Our Daughter’s Anxiety Connected to Sensory Processing Disorder
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A few years ago we wondered if AJ had sensory processing disorder, SPD, and if it related to her anxiety.
Sensory Processing Disorder
At the time, her anxiety was so overwhelming, she had trouble leaving the house. She’d curl up in the fetal position and cry. A lot. (It sucked.)
Anxiety, if you ever have experienced it, doesn’t make sense.
After a miserable mountain vacation trapped in our condo, I realized that she needed more help than I could give. Professional help.
So, we went to a therapist. Well, two cognitive therapists. (In retrospect, I would recommend finding a good art or play therapist. That’s another blog post though.)
After seven months or so of weekly therapy sessions and little improvement, the last therapist suggested we get AJ evaluated at Children’s Hospital for SPD.
Fast forward to a diagnosis — SPD with tactile over-responsiveness. In other words, her tactile sensory system was over stimulated all the time. It explained everything – like why she hated to be held as a baby, why she flinched when we hugged her, or why the lining of her socks had to be smooth and thread free. Maybe, it explained the anxiety. We would soon find out.
Occupational Therapy at Children’s
We started occupational therapy at Children’s. Sabrina, the wonderfully kind OT, gave us weekly homework including a brushing technique and joint compressions.
Brushing and compressions worked miracles – which is bizarre because they seemed a bit like voodoo. But the proof was the result . . . after only a few months, she was a different kid.
The biggest immediate result? The anxiety disappeared. (And with it, the curled-up in a fetal position melt-downs.)
Another reward of the therapy? Hugs and the occasional cuddle. Soon, AJ wanted me to lay down with her while she fell asleep. We had some catching up to do! I got to make up for so many years where she didn’t want to be touched.
Update
We didn’t do the therapy forever – at home or at Children’s. For one, it was just too expensive. We stopped when we saw results after about 9 months.
Now, when we see that AJ’s over stimulated or seems “off,” we’ll start brushing again for a few days. Sometimes we give her a full-body, super tight-squeeze bear hug. It immediately calms her down. (I know, it seems weird for a touch-sensitive person but totally works!)
AJ is growing into herself every day, without the interference of her over-stimulated senses. She’s an amazing child with a lot to offer the world. If it weren’t for us discovering SPD, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
Which is why I’m telling you this. Only very recently are doctors considering SPD a legitimate diagnosis. But whether or not it’s in the DSMÂ or people think it’s a “fad,” it’s a very real condition. And something you get help for.
Further Reading
Sensory Processing Disorder involves one or more of the senses and can be either over-responsive or under-responsive. The opposite of AJ is tactile under-responsive, also called a sensory seeker. These are kids who always are touching you, in your lap, petting others, hugging, seeking to be touched. I know of kids whose affected senses are hearing and vision.
SPD Foundation’s website
“Is it Sensory Processing or ADHD?”, ADDitude Magazine
SPD Blogger Network
I hope this helps you – or someone you know.
Do you have any questions for me? Experiences with this?
UPDATE: How Developing the Brain Helped with Sensory Processing, Anxiety & Food Pickiness For Our Kids
My first post about SPD . . .
Tina
My son has this and he is part of the reason I am going to school to be a counselor. My question to you is, in hindsight, why would you recommend an art/play therapist over a regular therapist? I have yet to obtain my degree but after I do I want to get my certification in play therapy. I’m curious as to your thinking and wondering while I’m getting my certification will other parents who come to me feel the same way? Thanks.
the cognitive therapist was asking too much abstract thinking for a 6 and 7 yr old – to be metacognitive about the worry, and replacing the worry with a new thought. Pretty hard stuff for a young person!
One other thing to note, I am making a sensory blanket. It has channels , then boxes filled with rice or some heavy filling. It is small and heavy (feels like having that heavy x ray thing layed across your chest before they do an x ray) i have heard there is some measure of peace/satisfaction/calming from having something like this on top of you for a bit and sounded worth a try.
I bought a weighted blanket for my child. If you are making your own, I’d recommend filling it with something that can get wet, not rice or beans. At some point, it is likely to get wet when someone spills something on it and you will want to wash it. I had to buy another for my other child, as they both loved the weighted blanket. Ours seems to be filled with something like little plastic balls. I have washed them both in the washing machine with great results.
I have 4 kids who have SPD, two have incredible anxiety also. The newest therapist gave me a great article Make Sense of Every Child found in Montessori Life. It is really good for helping moms/teachers/caregiveers have some ideas about what to do. My oldest is 13 and we are in therapy and have to take meds; I really wish that her doctors when she was younger had been clued in to any of this. I took her in at 9 months because when you put onsies or socks on her she screamed like you had set her on fire (this was the first of 13 years of not being able to handle her sensations) and the doctor told me not to put her in onsies. (which is what I did, but didn’t solve or help the real problem). I feel like I am a better parent to my 5 year old who is a copy of my oldest. My other two are the opposite and need TONS of touching and the harder the better. They are rough, mix the two together and sometimes it’s like dynamite around here! BUT massaging their legs and feet has done wonders at getting them to sleep at bed time. We do a lot of walking on our toes and other compressions for the other two. I wish more people talked about things that they have done that worked. My children are bright, fun, and wonderful little people and the SPD can really get in the way of them being who they are.
Oh, you have a lot on your plate! Yes, SPD totally interferes with who they are meant to be- boo.
Like you, I wished our doctors had a clue – and hate that I lost so many years. I feel for your oldest daughter, poor thing. I hope you can find what works for her.
Thanks for the book recommendation and sharing your story.
Hugs,
Melissa
Thank you for posting this. I can relate to your daughter’s story! My son has days where it is nothing but meltdowns and doesn’t want to leave the house. I’m currently in the process of getting him evaluated by an OT through the school district. Other than that, I don’t feel like I am being taken seriously. I enjoy reading other people’s stories because it helps give me motivation to keep fighting and it is also nice to know that I’m not alone even though I feel that way most days!!
you are not alone! It’s so challenging especially when no one around you seems to understand. I really feel thankful for the internet community or I’d probably be in the looney bin right about now!
Keep going, Melissa – you’re doing the right thing for you son.
Thank you for sharing this. My son has SPD that effects multiple sensory areas for him. Meaning he has the tactile over-responsive (and shares many of the same symptoms that your daughter did), he also has hearing and taste sensory issues as well. It can be very frustrating. Not being able to hold/touch your child is heart breaking. My son’s food aversion (he only eats bland yellow foods) also can be overwhelming. The whole concept of if they get hungry enough they will eat doesn’t work very well with SPD. Also, it seems that many people know about autism but know nothing about sensory processing disorder. It is nice to know I am not alone. Do you have any other suggestions besides OT – We go to Children’s as well and have the brush too (it works wonders). Just being able to touch for a few seconds without him cringing is wonderful.
Thanks again!
exactly! AJ went days w/out eating because she only would eat ice cream. I finally gave in b/c I didn’t want her to starve to death. I’ve since realized that those parenting books do not apply at all to our sensory kids.
We have tried so many things, Kim — I have no idea what worked specifically but here are a few things for home we’ve done –
roller skating inside the house
sitting on an exercise ball
sitting on those round blow-up seat cushions (forget what they’re called)
indoor swing (IKEA has some that are cheap – challenge is to find the right beams)
outdoor swing set helps a lot
trampoline – inside and outside
weighted blanket
What have you been trying?