• What is split arousal? 🤔⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Last week we talked about the arousal curve, a measure of our energetic state. Pop back two posts to catch up if you missed it!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ A quick recap on what the colours on the curve mean:⁣⁣ 💙 low arousal (sleepy, tired, lethargic)⁣⁣ 💚 just right arousal (calm, awake, grounded)⁣⁣ 💛 high arousal (edgy, excited, anxious, joyful)⁣⁣ ❤️ super high arousal (loss of control, panic, anger)⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ We can check in with where we’re at on this curve, and then use calming or alerting sensory input to bring us back to the green “just right” zone 💚⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Sometimes though, the arrow doesn’t fall to just one place on the curve. If you’ve ever felt low/lethargic/sleepy while simultaneously feeling edgy/anxious/restless, then you’ve experienced “split arousal” - being in a state of low and high arousal at the same time! ⁣⁣ 💙🤯💛⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I personally experience this pretty often (if you also have sensory processing difficulties, you might experience this often too!), and it can be really frustrating and unpleasant.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ This is where PROPRIOCEPTION comes in super handy - sensory information that your brain receives from your muscles and joints that tells you how your body is positioned. Proprioception is known as the organising sense, because wherever your arousal is, getting proprioceptive input can help bring you back to the green, just right state 💚⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Anything that involves pressure or using your muscles will give you this input. Some examples:⁣⁣ - walking⁣⁣ - lifting weights⁣⁣ - swimming ⁣⁣ - wrapping yourself tightly in a blanket⁣⁣ - sitting with a pet on your lap⁣⁣ - squeezing a stress ball/putty/a squishy fidget⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ What other examples can you think of that might work for you? Let me know below, and if you’ve got any questions please fire away!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Once you’ve found some proprioceptive strategies that work for you, you can pull them out whenever your arousal is split, or if you can’t figure out where it is. GAME CHANGER 😍⁣ ⁣ [Image description in comments]
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    What is split arousal? 🤔⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Last week we talked about the arousal curve, a measure of our energetic state. Pop back two posts to catch up if you missed it!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ A quick recap on what the colours on the curve mean:⁣⁣ 💙 low arousal (sleepy, tired, lethargic)⁣⁣ 💚 just right arousal (calm, awake, grounded)⁣⁣ 💛 high arousal (edgy, excited, anxious, joyful)⁣⁣ ❤️ super high arousal (loss of control, panic, anger)⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ We can check in with where we’re at on this curve, and then use calming or alerting sensory input to bring us back to the green “just right” zone 💚⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Sometimes though, the arrow doesn’t fall to just one place on the curve. If you’ve ever felt low/lethargic/sleepy while simultaneously feeling edgy/anxious/restless, then you’ve experienced “split arousal” - being in a state of low and high arousal at the same time! ⁣⁣ 💙🤯💛⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I personally experience this pretty often (if you also have sensory processing difficulties, you might experience this often too!), and it can be really frustrating and unpleasant.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ This is where PROPRIOCEPTION comes in super handy - sensory information that your brain receives from your muscles and joints that tells you how your body is positioned. Proprioception is known as the organising sense, because wherever your arousal is, getting proprioceptive input can help bring you back to the green, just right state 💚⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Anything that involves pressure or using your muscles will give you this input. Some examples:⁣⁣ - walking⁣⁣ - lifting weights⁣⁣ - swimming ⁣⁣ - wrapping yourself tightly in a blanket⁣⁣ - sitting with a pet on your lap⁣⁣ - squeezing a stress ball/putty/a squishy fidget⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ What other examples can you think of that might work for you? Let me know below, and if you’ve got any questions please fire away!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Once you’ve found some proprioceptive strategies that work for you, you can pull them out whenever your arousal is split, or if you can’t figure out where it is. GAME CHANGER 😍⁣ ⁣ [Image description in comments]
  • I added some veryyy subtle animations to this photo, can you spot them all? 😆⁣ ⁣ This Christmas Deer card is in my Etsy store - tap the link in my bio to browse my Christmas range! ❤️
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    I added some veryyy subtle animations to this photo, can you spot them all? 😆⁣ ⁣ This Christmas Deer card is in my Etsy store - tap the link in my bio to browse my Christmas range! ❤️
