Adult Options for a "Sensory Diet"?

by Tay
(Canada)

I'm currently searching for a way to get help for SPD, as it would appear that I very likely have this disorder. That said, it could be a while before I get an evaluation, and even after a diagnosis, I have very little money to afford therapy. I'm not sure if my insurance will cover it, because even though I'm Canadian, most types of therapy are not covered by universal health care in my province and the health insurance I receive through my university may not cover an OT.

For that reason, I'm going to attempt to develop myself some sort of sensory diet to try and keep myself from being damaged in some way by this (more than I already have been).

Nearly everything I keep finding is definitely for children (I'm 21) and so much of it involves a financial investment that I cannot achieve at this time.

I've done a few things in the past three weeks, since this came to my attention as a likely possibility.

These things include:

Wrapping myself tightly in my blankets at night to try and get similar effects to a weighted blanket (has helped so far).

Downloading a "Nature sounds" album to give some white noise so that my housemates' bumps and coughs don't keep me up all night.

Eating five small snacks a day instead of three meals, as I do not seem to know when I'm hungry.

Aside from that, however, I don't know what else to do, though even those small changes have definitely made improvements in my temperament and interactions with others as I am not regularly overtired and suffering from low blood-sugar. I live in a house with 5 other people and only have a single room that is my own space--and that is shared with my feline companion.

Are there any suggestions that can be done with common household items, and are suited to an adult? I seem to have primarily hypersensitivities with oral hyposensitivities and issues with my interoceptive sense.

Help?

Actually there is a GREAT book you can get that will help you come up with all kinds of ideas!! It is called The Alert Program
It will help you identify those things that will help with self-regulation and specifically help you create a sensory diet for yourself. It is not only good for children, but definitely geared for adults too!! In fact, perhaps it is even better for adults, particularly your age! I highly recommend it and feel it would really help you in your particular situation until you can get some therapy.

Another thing that may help is to join the Adult SHARE SPD Support Group online. You will find many ideas there and some general support that could be invaluable at this point. There are others in there your age and I think you will find some great help and resources there to get you going.

Lastly, make sure you read my newsletter entitled Using SI Theory To Help SPD Adults At Home And Work I hope you find some specific suggestions that will help you.

If anyone else has any ideas, please let Tay know! She would appreciate it, I’m sure!

Take care.