Sensory Saturation and Depletion Practices

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve put a great deal of focus on the cause of our triggers. Can you see the connection? Can you see how the initial trigger is the cause of your thoughts, mood, or even your opinion of who you are? Can you think of different ways of knowing this information will affect your life?

An easy way to saturate ourselves with sensory information is to change our environment. An easy way to do this is by changing rooms, going outside, or by rearranging furniture. How do you feel when you think of changing your environment? Is this something you can use when you are stressed or would it worsen your feelings of stress?

If you are a person who responds adversely to change, the other major sensory option is depletion. For some of us, reducing the amount of sensory information we process is the best option we have for reducing stress. We can do this by finding a place where we feel safe enough to cocoon. We can use this opportunity to separate ourselves from any negative sensory impact, by also using comfortable clothing, blankets, earplugs or sleep mask. Is this something you can use when you are stressed or would it worsen your experience?

If you did cocoon, where would you go? What sensory information would you reduce?

As a final step to our practice this week, I would like you to play with the three sensory practices we discussed in the Take Home Tool. Explore each and try to develop a practice you can use on your most stressful days. Write your practice below and try using it each day. After the practice, take note of how you feel. If you establish a good practice, you should feel a significant difference between how you feel before you begin and how you feel after.

Write a description of your practice below and take notes on how you feel as you engage in it.