Sensory Defensiveness and Anxiety With sensory defensiveness the nervous system tends to overreact to moderate levels of stimulation (light touch can hurt, normal daily sounds can be painfully loud, smells can be overwhelming nauseas, sunlight blinding, etc.). The child’s nervous system over-reacts and sets off the fight or flight response. In addition the child can by over sensitive at one moment and under-register at other times. For those who are over sensitive, normal daily sensory stimulation can be overpowering and overwhelming. These sensitivities can vary from moment to moment and day to day. The nervous system is “on guard”, anxious, and on “high alert.” The child frequently has high levels of stress chemicals in his nervous system and is often in a defensive mode. The child feels anxious and insecure, and cannot trust his nervous systems reactions to events occurring around them. This anxiety from sensory defensiveness can result in a variety of challenging behaviors. The child can be resistant and oppositional, very rigid and inflexible, and need to control all stimulation and activity around him. Since he is nervous and “on guard” he can melt down at drop of a dime or simple snags in routine. He may engage in repetitive behavior to block out the painful stimulation, or shut down (tune out) in order to escape the assaulting environment. When in an environment that he cannot control, and is unpredictable for him, the child may be on “high alert” and very apprehensive. He will be running scared of the anticipation of unexpected, painful stimulation.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 18:21:30 +0000
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