what is a sensory profile?
You may have heard that sensory profiles can be an important but often overlooked aspect of the ND experience, yet you may have no idea what this means for you.
Alternatively, you may be acutely aware of your own sensory sensitivities and already be accommodating those needs in your daily life.
Your sensory profile is like your radar as you navigate through the world.
Perhaps the shame you feel about being called too sensitive, fussy or dramatic holds clues to your unique sensory profile. You may have buried the valid self-knowledge of your sensory experience deep, to be able to mask and fit in.
Our young selves are keenly attuned to our bodies and over time we stop listing to their cues (if we ever had a good connection with them I the first place- Alexythimia). As we get older our culture (specifically Western anglocentric capitalist culture) tends to prioritise stillness, productivity and cognitive capacity over the natural expressions of movement and the somatic intelligence we are born with.
Stimming is a great example of our bodies doing what we need them to so we can self-regulate our nervous systems and emotions.
Your sensory experience of the world is often highlighted in therapy or coaching work and we may spend quite a bit of time exploring this area.
Many clients find this process enlightening and it can lead to better emotional regulation, self-advocacy and leaning into newly identified or remembered areas of sensory seeking as an anchor for your self-care and overall well-being.
What are the different senses we might explore?
The first 5 are commonly recognised but the last 3 you may not have heard of;
Sight - it’s it too bright too dark, too busy or I feel great joy observing nature etc.
Sound - is it too noisy, too quiet, can you hear that electrical socket buzzing? That repetitive sound makes me so angry or causes a meltdown, do you love listen to a song on repeat?
Touch - cut those labels out of my clothing, don’t touch me or please crush my soul back into my body, weighted blankets are a must. I can’t eat that slimy mushroom, only nataural fabrics for me please.
Taste - all the spicy food, same foods only
Smell - can’t have scented anything, your perfume is giving me a migraine, I need to smell every spice in the cupboard it brings me such joy.
Interception - internal - what’s happening inside and how can I describe it? I’m not hungry - I’m hangry, oh no I’m desperate for the toilet it’s nearly too late, the vibes are off but I can’t tell you what I’m feeling.
Proprioception - external - sense of self-movement - I move this and this will happen. I’m so clumsy, I keep breaking things. I love to dance or feel free when I move rhythmically.
Vestibular - balance- movement I like or don’t like the forces impacting my whole self and can adjust accordingly. I absolutely need to be moving or I can’t concentrate, extreme sports make me feel so good, I get car sick.
Your Sensory profile is unique to you. It’s like your radar in the world.
You may have some senses where you are seeking stimulation to feel good, and others you are highly avoidant of as they can cause you pain and overwhelm.
There may also be contradictions within a particular sense. The implications of too much exposure to a negative sensory experience can take us into meltdown, shutdown and even burnout over time. Too little sensory stimulation could also leave us feeling under-stimulated, agitated or even depressed.
I hope this helps open the door to your sensory experience of the world.
What did you notice in yourself?
Take care
Fran