How to Deal With Sensory Processing Disorder As a Teen

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a challenge to live with, and since you are now a teen you have to be more responsible with how you handle it. This article will show you how.

1

→ Know what you can and can't handle. Let your friends and teachers know about what your issues are so they can accommodate you. For example: let your teacher know you can't work with loud noise so they might let you go to the library to do your studying.

2

→ Work hard in therapy. Whether yours is the more typical accommodation therapy or desensitization therapy, give it your all, especially if your goal is to not need it anymore.

3

→ Spend plenty of time outdoors. Interacting with nature will engage your senses in a comfortable way, and the fresh air and sunlight can boost your mood. Here are some fun activities to do outside:

→ Swing

→ Play backyard sports

→ Jump on a trampoline

→ Take a walk with a friend

4

→ Know your emotions and handle them in positive ways. SPD can be cruel when it comes to your feelings. It can make you listless, spacey and distracted as well as drain your self-esteem and make you depressed. So if you feel like your SPD is in control of you, let someone know, like a friend, teacher, or parent. Drawing, writing, singing, dancing, and playing an instrument are just a few of the ways to get your emotions out positively.

5

→ Share your struggles with your friends. Friends help you deal with whatever comes at you in life. And trust me, friends are also beneficial because they listen to the anger and frustration you would never unleash on your therapist.

6

→ Tell your story. Share it with others. Help others with SPD and similar issues. If you're not comfortable sharing it with your neurotypical friends/family/peers, find a Sensory Processing Disorder forum online.

→ You can also find understanding allies in the autistic community. Many autistic people have SPD and can offer tips and support. Contrary to stereotypes, the online autistic community is quite welcoming and positive.

7

→ Recognize that it is okay to be yourself, and it is okay to be disabled. Stim as much as you need to. Avoid the things that hurt you. Your comfort comes first, and you do not need to apologize for doing what you can to ensure your needs are being met.

8

→ Give yourself plenty of rest. Living with SPD can be exhausting and frustrating. It's important to take good care of yourself. Take time every day to work on your hobbies, talk with people who make you feel happy, relax, and do whatever helps you feel grounded.

TIPS

→ Remember you are loved and appreciated for your worth as a person. A disability does not lessen your human dignity.

→ Dance classes can be therapeutic for your SPD as well as your emotions.

→ You can use apps to solve your processing disorder. Try an app such as Musical.ly to help your visual and auditory processing skills.

→ Remember that you and your SPD are separate from each other. So don't let your disability get in your way! Ask your friends for a break if you're overwhelmed.

Warnings

→ If become depressed, start thinking about suicide, or begin experimenting with drugs or alcohol, tell someone you trust right away. You deserve to feel good and be happy, and you are not being a burden.

→ Don't make friends with people who will be mean to others—they will stop at nothing.