19. Anxiety (Part 1) through A Sensory Emotional Lens

In our practice, it is very common to see anxiety as a presenting experience for children with sensory processing differences or sensory processing disorders.  When we say anxiety, what are we referring to? How does it show up?  Anxiety can present itself as an “official diagnosis,” such as Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, or Separation Anxiety. Anxiety can also present as a response to certain situations – an anxious response associated with a sensation or motor experience.  Because of this high incidence of anxiety “showing up” in sensory integration practice, we are going to dive into why this occurs and how we can understand anxiety through a sensory emotional lens. In this episode you’ll discover: How to recognize anxiety in your children Why sensory over-responsivity or hypersensitivity causes anxiety Why sensory under-responsivity or hyposensitivity causes anxiety  Ways to understand and address anxiety through a Sensory Emotional Lens Join our community! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesensoryemotional_ot/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greatkidsplace/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreatKidsPlace/ Want more resources? Please visit our blog: https://greatkidsplace.com/category/blog/   About Michele Parkins MS, OTR/L IMH-E® Founder & Director, Great Kids Place  Founder, Sensory Emotional Engagement Model™   Michele is an Occupational Therapist endorsed as an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist. She specializes in working with children and families with Sensory Processing and Integration Disorders and challenges in social-emotional development. She is also a parent of two sensory kids. She works and lives sensational kids! Michele is a fellow of Dr. Lucy Jane Miller, OTR, and the Sensory Treatment and Research Institute faculty.   Michele is passionate about working with families and other therapists and continues to do so as a clinician and educator. She educates therapists from all over the country and world and continues to provide consultation to schools on treatment for sensory processing disorder. Michele has co-authored a chapter in the 3rd edition of Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice, the textbook for sensory evaluation and treatment, alongside world-renowned pioneers in the field, and is currently writing a parenting book and children’s books to support parents and families in understanding the impact of sensory processing differences on social emotional capacities including family dynamics and relationships and day to day routines and activities. She hopes to help everyone - children and adults- understand their Sensory Emotional Personality™ style and ways to find strength and joy within them.