10 Sneaky Ways Sensory Processing Shows Up for Adults
“Sensory processing” is a broad term to describe how our nervous system receives and interprets information from the world around us. You might have even heard the word “sensory” used in reference to a child in your life. But I’ll let you in on a little-known secret: sensory processing is not just for kids— not by a long shot!
As we reach adulthood, our sensory needs may shift or change. Needs we had as children might become more “integrated” over time and with experience, bothering us less and feeling a bit more seamless. Sometimes, we maintain a fairly similar response to sensory information over time, we just learn to avoid problematic sensations or find more “socially acceptable” ways to get the input we need. Other times, new sensory challenges develop or existing ones intensify. Extra stress or demands on our daily functioning can make us notice all things sensory just a bit more.
Take a look at this list and see if you recognize yourself:
Just Peachy Do you “bruise like a peach” or find yourself black-and-blue from bumps in the night— or at least ones you don’t remember? Do you run into door frames or walls? Trip over your own feet? Some folks even compensate for this through their vision. Try it out— can you touch your fingertip to your nose with your eyes closed? You might not just be “clumsy;” these could all be signs of differences in your proprioceptive sense, which helps you know where your body is in space.
Guess How Much I Love You It’s not uncommon for sensory adults to report that parenthood sends them into sensory overload. Feeling “all touched out” from your kids or overwhelmed by the “NOISE!” might indicate tactile (touch) or auditory (sound) sensitivity. Visual clutter or even your child’s colorful classroom can be distracting for folx who need a little more calm in sight to feel centered. Of course, sometimes parenting can be hard…but parenting with sensory sensitivities can be next level!
Mind Your Business For lots of sensory-sensitive people, a “professional wardrobe” is downright oppressive. For some folx, the very idea of restrictive waistbands, itchy tags or seams, or constricting button downs is enough to turn down an otherwise great job. For others, alternative employment where they can wear compression leggings or other body-hugging activewear helps them feel oh-so-cozy and far more “together” than a business suit ever could. So-called “professional” dress codes have been justly criticized for reinforcing some problematic social norms (for a great intersectional take on this, click here). And from a sensory perspective, it’s all that and more— how can one possibly feel good about a job well done if they literally don’t feel good while doing it?
Another Kind of Hangry Lots of folx skip meals in our busy world, but if you find yourself missing your body’s cues to eat, drink, or toilet, this might be a question of interoception. Some don’t even notice it until they stop moving or hyper focusing and realize they haven’t eaten in hours! While it may sound like a Leo DiCaprio movie, “interoception” is the sensory process by which we notice what our body’s telling us. Cues for hunger, sleep, thirst, elimination, and even emotions are all internal states that our interoceptive sense helps us “pick up”...or, in this case, maybe not.
Can’t Stop/Won’t Stop Are you the sort of person who enjoys very active hobbies? Does your favorite kind of “hanging out” literally involve “hanging” from a chin-up bar? Do you need to get that daily run in to take on the day? Are you “always on the go?” You might just be seeking information to your proprioceptive and/or vestibular senses, which support body awareness, movement, and balance.
Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner While the internet is full of images of women laughing alone with salad, there are plenty of women who far prefer the ease of chicken nuggets and fries to the work it takes to chomp some greens. If you find yourself preferring to dig into the kids’ Mac ‘n Cheese or eating a more narrow range of foods, could it be that softer textures or blander tastes are a better fit for your sensitive palate? On the other hand, do you crave foods with a kick and a crunch? Intense textures and flavors (sriracha, anyone?) help “wake up” the mouths of sensory under-responsive eaters. That means, those Hot Cheetos are not only delicious, but they might also help activate your mouth to be more aware of what you’re eating.
Stink, Stank, Stunk Do you find yourself coughing and gagging from the perfume lingering in the elevator or wafting over from a colleague— even getting headaches? Do you notice smells that don’t seem to bother others? You might be a sensitive sniffer! On the other hand, if maybe you’re the one heavily spritzing the scents, you may be under responsive in your sense of smell, even seeking aromatherapy or other yummy fragrances to help you feel good.
Flo-no-mo Are fluorescent lights giving you a headache— literally? Is your motto toward sunglasses “the bigger the better?” Squinting miserably in sunny family photos? You might be sensitive to light. Plenty of photosensitive people don’t even notice the room is dim until someone walks in and shocks their system by flipping the switch.
Click! Do you notice small sounds others don’t hear? Do clicking pens send you over the edge? Do the smallest vibrations and hums (see the fluorescent lights in #8) make your skin crawl? Sounds a lot like auditory sensitivity! (See what I did there?) Auditory sensory processing can show up in lots of ways. Do you frequently find yourself responding “what?” to the things people ask…and then immediately answering the question? Your brain might need a little more time to make sense of what you just heard.
Lollapa-snooze-a Crowded events? Parties? Theme parks? Too noisy, too messy, too busy, too much! Checking out of summer festivals that are too hot and sweaty? Avoiding events because you can’t keep up with conversations amidst the cacophony of voices? Dreading the buzzers and lights of sporting events? ...or, on the other hand, do you absolutely crave these things? Either way, you might just be noticing your sensory processing!
Many neurodivergent folx have differences in the ways their brains process information. Sensory processing is just one more feature of how our brains make sense of the world. There’s nothing wrong with differences in sensory processing— in fact, it’s an incredibly helpful thing to know about yourself! The question is, how does your sensory system impact your life? Do your sensory needs, in combination with your environment, pose challenges for your relationships, daily routines, or mood? Does it keep you from doing things that you love? For many of us, even stress can exacerbate our sensory differences in unexpected ways.
If this post has gotten you thinking, let’s talk! I use a sensory-informed approach to psychotherapy and am passionate about making the world a friendlier place for all kinds of bodies + brains. For this reason, I have specifically prioritized sensory accessibility in my therapy space to ensure there are no fluorescent lights, no loud hand dryers, and no buzzy window air conditioners. I also love coordinating our work with occupational therapists, who are experts in sensory processing!
Want to explore this some more?
Check out www.sensory-processing-disorder.com. You can even bring a completed sensory checklist to your appointment. Another great sensory resource is the book The Out-of-Sync-Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz— or, naturally, her follow up, The Out of Sync Child Grows Up.
Again, sensory processing doesn’t stop at 18— and we all have sensory experiences! What sensory things do you notice about yourself?
This post is featured on the kiND therapy + wellness blog — check out our homepage here.