ABC's of SPD – E is for Emotions

Welcome to this week’s Blogging Through the Alphabet! I have been Blogging through the Alphabet with Ben and Me and many other bloggers who are offering a wide variety of topics. I am sharing a new topic related to Sensory Processing Disorder each week as we blog through the alphabet. Hopefully one of these weeks I’ll post earlier in the week! 😉

E is for Emotions

In my B is for Balance post I covered balance and sensory processing disorder and talked a little about emotional balance. I want to expand a little on it. With SPD emotions can be very intense.
I addressed how many people with SPD feel emotions very deeply. We can be very emotional as both of our children with SPD and I definitely have in common. It is common for those with SPD to be emotional, sensitive, and empathetic. They aren’t always negative emotions, but sometimes they can be. Being emotional and sensitive can be overwhelming at times. Comments or behaviors that aren’t intended to be hurtful can be.
Being sensitive and emotional can also be helpful. Those with SPD can also sometimes be exuberant when they are sensory seeking. Being so in tune with how others feel, I have seen our children slow down and show great consideration so as not to upset or hurt others. When they do, though, (which happens for everyone!) they are so very upset! They need a lot of reassurance that everything (and everyone) is OK.
Having heightened empathy can also be exhausting, which can lead to meltdowns in children and just an exhausting feeling for myself. If I’m around many others I often notice others emotions. I have learned to tune it out sometimes, but when I can’t, I can just feel so overwhelmed with emotions and just want to retreat for a while to reset.
Beyond being sensitive and empathetic, those with SPD are more likely to feel overwhelmed by a variety of outside factors – particularly those they are most sensitive to be it touch, sound, smell, etc. Children react in a variety of ways such as crying and meltdowns, the need to withdraw, snappy or moody, or frustrated and angry.
As an adult with SPD, I react in similar ways with the exception of the crying and meltdowns – at least in public! Just because adults start to learn more self control, though, doesn’t mean our SPD has lessened or gone away – we’re just better able to cope with the emotions. Though I am definitely known to get moody when I’m sensory overwhelmed. I’m working on that! 😉
Do you have or know someone with SPD? What are some of the emotions you or they experience regularly?

ABC Blogging

Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers as well who have linked up to Blogging through the Alphabet! Again, hopefully I will get on schedule to add mine to the Linky as well. You definitely don’t want to miss it! There are a wide variety of topics from completely random to very specific. See more by clicking on the button below!