Sensory modulation

We all experience the world differently through our senses. What excites one person, such as riding a rollercoaster or listening to music whilst working, might overwhelm another person who prefers calm and quiet.

And they can change! After a stressful day, a noisy shop might feel unbearable, while on a good day it's no problem at all.

Some people take in a lot of sensory information (over-responsive), which means that might notice detail others might miss. But when there's too much of this sensory information, it can also lead to feelings overwhelmed, anxious or frustrated. Others take in less sensory information (under-responsive) and may actively seek out more visual information, sounds, textures, or movement.

Sometimes the way the body responds to everyday activities such as brushing teeth, wearing a school uniform, or being with friends is difficult. It could be that:

• Sometimes, a person is receiving too much sensory information (sights, sounds, touch, etc) from the world around them.
• This can lead to strong reactions, such as outbursts, upset, running away, or hitting out. Some people may 'shutdown' and be unable to communicate, follow instructions, or ask for help in that moment. This is the fight, flight or freeze response.
• When this happens they might need some strategies or support to help.

The key is balance (modulation): not avoiding too much that we miss out but not pushing too hard that it feels overwhelming.

Imagine your body and brain are like a bucket. All the sights, sounds, smells, movements, and feelings you experience during the day are like water being poured into that bucket.

If the bucket fills up too much, the water spills over-and that's when you might feel upset, anxious, angry, or just too full to cope. When this happens, you need to find ways to empty your bucket a little.

Some activities such as pushing, pulling, lifting, climbing, or carrying can help. This is sometimes called 'heavy work'. These types of activities can help to modulate your senses and help your body to feel calmer and in control. This could be things like:

• Carrying a rucksack with your heavy school/college books
• Doing wall or floor press-ups
• Raking the garden or digging

Doing this 'heavy work' should help you to feel overwhelmed less often, as it can help your sensory system to feel calm and organised.

You may need to do lots of heavy work to keep you calm to stop you from feeling overwhelmed. Make time to do this regularly during your day, and especially before, during and after times that you know can be overwhelming for you.