This definitely is my experience. Can anyone else relate?
For those unaware, overwhelm is connected to a phenomenon called neurological load. This refers to the amount of cognitive and sensory information the brain processes at any given time. When this load is optimal, we can efficiently handle the sensory input from our environment. However, an excessive neurological load can lead to sensory overload, a condition where the brain is bombarded with more information than it can process. Symptoms of sensory overload include exicutive function struggles, difficulty concentrating, heightened anxiety, and a feeling of being overwhelmed.
Contrastingly, sensory seeking is a behavioral pattern where individuals require additional sensory stimulation to feel connected with their world or to get organized, focused, and content. Sensory seekers might look for experiences that involve intense tactile input, strong tastes, bright colors, or physical movement to satisfy their neurological craving for increased sensory input.
Both sensory overload and sensory seeking are important concepts in understanding how individuals interact with their surroundings and manage their sensory needs for optimal mental health and functioning. When behavior analysts dismiss these factors, we are dismissing the biological aspect of the individual's we should be supporting. This, in turn, leads to us creating extremely unethical conditions that are harmful.
Imagine being pushed to do more and more when you are sick, dehydrated, hungry, and had very little sleep. This is an example of a high neural load situation. For disabled people, we experience a higher load for a variety of reasons ranging from arbitrary demands to inhospitable environments to our needs. In short, we need understand & support, not judgement & shame. Anticedent interventions are a wonderful way to address these needs.
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