Latest news with #sensoryprocessing
Irish Times
24-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
What happens when your therapist or GP asks: ‘Have you ever wondered if you might be neurodivergent?'
Imagine this. You're sitting with your healthcare provider, maybe your therapist or GP, maybe even your physio, talking about your mental or physical wellbeing . Then, they gently ask a question you didn't expect: 'Have you ever wondered if you might be neurodivergent?' You might feel confused, relieved, annoyed, or feel like you're being told there's something wrong with you. You may not have heard the word before. Or maybe you've wondered about it privately, but never said it out loud. If this is you, and you're struggling under an avalanche of thoughts and emotions, that's okay. It makes sense that it feels like a lot. READ MORE Why might a healthcare professional suggest neurodivergence? Neurodivergence refers to natural variations in how people think, learn, and experience the world. This includes differences such as autism , ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and sensory processing disorders, among others. When a clinician brings this up, it's rarely a shot in the dark. They've likely noticed patterns in your behaviour, your history, or how you respond to the world that align with neurodivergent profiles. Some of the issues that may have sparked their curiosity include: Sensory differences. You might be overwhelmed by overlapping noise, bright lights, or scratchy clothes. You may need music to focus or feel panicked when a room is just a little too warm. Maybe you ferociously rub your feet together to soothe yourself to sleep. Maybe you seek stimulation, or avoid it. If you can't adjust the sensory environment, it's not just disappointing, it's unbearable. Harsh self-talk. You might describe yourself as lazy, disorganised, or too sensitive. Many neurodivergent people blame themselves for struggling in systems not designed for them. If the people around you don't seem to share your challenges, it's easy to internalise the idea that you're the problem. Lifelong struggles. Maybe anxiety, social challenges, or problems managing time and tasks have been with you for as long as you can remember. Perhaps things got harder in adolescence or when you left home, but really, the difficulties have always been there. Formal identification isn't always necessary to start understanding and accommodating your needs. Especially within the autistic community, self-identification is broadly accepted as valid and can allow you to begin to explore neurodiversity-affirming supports Dependence on structure. You might rely on routines, lists, or rituals to function. When plans change suddenly, it can knock you sideways. It's not about being inflexible. These systems are how you cope. Minimal progress despite best efforts. You're working hard in therapy or self-help, but nothing sticks the way it should. Often, therapeutic approaches are designed with neurotypical brains in mind. That mismatch can leave you feeling like nothing works, no matter how hard you try. A long trail of diagnoses. Folks who experience emotional dysregulation, and especially women, can be offered a string of labels that don't quite explain what's going on. Like a mental health Goldilocks, you may have found none of these diagnoses fits just right. The emotional impact of the neurodiversity chat Psychotherapist Lisa Healy: 'Exploring neurodivergence isn't about fixing something broken. It's about getting to know yourself more truthfully' Some people feel seen. You've had a suspicion for a while and now have a reason to explore it further. Part of you may feel relieved. Others feel hurt, confused or defensive. Is your clinician suggesting something is off about you or blaming you for your challenges? You might think your therapist is writing you off, suggesting things won't get better. You might imagine they think poorly of you and feel judged or diminished. These reactions are understandable. Especially since neurodiversity is heavily stigmatised and often misunderstood. We might have caricaturised ideas of what autistic or ADHD people are like based on bias and stereotypes. We may struggle to see ourselves within our limited view of the label we're being offered. Your healthcare provider's intentions This isn't about giving you a label and sending you off. It's not about undermining the reasons you sought help in the first place. It's about offering a new way of looking at things that may help life make more sense. As a psychotherapist who's had many of these conversations, and as someone who came to understand my own neurodivergence in adulthood, I can offer some insight into what your provider likely hopes for you: Understand yourself more clearly Understanding how your brain works helps you to meet your needs and make sense of your experiences and history. The challenges have never been based on a personality flaw. You're just running on a different operating system. [ One-quarter of over-18s say they are neurodivergent or have family member who is, survey finds Opens in new window ] Less self-blame, more compassion Many neurodivergent people have spent years blaming themselves for things that were never about effort or attitude. Recognising that your struggles have a reason can help you respond to yourself more gently. Manage your energy Masking, the process of constantly presenting a curated version of yourself to fit in, can take a huge toll. You might have suppressed behaviours or avoided preferences to 'pass' for neurotypical. Dropping that mask, even a little, can create space for more joy and less burnout. [ Niamh Garvey on being diagnosed with autism at 34: 'You suddenly get the language that explains your life' Opens in new window ] Process the emotional impact Realising you're neurodivergent can bring up grief. It can be hard to shed a negative self-concept, even when it was based on faulty assumptions. You might