  • THE AROUSAL CURVE 🌈⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Everyone has an arousal curve (a measure of our energetic state) that we move around as we go about our days.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The four colours represent:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💙 Low arousal: ⁣⁣ low energy, sleepy, lethargic, tired⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💚 Just right arousal:⁣⁣ calm, awake, grounded, attentive⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💛 High arousal:⁣⁣ high energy⁣⁣ can be anxious, edgy, upset, stressed...⁣⁣ or excited, joyful!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ❤️ Super high arousal:⁣⁣ loss of control, anger, fear, panic⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ We can use sensory self care strategies to boost our arousal if it’s low, or lower our arousal if it’s high, and bring ourselves closer to that just-right state (the green! 💚)⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Try checking in on this curve - where do you think the arrow is pointing for you right now? 🤔 It’s a continuum, not categorical, so you might be high green, for example, or mid yellow.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Obviously this little video is VERY staged, and these different states of arousal don’t look the same for everyone! There is no right or wrong answer or experience 😊⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ This is one of the main tools I use to manage my sensory processing disorder (thanks to my amazing occupational therapist @sensorystrategyot)! It’s also a wonderful self care tool - it helps you to tune into your body and identify what you need. Let me know if this is useful for you, or if you have any questions! 💙💚💛❤️⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ P.S. I’ve written a whole workbook for @theblurtfoundation (Your Sensory Self Care Toolkit) to help you to discover your unique sensory preferences, and how to use them to bring your arousal back to that just-right state! I‘ve popped a link to it in my bio if you’re interested 🥰
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    THE AROUSAL CURVE 🌈⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Everyone has an arousal curve (a measure of our energetic state) that we move around as we go about our days.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The four colours represent:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💙 Low arousal: ⁣⁣ low energy, sleepy, lethargic, tired⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💚 Just right arousal:⁣⁣ calm, awake, grounded, attentive⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 💛 High arousal:⁣⁣ high energy⁣⁣ can be anxious, edgy, upset, stressed...⁣⁣ or excited, joyful!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ❤️ Super high arousal:⁣⁣ loss of control, anger, fear, panic⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ We can use sensory self care strategies to boost our arousal if it’s low, or lower our arousal if it’s high, and bring ourselves closer to that just-right state (the green! 💚)⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Try checking in on this curve - where do you think the arrow is pointing for you right now? 🤔 It’s a continuum, not categorical, so you might be high green, for example, or mid yellow.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Obviously this little video is VERY staged, and these different states of arousal don’t look the same for everyone! There is no right or wrong answer or experience 😊⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ This is one of the main tools I use to manage my sensory processing disorder (thanks to my amazing occupational therapist @sensorystrategyot)! It’s also a wonderful self care tool - it helps you to tune into your body and identify what you need. Let me know if this is useful for you, or if you have any questions! 💙💚💛❤️⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ P.S. I’ve written a whole workbook for @theblurtfoundation (Your Sensory Self Care Toolkit) to help you to discover your unique sensory preferences, and how to use them to bring your arousal back to that just-right state! I‘ve popped a link to it in my bio if you’re interested 🥰
  • Babs loves Christmas time, so this card is based on her! ❤️ She loves watching fairy lights, hiding under the Christmas tree, and having lots of people, ribbons and wrapping paper to play with.⁣ ⁣ Her favourite toy at the moment is a candy cane coloured pipecleaner. She pulled it out from somewhere herself - she’s getting into the festive spirit early 😻⁣ ⁣ Currently, she’s very into giving her pipecleaner baths in her water bowl 😂🤷‍♀️ She carries it over to her bowl, pushes it around in the water with her paws, and then takes it out and leaves it somewhere to dry. I have no idea why she does this, but it’s very cute!⁣ ⁣ Swipe across for a little video! And link in bio to shop this card 😽❤️⁣ ⁣ [Image description: a Christmas card writing scene with envelopes, stamps, hot chocolate, a candle and a pen. In the centre is a silver envelope and a Christmas card featuring an illustration of a grey, white and ginger cat wearing a festive collar.]
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    Babs loves Christmas time, so this card is based on her! ❤️ She loves watching fairy lights, hiding under the Christmas tree, and having lots of people, ribbons and wrapping paper to play with.⁣ ⁣ Her favourite toy at the moment is a candy cane coloured pipecleaner. She pulled it out from somewhere herself - she’s getting into the festive spirit early 😻⁣ ⁣ Currently, she’s very into giving her pipecleaner baths in her water bowl 😂🤷‍♀️ She carries it over to her bowl, pushes it around in the water with her paws, and then takes it out and leaves it somewhere to dry. I have no idea why she does this, but it’s very cute!⁣ ⁣ Swipe across for a little video! And link in bio to shop this card 😽❤️⁣ ⁣ [Image description: a Christmas card writing scene with envelopes, stamps, hot chocolate, a candle and a pen. In the centre is a silver envelope and a Christmas card featuring an illustration of a grey, white and ginger cat wearing a festive collar.]
