Sensory Overload
Sensory overload!
This is something basic that we, as moms, often overlook as a potential reason for our own dysregulation!
If you’re raising trauma affected kids and/or kids with a diagnosis of ASD, FASD, ADHD, etc. you’ve probably heard of sensory issues. But most of us haven’t considered how our own sensory processing systems can become overloaded and how much of a trigger for anxiety and irritability that can be as a parent.
Sensory overload occurs when we are receiving more input (through our five senses) than our brains can process at once. If you think about the job of motherhood, we operate at this level quite a bit as our senses are bombarded by noise, touch, smells and more!
Our brains and bodies react to sensory overload by initiating our own fight/flight responses which can look like: increased heart rate, shallow breathing, irritability, brain fog and mental exhaustion. This doesn’t make for a happy, healthy mama (or home) especially if a child is dysregulated at the same time.
So, what is a mama to do?
The first trick is to know when the feelings we are having are being caused by sensory overload. To notice when this is occurring is the first step to dealing with it.
Next, concentrate on your breathing. Deep, cleansing breaths where you can place your hands on your tummy and see them rise and fall with each inhalation and exhalation.
If you can, decrease your sensory input for a few minutes. That might mean stepping outside so you can’t hear the incessant sounds of video games or putting in ear buds and listening to worship music while your kid has Caillou on the TV or your boys are wrestling like they’re going for a championship title in the middle of the living room. It may mean handing the screaming toddler to your partner and getting in a cool shower. Whatever you can do to press pause can help.
Other things that can be helpful in these moments are journaling and engaging in prayer or meditation. These are all tools that assist with emotional regulation which is what your system needs when it is on overload.
Have you ever considered sensory overload could be affecting you? If so, what do you think triggers you the most when it comes to this?
