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 DSM 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 . . .
This post is my daughter to a T. All of the things cures she listed work for us every week. An some weeks are better/ worse than others. It is a real struggle we go through eery single day. Also a bit of advice for parents new to this, try a weighted blanket or vest or both. Teethers ( yes the kind for babies) come in many textures and some vibrate, these same my daughter from her habit of anxiously biting off her fingertips ( yes I’m serious). Other things we’ve done that help: a ‘sensory basket’ its full of things, pipe cleaners, a brush, a few teethers, some really fuzzy yarn, a feather, a stress ball full of sand, a pinecone… Anything your little one would like to manipulate ( which is likely to change). And we’ve established a habit of letting her know what to expect hem we’re going somewhere that may overstimulate her and to let us know when she wants to leave. ( sometimes she doesn’t know until it too late, be prepared for this and know your child’s cues)
It is so awesome to see the great results your family has seen! I work with people with developmental disabilities and we have recently learned about the Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and how it affects so many people…. including those we help through our services.
We too have found success through brushing and joint compressions as well as other sensory flows of the day which include different sensory options depending on what the person needs.
We have also seen some life changing results! (including lessening anxiety and deterring “aggressive behaviors” in some of the people we work with)
Thank you for your blog sharing your story!
It saddens me to see a teacher write the comment below and it explains how a lot of kids aren’t getting the help they need or proper accomidations in school from the teachers. A suck it up or tough love attitude will not help these kids. It only makes it harder for them when the teacher doesn’t believe they have an actual issue that needs understanding and a different approach.
I teach 1st grade and this fits one of my students to a T. It is real disorder that can disrupt every aspect of life. Working together there are also many things her mom and I do to help her. She longs to not feel so much anxiety with the world around her. We owe it to here and every child to give them our best.
*her not here
First, we have two with sensory! In fact, at the panel visits for both kids they took us in the OT room and said the words that our two are sensory opposites! I breathed, freaked, closed my mouth and then said what! I got the best answer I have ever had in 11 years, fast forward to today! Flight, Fright, and Fight! Our oldest tends to RUN from everything! Day one to now, he still is this child! Our youngest is the Fight one! Head banging and hitting and more aggressive. So that summed up my two little kids that day as if that OT lived in our home! She did explain that this will change at times and you will see new things or worse ones and that can change again! I then felt that sensory was a death sentence! We were chasing one, and asking for a helmet for the other, or maybe not! We were terrified! But, she gave me hope too! I watched her and a helper work with both kids and I saw MAGIC happen! My kids could work thru or around this! Later, at another OT place I was told again “Hey, they are what we know “! He is a Flight and she is Fright! This was years later, and a different OT! Yet, I have attended all of both childrens’ OT and Speech therapy and it is totally accurate! So, we put that knowledge in our parent list and we moved on! Guess what, we are able to work with these kids and to EVEN HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL, Now , if I can only get the school system to do all that it needs (sensory) we would be there! Schools wait to treat a behavior that happens after! So, they conclude it is anger and mental illness, and OCD! Why can, we not support sensory in schools? Why spend the money AFTER THE FACT AND ACCOMPLISH WASTED TIME AND EFFORT AND NOT GET OUR GOAL OF TEACHING MY KIDS! And, the crazy thing is I hear things like he is talking or she is singing! Or he ran and left the room or she hit the desk! No, duh! So, I ask what happened BEFORE THIS? And the school stares at me, then goes oh…. Nothing and you KNOW all the kids were fidgeting so yours are normal and need zero sensory and behavior punishments and better parents! Uggggggg! That is when my sensory explodes and my poor husband has to do “clean up” in the IEP meeting! Everyday, my kids can tell me of sorts what was the TRIGGER(s) to the end result at the school that day! Why is it impossible for staff at schools to see or believe this? Ps I do NOT allow my kids to have BAD behavior! They are given consequences for their choices! We differentiate between sensory, tantrums, anger, fear, etc. We give them these skills so they understand their feelings! Then, I give them support and training on how to deal with the Autism and the sensory! Both kids have been attempting mainstream for some time now! They have supports, yet often the access to these are denied by staff! Then the school covers this up too! What a huge mess, and a waste of my IEP time and all the hours that we met as a team! Makes tons more sense to have OT get the kid a seat cushion, and put it on top of a filing cabinet in the wrong room all day! Only one example, I have tons and tons more! Best wishes for all, believe in your kids and your love for them. By the way, I now know that I have huge sensory issues and it explains my whole life. My poor husband! : )
thanks so much for sharing your journey!