#coping tips

understimulation is a feeling experienced by many neurodivergent people, and is the opposite of overstimulation. in my personal experience, it is a numb feeling, and often my senses feel like they aren't working enough. it makes me crave sensory experience, otherwise i feel hollow. 

okay now onto some tips for coping >:]

it doesn't last forever. i know this is kind of basic, but it does go away after a while. please remember that it wont be like this for long.

try and do things that would usually make you overstimulated. it's kind of fun to play multiple songs at once, or touch things with unpleasant textures, or eat loads of weird tastes with lots of layers, or go and find a really big group of people or just scream into a wall. whatever makes you feel better :] side note: today it got so bad that at one point i dipped my kitkat in my soup just to have the textures and tastes blend into ANYTHING, so please don't worry if you think what you're doing is wrong.

i sometimes put really hot or really cold water on my hands. it kind of shocks me and i like the feeling of the senses coming back. be careful though, try not to burn yourself. it's easy to accidentally hurt yourself when you feel like this. that's okay, it takes time to feel better. i couldn't stop myself from clawing out some of my hair today. it wasn't a big amount of hair, but i still feel like i should have avoided it. it's okay, these things take time :}

listen to really really loud music. i like listening to songs with lots of layers of sound, to make me feel like there's something deeper than what i can hear. today i hid in the school bathrooms for a long time and listened to my 'understimulation' playlist, which i've never actually showed to anyone, but i'll add a link at the end of this post.

i also sometimes eat really spicy food, which can make my eyes water if i add enough to the food. i make really weird things spicy, like tea or salad. if the reason why you do it is making your eyes water, i get it. i poke myself in the eyes a lot when im alone, because honestly, i enjoy crying. it makes me feel like my feelings are more valid. whatever floats your boat ,my guy :}

i have some sensory issues related to sound and touch kind of merging in my head*, so i listen to songs with obnoxious textures. i know a few people with things like this and it helps if you're understimulated to use your other sensory issues (if you have any) to your advantage. 

remember that your senses might not be feeling it, but you aren't emotionless. you can get through this, people love you, and it won't last forever. i love you <3 stay safe bitches.

Cause of biases humans have, its a lot easier to add more than it is to restrict, and if you only have so much time, money, and energy / ability to eat food, by expanding your palette of food you like with healthier foods, you will innately increase the average nutritional quality of your meals

Like you don't have to stop eating safe / comfort foods, just try some new "healthier" meals every so often and continue eating ones that you find out you like from time to time along with what tou currently eat.

Not eating enough veggies? Well maybe once a week try a dish that incorperates veggies in a way you havent tried or try a new vegetable. If you don't like it, thats unfortunate. If you do like it, take a mental note and consider having it again whenever you feel like it.

Essential

•Breathe

•Drink water

•Eat a snack

•Take a shower

•Go outside (safely)

•Walk/Run/Bike/Exercise

•Sleep

•Talk to someone

Sensory

•Pet an animal

•Put on lotion

•Put on comfy clothes

•Listen to music

•Chew gum

•Search for new songs/artists

•Fiddle with a stim toy

•Touch something soft

Express Yourself

•Draw

•Draw on your body with pens

•Write

•Kick/Punch a cardboard box

•Rip up paper

•Scream into a pillow

•Throw ice into the tub

•Play an instrument

•Sing

•Play with clay/play-dough

•Color

•Make a playlist

•Rearrange furniture

•List the things you feel grateful for

•Do a craft/DIY

Distraction

•Paint your nails

•Play a game

•Watch a show/video/movie

•Clean

•Do a word puzzle

•Read a book

•Kick a ball around

•Make some tea

•Search for dumb things on the internet (ex: *your name* the hedgehog)

•Memorize a poem, song, or passage

•Try to make as many words as you can with your name/a random word/phrase

•Play with some toys

•Perform a random act of kindness for someone

•Look up new words and use them

•Learn a new language

•Look for free classes online

•Practice some tongue twisters

Problem Solving

•Ask for help

•Create a to-do list

•Establish healthy boundaries

•Walk away until calm

•Better time management

•Re-evaluate relationships

If you're struggling to actually sit down and work, maybe you could benefit from a Work Accountability Session! They create external accountability that you maye be lacking. Here's how they work:

Schedule a 2 hour block of time with coworkers, classmates, or friends to work on individualized tasks (virtually with your platform of choice)

At the start of the session, go around and state your goal for the session

Set a shared timer (I use cuckoo) for 25 minutes and work on your goal with everyone on mute and cameras on

After 25 minutes, set the timer for a 5 minute break and everybody gives updates on their progress, shares something they learned, or something they struggled with

Continue until 2 hours are up (4 sessions)