look back and feel angry or sad that it took this long to be understood. You might wonder how things would have been different with the right support earlier on. That process is valid, and for many, it's the beginning of healing. Should you get assessed? Assessment isn't always accessible. Waiting lists can be long and private options expensive. However, formal identification isn't always necessary to start understanding and accommodating your needs. Especially within the autistic community, self-identification is broadly accepted as valid and can allow you to begin to explore neurodiversity-affirming supports. You can begin by asking yourself questions like: Would assessment help me understand myself and my life better? Would it change how I speak to myself in difficult moments? Would it allow me to make meaningful changes in how I live? Would it help me advocate for myself more effectively – in work, healthcare, or in relationships? Could I access support that I hadn't previously considered? Would formal identification offer something that self-guided exploration and learning can't? How would I feel if I went for an assessment only to be told I'm not neurodivergent? There's no deadline on learning about yourself, so take your time making this choice. Explore your options. Talk it over with people you trust. Try out this new lens on your life and see if it changes your perspective in valuable ways. Final thoughts Exploring neurodivergence isn't about fixing something broken. It's about getting to know yourself more truthfully. It's about understanding your history and experiences, accessing support that fits, and finding ways of living that work for you. Your healthcare provider likely brought this up not to pathologise you but because they see something important. They see what you've been carrying, and they want things to feel less heavy. The neurodiversity chat isn't a diagnosis. It's a gentle nudge in the direction of greater self-acceptance and compassion. A hopeful suggestion that maybe life could feel less like swimming upstream if you were allowed to do things in the way that suits you best. Lisa Healy is an accredited integrative psychotherapist at Evidence-Based Therapy Centre. She supports adults navigating trauma, emotional distress, and neurodivergence.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What it's like to live with sensory sensitivities
When Roger and Carrie take their family out for a fun evening, they always know the location of the closest exit. But it's not for the reason you might think. Their 13-year-old daughter Lily has autism and sensory processing disorder. This means her brain processes senses differently and some senses become overwhelming. Deseret News has agreed not to use the family's last name to protect the teen's privacy. Growing up, Lily was sensitive to taste, texture, sound and smell, which would affect the food she'd eat, the clothes she'd wear and the places she could go. According to her mom, Lily would 'know the smells I did not even know existed.' 'Helping Lily to feel safe has become a family project,' Carrie said. One in 36 children in the U.S. has autism spectrum disorder, which 'equates to about 25,000 children in Utah,' according to Intermountain Health. Sensory sensitivities are common in children with autism. A 2022 paper by University of Utah's Huntsman Mental Health Institute found that 74% of children with autism are affected by sensory sensitivity. That equates to 18,500 children in Utah based on the previous estimate. Sensory sensitivities can vary and are not associated with an individual's IQ, Dr. Deborah Bilder, one of the researchers for the paper, emphasized to the Deseret News. 'It's just a different way of experiencing aspects of the senses. It's not abnormal. It's not bad. It's not impaired. It's just different,' Bilder said. Some individuals are sensory avoiders, meaning it's harder for them to ignore sensory intake, according to Autism Speaks. This is called hypersensitivity. Someone who experiences hypersensitivity with bright lights, including the sun, could choose to wear sunglasses or a hat to help avoid a sensory overload. There is also hyposensitivity, which means individuals seek out sensory intake. That could look like someone spinning and needing to move. Per Autism Speaks, experiencing both hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity is common. 'It's really about finding that right balance for that person to be able to experience what they want to or need to experience,' Bilder said. On a family trip to Yellowstone National Park a few years ago, Lily's family was creative in how they helped her handle her sensitivity to smell. To help cover up the smells of Yellowstone, including the sulfuric fumes from the thermal pools, Lily's parents put Vicks VapoRub under her nose. Though VapoRub has its own strong scent, it's a familiar smell for Lily and would be more comforting than the strange smells of the park. The mask she was wearing due to the COVID-19 pandemic also helped, Lily said. In that moment, she said she was thinking, 'OK, I don't want to smell it. I don't want to fall off. Don't run. Don't push me. I just need to be on the path.' VapoRub is just one of the many ways Lily's parents, Carrie and Roger, have had to think outside the box to make the world a more sensory-friendly place for their daughter. Carrie keeps items such as Lily's favorite scented chapsticks, headphones and fidget tools in her purse. Taylor Swift's music has also been a helpful tool for Lily on hard days. 'Taylor Swift helps me get through it,' Lily said. Carrie added, 'Taylor's really doing more than she knows for our family.' When they go out, Carrie and Roger take separate vehicles and leave at different times. Carrie joked that that might make some people question the state of their marriage. 