Beyond Overload: Understanding Sensory Seeking for Calm | NeurodiverseNights Blog
When we talk about sensory needs, the conversation often centers on sensitivity and avoiding overload – dimming lights, reducing noise, seeking quiet spaces. While managing sensory sensitivities is crucial, it's only part of the picture. For many neurodivergent individuals, actively *seeking* certain types of sensory input is just as important for self-regulation and achieving a sense of calm.
Sensory seeking isn't about craving chaos; it's often about needing more intense or specific input to help the nervous system feel organized, alert, or grounded. Understanding and honouring these seeking needs is vital for holistic sensory well-being.
Why Seek More Sensation?
Sensory seeking behaviours can serve various purposes:
- Increasing Arousal/Alertness: When feeling under-stimulated or sluggish, intense input can help wake up the nervous system.
- Organizing the Brain: Strong proprioceptive (pressure/joint position) or vestibular (movement) input can be highly organizing and grounding, helping to counteract feelings of internal chaos or restlessness.
- Providing Calming Intensity: Sometimes, a strong, predictable sensation (like deep pressure) can override diffuse, uncomfortable internal sensations (like anxiety) and feel deeply calming.
- Meeting Sensory Thresholds: Some individuals simply have higher neurological thresholds for certain inputs, meaning they need more intense sensation to register it adequately.
Common Forms of Sensory Seeking for Calm
These might look like:
- Proprioceptive Seeking: Craving deep pressure (tight hugs, weighted blankets, piling on blankets), crashing into cushions, pushing/pulling heavy objects, intense exercise, chewing crunchy foods.
- Vestibular Seeking: Enjoying spinning, swinging, rocking vigorously, hanging upside down, pacing or running. (See also Gentle Movement, which can sometimes involve more intense seeking needs).
- Tactile Seeking: Seeking out strong textures (Tactile Calm Toolkit), messy play, high water pressure in the shower, specific clothing pressures.
- Oral Motor Seeking: Chewing on non-food items, preferring strong flavors (spicy, sour), enjoying crunchy or chewy foods.
- Visual Seeking: Being drawn to bright lights, complex patterns, fast-moving visuals (sometimes).
- Auditory Seeking: Enjoying loud music, complex soundscapes, specific intense sounds (sometimes).
Honouring Your Sensory Profile
It's important to remember that individuals can be sensory seeking in some areas and sensory sensitive/avoidant in others. The key is self-awareness (Listening to Your Body's Signals) and finding safe, appropriate ways to meet those seeking needs.
Instead of judging seeking behaviours, view them as valuable information about what your nervous system needs to feel balanced. Incorporating safe sensory seeking activities into your routine can be just as vital for finding calm as creating quiet, low-stimulation spaces.
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