I only like a rocky road when it's in a ice-cream cone.

The past few days have been tough for me, probably because of the stress of the upcoming holidays. I love Christmas and the true meaning behind it, but let's face it, these days the celebration also entails long trips in the car, inescapable music, an overwhelming busy-ness, and of course, school finals to get everything off to a great start.

Thankfully, the exams are over, and I even surprised myself with how well they went! I was concerned about my math final (numbers and I have never mixed), but I was extremely pleased with my posted grade. It felt like a real victory because not only was it a math final, but I did okay even with the grating noises of everyone using their calculators and scratching with their pencils. There was also a fan that was whirring in the room.

And still I made it. Chewing gum was a lifesaver, and it also helped that the instructor insisted on the class spreading apart, which meant I did not have people sitting on all four sides of me.

Still, I have had some rough days after that. I have been trying to be more faithful about incorporating my sensory diet, especially bouncing and getting long hot showers. Yesterday was difficult because I had to get up early for a holiday event, and I never do well with getting up early (sleeping late is another one of my coping tools). I didn't get coffee until later, so for a while, my skin felt raw. I was able to wear sweatpants and a hoodie most of the day, though, which helped a lot.

But all in all, I am feeling a thousand times better now that my semester is over. I had been resorting to my unhealthy stims before the exams, but I am easing my way back into wellness. I have vegged on the computer this morning, though, which probably hasn't been the best for me. It's time to say good-bye and go do sometime active for myself.

Merry Christmas, and best wishes for an overload-free holiday.

To relieve a sensory overload, I...

• Bounce! I have a rebounder, or mini trampoline, that I use to relieve stress from sensory overloads. I also TRY to use it regularly even when I am feeling good so that I don't have to experience an overload. Using it regularly is easier said than done, though.
• Bounce some more! I also use a yoga ball for bouncing, which provides input to different areas of my body.
• Chew gum! Chewing gum has been a miracle-worker for me. I used to never chew gum for fear of getting cavities, but I started realizing my body needed the deep input of chewing when I constantly craved crunchy foods like potato chips or carrots. My OT recommended gum, so now I live on the fruit flavors of Trident.
• Use my weighted blanket! I have a weighted blanket that is about fifteen pounds, and when I wrap myself up in it, it provides a lot of good proprioceptive input. I got it from Affordable Weighted Blankets, and although they mostly have "little kid" material designs, I managed to get a hot pink fabric for mine that looks about as chic as any "normal" throws you can find.
• Press on my ears! Okay, it sounds weird, but my body really needs deep pressure, so pressing on my ears helps a lot when I'm feeling overloaded. Pressing on my fingers, wrists, and ankles helps, too.
• Close my eyes! Visual input adds to the stress of an overload, so closing my eyes can relieve some of that. The tightness of shutting my eyes sometimes feels good, also.
• Go for a walk! I make sure that I walk during a time when the paths are not crowded, and I make sure to take along my boisterous little dog. When Peanut tugs on the leash I am holding, it brings some deep pressure to my arm.

These are some of the healthier ways that I cope with Sensory Processing Disorder. If I can keep up with them, they can help me stay away from the unhealthy options that my body will resort to, like eating tons of crunchy junk food or chewing on my fingers. I came up with my coping tools on my own as well as with my OT. You could also call them my "sensory diet." Talk to your own OT about your diet, and come up with ways that work for you, if you haven't already.

And as you're coming up with coping tools, remember, you're not a freak. I sometimes feel so odd for having to bounce all the time. But in reality, it's not being freakish; it's living sensationally.

What are some ways that you cope?