'Lots of times, we end up missing half of whatever we're going to because one of us will leave with her if it becomes too overwhelming,' Roger said. Carrie added, 'There are also family activities that we divide up for because we just know this will not be successful, but we have other kids that need experiences and need time together.' When Lily was younger, free early intervention and occupational therapy were helpful resources for the family as Lily was introduced to new exposures in positive and safe environments. But it's been difficult to find activities and events that are sensory inclusive for Lily and the rest of the family, Carrie said. 'I think that the sensory-friendly spaces exist. I don't think that a lot of people know about them, where they are,' she said. 'The challenge for me is that I don't know what exists, and I feel like we just kind of go it alone, you know? And sometimes we take a chance and we hope for the best, and other times, we just kind of say, 'I think we pass on that experience. I don't think it's gonna work out.'' Sporting events and plays heavily incorporate bright lights and loud sounds to create fun and engaging atmospheres. But those features could make it impossible for someone with sensory sensitivities to enjoy their experience. Multiple organizations are trying to create sensory-friendly events and spaces to make Utah more sensory inclusive for individuals like Lily and her family. Utah Valley University's Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism is one of those organizations. With partners in the community, the center organizes autism and sensory-friendly events throughout the year such as Quiet Santa and Moving Mountains soccer camp. They also collaborate with the Timpanogos Symphony and Orchestra every year for a special performance that leaves the lights on in the auditorium. UVU's Noorda Center also offers sensory-friendly performances for most of its children's plays. For communities to create more sensory-friendly events like these, Laurie Bowen, the director of the Melisa Nellesen Center, believes individuals with autism should be included in the planning process from the beginning. These events can be a great opportunity for families with children who have autism, but Carrie said, 'That exists only if you know about it, and if you're available on this certain day.' Bowen recognizes that and acknowledges that as a university, the center 'can't do all of it.' 'Our goal really is to make a community of belonging, and with that is arming other people with information so that they can also become part of that group that is addressing and assisting,' she said. One of the organizations that has stepped up to make more spaces and events sensory inclusive — including some that may have seemed impossible for someone who is hypersensitive to attend — is the nonprofit KultureCity. Husband and wife duo Dr. Julian Maha and Dr. Michele Kong founded KultureCity in 2014. A few years prior, Maha and Kong had taken their neurodivergent sons to a local museum in Birmingham, Alabama, when one of their sons experienced a sensory overload. They were asked to leave after their son started engaging in stimming behaviors to regulate his senses. Stimming behaviors are characterized by repetitive noises, movements and habits. That experience stopped Maha and Kong from daring to try new public experiences with their sons for years, KultureCity's Meg Raby Kinghoffer told the Deseret News. When one of their sons pointed out they never went anywhere, Maha and Kong organized a sensory-friendly night with the Birmingham Zoo. Their sensory inclusive vision grew from there and led to the creation of KultureCity. Utah has over 20 certified KultureCity venues with sensory rooms and/or sensory bags. A map of and information for each of the venues can be found on the KultureCity website and app. These venues include the Delta Center, the Clark Planetarium, the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum, schools, stores, libraries and even police departments. The Salt Lake City Police Department was the first police agency in the U.S. to be certified in KultureCity's sensory inclusive training, according to Kinghoffer. SLCPD officers now carry sensory bags in their patrol cars to assist individuals who may be experiencing sensory overwhelm. In those sensory bags, you'll find fidget tools, headphones to dull the loud sounds of their environment as well as a visual communications card and feelings thermometer for when an individual may be unable to verbalize their thoughts and feelings. Those items can be found in every KultureCity sensory bag. With KultureCity, Kinghoffer travels across the country for the nonprofit's activations and pop-ups, including the opening of the Salt Lake City International Airport's first of three sensory rooms in March and the NCAA women's basketball Final Four in Tampa, Florida, in April. In Tampa, not only was it special to see children benefit from the sensory bags and room, but Kinghoffer said it was 'really a beautiful thing when you see adults stepping up to request for the accommodations that they need, and seeing them just really kind of, in a sense, being seen and known in a public experience like that.' Businesses looking to become more sensory inclusive can reach out to KultureCity or the Melisa Nellesen Center for guidance. Bowen said the center exists to support autism and teach others how to as well. 'The whole reason we're here is to assist families and individuals with autism to get their needs met,' she said. Becoming sensory inclusive 'doesn't take much' and 'the impact is huge,' Kinghoffer said. The decision to do so will open the world up to more people with sensory sensitivities, like Lily. 'If people are not in this world, there's somebody you don't even think about. Something like a Jazz game is super amazing, and it's a little smelly — depending on who you're sitting next to — and (has) bright things. It doesn't have to be. There are ways to kind of change environments to make them more accessible, if we think about it, if we're aware,' Carrie said.
