Sensory Systems And My Mental Health

This Forest session is designed to help you gain a better understanding of your sensory systems and how they may be impacting your mental health. We will discuss how to recognize overstimulation and anxiety, learn healthy coping strategies, and identify ways to create a safe, comfortable environment. Learn how to better understand and manage your senses to better regulate your emotions, reduce stress, and lead a happier and healthier life.

What we covered

The human body is made up of five main sensory systems: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. These five senses provide us with a wealth of information about our environment, and they are essential for our survival. However, when our senses become over-stimulated or disrupted, it can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress, and even depression. This is why it is important to understand how our sensory systems may be impacting our mental health and to learn healthy strategies for managing our senses.

Recognizing Overstimulation & Anxiety

When our senses become overstimulated, it can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress, and even depression. Overstimulation occurs when we are exposed to too much sensory input, or when our senses are overwhelmed by a single stimulus. Signs of overstimulation may include difficulty concentrating, feeling overwhelmed, irritability, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping.

On the other hand, anxiety can arise when we are exposed to a stimulus that triggers a fear response. This can lead to symptoms such as racing thoughts, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.

Healthy Coping Strategies

When it comes to managing our senses and reducing anxiety, there are several healthy coping strategies that can be used.

• Breathing Exercises: Taking slow, deep breaths can help to reduce stress and anxiety. It can also help to regulate the body's physiological responses to stress.

• Grounding Techniques: Grounding techniques involve using the five senses to focus on something calming. It can help to reduce stress and anxiety by shifting the focus away from the source of the stress.

• Mindfulness: Mindfulness is a form of meditation that involves focusing on the present moment and accepting thoughts and feelings without judgement. Regular practice can help to reduce stress and anxiety, and can even help to improve mood and overall wellbeing.

• Sensory Regulation: Sensory regulation involves identifying the sources of overstimulation and managing them in a healthy way. This can include setting boundaries and creating a comfortable environment, as well as activities such as deep breathing, stretching, and focusing on calming activities.

Creating a Safe & Comfortable Environment

Creating a safe and comfortable environment can help to regulate our senses and reduce stress and anxiety. This can be done by controlling the amount of sensory input, such as reducing noise and light levels. It can also involve using calming objects such as soft lighting, calming scents, and comfortable furniture.

In addition to creating a safe and comfortable environment, it is also important to recognize signs of overstimulation and anxiety. This can help to identify triggers and develop coping strategies that can be used in the future.

Conclusion

Overall, understanding our sensory systems and how they may be impacting our mental health is essential for leading a happy and healthy life. By recognizing signs of overstimulation and anxiety, learning healthy coping strategies, and creating a safe and comfortable environment, we can better recognize and manage our senses to reduce stress and lead a happier and healthier life.