"Sensory Health" - What Is it and Why Does It Matter?

Lately I've been sharing more about "sensory health".

Why?

Well, because "sensory" is the basis of being human, and I truly think that it's too often overlooked when considering mental health.

I started my career as an OT working in people's homes, supporting them with major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Some of these individuals were neurodivergent as well.

So you can imagine that yes, of course I consider a mental health lens when I'm working with mothers. I look at how engaged they are in their communities, what their "affect" (facial expression) is like, what their daily/weekly routines are like, how they are being supported (or not) to share the load, how easy they're finding it to share information, how we form a therapeutic relationship.

And (most importantly), I listen to them when they tell me over overstimulated they are and how this affects their ability to do the things they need to do or want to do in their roles as mothers (such as, cook dinner easily, go to playgroups, play with their kids etc).

Heartbreakingly, I frequently have Mums breaking down into tears with me on discovery calls. Yes, these are 15 minute calls (often more like 30mins) intended to be a "are we the right fit", but for many of these Mums, they just.feel.so.unseen.

Sometimes, it's often the first time that they've had someone validate their situation for them.

The struggle.

The place that they're in; holding the space for their children.

Sometimes putting their hopes and dreams on hold.

Trying to piece together their identity as mothers.

Trying to cook the dinner.

Trying to re-parent themselves.

Trying not to lose their cool at their toddlers and preschoolers.

Some of these Mums have been diagnosed with ADHD. Some not. Some with anxiety or depression. Some not. Some are waiting for ADHD assessment. Some not.

But what's in common with all of these Mums, is that addressing sensory health is quite possibly a missing piece.

Sensory health is the bridge that connects being able to integrate our senses, self-regulation, and well-being.

(Cavaliere, C.M. PhD, OTR, 2021).

For example:

• When we feel anxious, we can use sensory strategies to ground us and help us think more clearly.

• When we're depressed, we can use sensory strategies to alert us and support our nervous system back to a place of feeling connected, motivated, and social.

Are you being supported with your sensory health?

Our services here at Connect Occupational Therapy are designed to help you address your sensory health, so that you can feel and do your best.

• In our In-Tune Parent course, you'll find a whole section about the senses, recognising triggers, and applying sensory strategies. These strategies can work for both yourself and your children.

• With our Safe and Sound Protocol, we can offer you individual support to regulate your nervous system through the vagus nerve, helping you to reduce your sensitivity to noise and widen your window of tolerance, so you can move out of fight/flight/stuck modes and cope better with the demands of parenting.

Book a discovery call to find out more today.

(And don't worry, we hold space for you if you end up shedding a few unexpected tears).

Best,

Rachel

Connect Occupational Therapy