Hi, my name is Stephanie, and today I want to talk to you about sensory seeking and
sensory avoiding. This is something commonly seen in those with sensory processing issues. I do want
to note that although many autistic people, if not most autistic people, do have issues with
sensory processing, sensory processing issues are not exclusive to autism and are actually
seen in a variety of conditions, including ADHD and OCD. Really quickly, before we get started,
I thought it was appropriate to wear my softest hoodie when we're talking about sensory things,
and this is the premium type hoodie on my Teespring with the design
That's So Stimmy. Of course, it's not like quite like that. I mean, I'm pulling it that way.
But anyway, yeah. That's so stimmy. If you're interested in this design or any of my others on
different things, you can go ahead and check out my merch store; it is linked in the description
box below. So, many people call having issues with sensory processing "sensory processing disorder."
However, this is not an actual disorder as recognized by psychologists,
as it is not listed in the DSM-5. However, it is a real thing and has obviously not only been
talked about or experienced by many people, but it's also been shown happening in the brain
in brain scans. When we're talking about sensory things, we're not just talking
about your five main senses. We're also talking about things like interoception,
proprioception, and vestibular sensations. Now, while I endeavor to have a video on each of those
separately, for the purposes of this video, interoception basically has to do
with your internal body senses, proprioception has to do with basically your body in space
and its proximity and relation to other objects and stuff like that,
and vestibular has to do with motion, balance, and coordination. That's a very basic explanation
of those terms. So, in the autism world, we often talk about stimming, which is a term derived from
self-stimulatory behavior or stereotypy. Stimming is something often done by people
to meet different sensory needs. Of course, this can also just be a fun repetitive behavior with
something that's pleasant sensory-wise, however, a lot of the time it is to meet some kind of sensory
need. Now, these actions can look strange to people because people who are doing things that
might seem odd as stimming are meeting a need that those who integrate sensory
input just fine don't need to do, if that makes sense. So, we are doing something like rocking
or spinning or flapping our hands, whatever it is, to meet a need that people who don't have
issues with sensory integration and processing don't have because it all worked just fine.
If they did have issues with it properly working, they might also find different ways to properly
feed the need or give the right input, etc. In general, it seems that people are often put into
two different categories, basically sensory seeking and sensory avoiding. Someone who is
constantly wearing sunglasses and ear defenders and really needs to, like, stay out of situations
that cause bright lights and loud noises and all that kind of stuff would probably normally be
considered to be sensory avoidant. On the other hand, those who love running into things and
blaring loud music and crashing into stuff and breaking things and almost seem to
immerse themselves into sensory experiences would be considered
sensory seeking. Those who are sensory seeking are often considered to be hyposensitive to stimuli,
while those who are sensory avoidant tend to be hypersensitive to stimuli. Despite everyone's
desire to place people in particular camps, I imagine that most of us are actually a mix of both
depending on what stimuli or sense we're talking about. However, there are people who tend to be
more of one than the other, etc. I wanted to share some commonly listed examples of sensory seeking
and sensory avoiding behaviors. Hypersensitive kids are extremely reactive to sensory stimulation
and can find it overwhelming. They may be unable to tolerate bright lights and loud noises like
ambulance sirens, refuse to wear clothing because it feels scratchy or irritating even after cutting
out all the tags and labels, or shoes because they feel too tight. Be distracted by background noises
that others don't seem to hear. Be fearful of surprise touch. Avoid hugs and cuddling,
even with familiar adults. Be overly fearful of swings and playground equipment.
Often have trouble understanding where their body is in relation to other objects or people
and bump into things and appear clumsy. Kids who sensory avoid may seem timid. They may be picky
eaters or particular about the types of clothes they wear. A sensory avoider may not like being
hugged or kissed, even by family. Be startled and frightened by unexpected sounds and bright lights.
Hear background noises other people aren't able to detect. Worry about being bumped in line or
touched by other kids while playing. Refuse to wear scratchy, tight, or otherwise uncomfortable
clothes. Be wary and avoidant of swings and other playground equipment that provides
vestibular or proprioceptive input. Have trouble knowing where their body is in relation to other
people or objects, and prefer to be in quieter environments and avoid crowds. Hyposensitive
kids are under-sensitive, which makes them want to seek out more sensory stimulation.
They may have a constant need to touch people or textures even when it's not socially acceptable.
Not understand personal space even when kids the same age are old enough to understand it.
Have an extremely high tolerance for pain. Not understand their own strength. Be very fidgety
and unable to sit still. Love jumping, bumping, and crashing activities. Enjoy deep pressure
like tight bear hugs. Crave fast spinning and/or intense movement, and love being tossed in the air
and jumping on furniture and trampolines. They may stand too close when talking to others and
not have a good sense of personal space. Have an unusual tolerance for pain. Walk with loud,
heavy steps. Enjoy jumping, hopping, and bumping and crashing into things and people, sometimes
to the point of being unsafe. Not know their own strength. Kids may rip paper when writing, break
toys or hurt others by accident. Prefer rough play on the playground, touch people and objects often,
seek out or make loud noises, chew on shirt sleeves or collars and other non-food items.
So, for me personally, I tend to have a lot of sensory seeking behaviors.
