The Vestibular World: When Movement Disturbs (B1.1.1.6)
You're now exploring the vestibular system, our internal sense of movement, balance, and spatial orientation. Located in the inner ear, it tells us where our head and body are in space, whether we're moving or still, how fast we're going, and in what direction.
While many neurodivergent individuals seek out vestibular input, vestibular hyper-sensitivity means that certain types of movement, or even the perception of instability, can be highly distressing, disorienting, or lead to physical discomfort like nausea.
Path Markers (What Can Vestibular Hyper-Sensitivity Look Like?):
- Motion Sickness: Easily gets car sick, sea sick, or motion sick from swings, amusement park rides, or even watching fast-moving visuals.
- Aversion to Movement:
- Dislike or fear of activities that involve changes in head position, spinning, swinging, or heights (e.g., playground equipment, elevators, escalators, roller coasters).
- May move slowly or cautiously.
- Gravitational Insecurity: An excessive fear of falling or having feet off the ground. May feel anxious on uneven surfaces, stairs, or when not in control of their own movement.
- Dizziness or Vertigo: Certain movements or positions might easily trigger feelings of dizziness, unsteadiness, or the room spinning.
- Poor Tolerance for Inverted Positions: Dislike of being upside down or having their head tilted back (e.g., during hair washing at a salon).
- Anxiety in Wide Open Spaces: Some individuals may feel disoriented or anxious in large, open areas where there are fewer visual cues for balance.
- Need for Stillness: May prefer sedentary activities and feel uncomfortable or agitated by too much movement around them or within their own body.
Echoes from the Trail (Lived Experiences):
- "I can't even sit in the back seat of a car without feeling nauseous within minutes."
- "Playgrounds were terrifying for me as a kid. I hated swings and anything that spun."
- "I get really anxious on escalators, especially the ones that are very steep or long. I always grip the handrail tightly."
- "Leaning my head back at the dentist or hairdresser makes me feel incredibly vulnerable and dizzy."
- "I avoid fairground rides like the plague. The thought of them makes me feel ill."
Reflection Point:
Consider your own experiences with movement and balance:
- Do you easily experience motion sickness?
- Are there specific types of movement or activities involving heights or changes in position that you find uncomfortable or anxiety-provoking?
- How does your sensitivity to movement affect your willingness to participate in certain activities or travel?
- Do you often feel a need to move cautiously or ensure you have stable footing?
Explorer's Toolkit (Strategies for Managing Vestibular Hyper-Sensitivity):
- For Motion Sickness:
- Sit in the front seat of vehicles and focus on the distant horizon.
- Ensure good ventilation.
- Avoid reading or looking at screens while in motion.
- Acupressure bands or ginger (candies, tea) may help some individuals.
- Over-the-counter or prescribed motion sickness medication if necessary for travel.
- Increase Sense of Stability:
- Wear flat, supportive shoes with good grip.
- Use handrails on stairs and escalators.
- When feeling unsteady, focus on a fixed point in the distance.
- Grounding techniques: consciously feel your feet on the floor.
- Gradual & Controlled Exposure (If Desired & Tolerable):
- For mild aversions, very gentle and slow swinging or rocking in a controlled manner might help some individuals build tolerance over time, but this should be self-directed and never forced.
- Start with very minimal movement and slowly increase duration or intensity only if comfortable.
- Communicate Your Needs:
- Let others know if you need to sit in the front, avoid certain activities, or move at a slower pace.
- It's okay to opt out of activities that will cause significant distress.
- Visual Cues: Maintaining visual contact with a stable horizon or environment can help.
- Avoid Triggering Head Positions:
- When possible, request alternatives if a task requires an uncomfortable head position (e.g., ask to sit upright for hair washing if possible, or explain your needs at the dentist).
- Proprioceptive Input: Sometimes, activities that provide strong proprioceptive (deep pressure/body awareness) input can be grounding and help counteract vestibular discomfort. For example, wearing a slightly weighted vest or lap pad might help some feel more stable, but this is very individual.