a fuller life as an autistic adult. I’d love to work with you to support you on your journey to sensory empowerment! If you’re interested, please book a free 30 minute consult here. Let’s build a world of empowered autistic adults together!
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