Things like spinning and rocking and tipping my head side to side and doing things like that,
as well as pushing against stuff. Basically things that give vestibular and proprioceptive
types of feedback tend to be my favorites. Deep pressure feels nice and comforting. However,
I wouldn't say that overall or just completely that I'm hyposensitive. I am pretty sensitive to
touch and do not really have a tolerance for pain at all. I do not do well with unexpected touch
and while I'm not great with bright lights over time, I think I have a higher tolerance for those
than most people, but I also don't tend to visually stim very much, so I don't think that
I have a very big issue integrating visual information and input. Sound for me is probably
the easiest way for me to get overloaded. I definitely identify with the hearing sounds
that other people don't tend to detect and kind of being bothered or distracted by them.
I often am in need of headphones. In fact, when I need headphones and I don't have direct access
to them, I will stim in other ways, almost like a way to override, or if something's loud, I might
almost do a kind of echolalia to repeat the sound or maybe match the sound while it's going to-
I think in that way it's more functional in trying to maybe override the sound ... where
it's something that I'm controlling, if that makes sense. Now, I did find it kind of odd that I would
stim so much when I'm overloaded, especially with auditory input, and, because like, that doesn't
seem to make sense, right? Like, why would you add more input or seek more input when you're already
overloaded? Well, there's an interesting comment that understood.org made about people who tend
to be sensory seekers, and this is what it says: sensory input can also soothe an overloaded system
and help kids feel more organized in their own bodies and in space. I found that particularly
cool just because it's one of those things where you're like, oh, that makes sense. Hey, that's me!
And when I got my headphones in the situation in which I am referencing,
it was like there was just, like, this [exhale] calm, and like, I didn't need to stim anymore,
and I think that definitely speaks to the regulation component of stimming that a lot
of people, for whatever reason, can sometimes want to reject. While I tend to be sensitive to sound
and even avoidant of it, other times I use blaring loud music to deal with emotions and stuff like
that, and sometimes even just for fun. But if it's just for fun, it's usually in very small
quantities because otherwise it starts getting almost, like, distorted, and then I'm done. Like,
I get a headache, my ears hurt, and I'm done. I think it's interesting because I feel like I
learned about myself quite a bit, because I would say that, in general, I felt that
I was more sensory avoidant because I would avoid over-stimulating situations if I could,
and especially, again, things with lots of sound or smells. Despite feeling that I must be rather
sensory avoidant, I'm actually quite a bit of a sensory seeker. However, it has to be on my terms.
I have to control the motion and the movement. I have to control the sounds, because some sounds I
do enjoy and can use to calm myself down in small doses in specific ways. I have to be in control
of it, though, or else it's, it's not okay. When I get overwhelmed, I do tend to really
lose coordination and start bumping into things and just a lot of messiness kind of happens with
my body and my abilities when it comes to, like, motor skills. While this is a trait listed under
those who are more hypersensitive or sensory avoidant, this might also just be a symptom
of being overloaded in general, and things just kind of stop working because things going on up
here are just, they're getting a bit messy and things aren't working right. So, understanding
your or your loved ones sensory triggers or sensory sensitivities, basically sensory profile,
in general, things that are okay, things that are pleasant, things that are definitely a no-go, and
things that help in general - super, super helpful in avoiding meltdowns. I tend to need access to
headphones because I know that sound is an issue for me and it will lead to a meltdown if we don't
solve the problem. Now, I can withstand a lot more than I think maybe a lot of people who are
very sensory avoidant could, but having access to things that I know will help me is awesome.
I have some people who know how to give me hugs that will be tight enough to give deep pressure.
I also have a weighted blanket that I don't use all the time, but if I'm feeling, like,
this weird, like, anxious energy that I can't, I can't get it to stop and, like, nothing's helping,
a lot of times, using my weighted blanket will help. I've not used a weighted vest
or jacket or anything before, but I'm kind of interested in trying one, honestly.
But there are just a variety of things that people can use to help them get through
situations that you just really can't live your life and avoid. I know someone who uses polarized
glasses because they have light sensitivities that lead to migraines and stuff like that. So, just
knowing these things, having aids and sensory things available for people, is really helpful
in avoiding negative situations and overwhelm and overload and stuff like that. Issues with sensory
processing is an area in which OT or occupational therapy can be extremely helpful. OTs can help you
find out what you or your loved one's sensory profile is, what things might be more helpful,
activities that can meet sensory needs, as well as give you tools and other ways to help regulate
to thrive outside of therapy as well as, you know, enjoying your OT time. So, I hope that this video
was interesting and somewhat informative for you. Do you have any of these main things that
were listed? Like, can you identify mostly as a sensory seeker or a sensory avoidant person? And
do you find yourself falling under one that you didn't expect, like I didn't really expect to be
considered more of a sensory seeker? So, let me know all of that in the comments below. If you
enjoyed this video, go ahead and give it a thumbs up. If you enjoy autism-related content from me,
you can go ahead and hit that subscribe button. I upload to this channel every Thursday at 4 pm
central standard time. Thank you to everyone who supports me here on YouTube as YouTube members,
my patrons over on Patreon, and a special thank you to my spaz tier patron, Philip Noah. Thank
you so much for watching! I hope you're having a wonderful week, and I'll see you in my next video.
Bye!