Understanding Sensory Strain Through the ALPIMS Lens
Neurodivergent individuals—including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, sensory processing disorder, and giftedness—often experience intense or altered sensory processing. This can result in sensory overload, shutdowns, and chronic stress, especially when compounded by chronic illness or trauma.
🎧 Sensory overload isn’t just discomfort—it’s a full-body threat response for many neurodivergent people.
🌐 What Is Sensory Overload?
Sensory overload happens when too much input overwhelms the brain’s filtering system.
Types of input:
- Sound (voices, hums, alarms)
- Light (brightness, flicker, contrast)
- Touch (fabric, tags, textures)
- Smell (perfume, food, chemicals)
- Movement (crowds, visual chaos)
When the threshold is exceeded, the nervous system may enter fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown.
🔄 Neurodivergence + ALPIMS Interactions
| ALPIMS Domain | Neurodivergent Sensory Challenges |
|---|---|
| Anxiety | Hypervigilance to sensory threat, fear of environments |
| Laxity | Sensory-seeking for proprioceptive feedback, joint pain |
| Pain | Heightened sensitivity to clothing, textures, touch |
| Immune | Overlap with food/environment sensitivities, MCAS |
| Mood | Shutdown, masking fatigue, rejection sensitivity |
| Sensory | Over- or under-responsiveness to all forms of input |
🧩 Neurodivergence adds complexity to ALPIMS recovery—but also offers insight, pattern recognition, and sensory wisdom.
🛠️ Strategies to Reduce Sensory Overload
1. Create Sensory Safety Zones
- Noise control: headphones, soft fabrics, quiet corners
- Visual simplification: tidy lines, muted colours, low clutter
- Tactile support: compression, soft textures, fabric choice
- Smell buffers: unscented items, calming scents (if tolerated)
2. Track Triggers & Signs of Overload
Before overload:
- Irritability, fidgeting, zoning out, eye-rubbing
During overload: - Panic, shutdown, sensory-seeking, withdrawal
After overload: - Fatigue, crash, social hangover, migraine
📊 Use a [Sensory Log Template] or ALPIMS zone tracker.
3. Pace Sensory Input Like You Pace Energy
- Alternate high-input tasks with regulation breaks
- Use low-input activities to recover: weighted blanket, rocking, audio rest
- Protect mornings or transitions when tolerance is lowest
4. Support Masking Recovery
Many neurodivergent people “mask”—suppressing sensory or emotional responses to fit in.
This is exhausting and can lead to burnout.
Care plan elements:
- Sensory decompression time daily
- Safe places to unmask (home, therapy, peer spaces)
- Co-regulation tools: weighted lap pads, deep pressure, movement
5. Advocate for Sensory Needs in Daily Life
Scripts:
- “I need a low-scent/no-perfume environment to stay regulated.”
- “I’m oversaturated. Can we move to a quieter place?”
- “I’ll need to use headphones during this meeting to focus.”
💬 Support is not an indulgence—it’s a neuroprotective strategy.
🔗 Downloadable Tools
- [ALPIMS Sensory Pacing Plan (PDF)]
- [Masking Burnout Recovery Checklist]
- [Custom Sensory Profile Builder]