  • Today is New Zealand Music T-shirt Day, a celebration of kiwi music and a fundraiser for @musichelps ❤️ MusicHelps is a charity that develops & supports projects around Aotearoa that use music to help people who are at risk, vulnerable, experiencing health issues and disability.⁣ ⁣ Today I’m wearing my @iamchelseajade shirt! I first found Chelsea Jade’s music while I was in treatment for my sensory processing disorder last year. I listened to her album Personal Best constantly over those couple of months, and it became the soundtrack to my recovery.⁣ ⁣ I so badly wanted to go to her show last November, and I bought tickets, but I realised as it grew closer that there was no way my brain was going to be able to cope with a hot and crowded venue. I was so sad, because her music means so much to me! So my mum sent an email asking if there was anything we could do, and Chelsea invited me to her soundcheck 😱⁣ ⁣ So not only did I get to hear her play, I also got to meet her and hang out for a while, and she gave me this shirt ❤️ She treated me with so much kindness, and it was such a bright day for me. This photo is from when I got home, and I love it, because you can see how happy I am 😊⁣ ⁣ Definitely feels like a fitting shirt to wear for #nzmusictshirtday today - for a charity that’s all about using music to help and heal 🥰⁣ ⁣ Do you have music or a musical experience that has been healing for you? 💕
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    Today is New Zealand Music T-shirt Day, a celebration of kiwi music and a fundraiser for @musichelps ❤️ MusicHelps is a charity that develops & supports projects around Aotearoa that use music to help people who are at risk, vulnerable, experiencing health issues and disability.⁣ ⁣ Today I’m wearing my @iamchelseajade shirt! I first found Chelsea Jade’s music while I was in treatment for my sensory processing disorder last year. I listened to her album Personal Best constantly over those couple of months, and it became the soundtrack to my recovery.⁣ ⁣ I so badly wanted to go to her show last November, and I bought tickets, but I realised as it grew closer that there was no way my brain was going to be able to cope with a hot and crowded venue. I was so sad, because her music means so much to me! So my mum sent an email asking if there was anything we could do, and Chelsea invited me to her soundcheck 😱⁣ ⁣ So not only did I get to hear her play, I also got to meet her and hang out for a while, and she gave me this shirt ❤️ She treated me with so much kindness, and it was such a bright day for me. This photo is from when I got home, and I love it, because you can see how happy I am 😊⁣ ⁣ Definitely feels like a fitting shirt to wear for #nzmusictshirtday today - for a charity that’s all about using music to help and heal 🥰⁣ ⁣ Do you have music or a musical experience that has been healing for you? 💕
  • NEWWW! ✨ Swipe for a close up!⁣ ⁣ This festive self care sticker sheet is up in my shop now! Filled with little reminders to help you to show yourself kindness in the busy Christmas season ❤️⁣ ⁣ These would be wonderful for sticking in your planner or calendar, or perhaps tucking into a Christmas card as a little gift for someone else!⁣ ⁣ Eeep I hope you like them! If you do, please help me out by sharing this post, or tagging someone below who might like them too, or drop me a comment telling me which sticker you most need today! I think I’ll take a “be gentle with yourself” ☕️💕⁣ ⁣ And of course, link in bio to shop! ⁣ 👉 @sarahalleyn ✨
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    NEWWW! ✨ Swipe for a close up!⁣ ⁣ This festive self care sticker sheet is up in my shop now! Filled with little reminders to help you to show yourself kindness in the busy Christmas season ❤️⁣ ⁣ These would be wonderful for sticking in your planner or calendar, or perhaps tucking into a Christmas card as a little gift for someone else!⁣ ⁣ Eeep I hope you like them! If you do, please help me out by sharing this post, or tagging someone below who might like them too, or drop me a comment telling me which sticker you most need today! I think I’ll take a “be gentle with yourself” ☕️💕⁣ ⁣ And of course, link in bio to shop! ⁣ 👉 @sarahalleyn ✨