Sensory Overload Scoreboard
The world of Sensory Overload
We introduce Shamrock Squad Sensory Overload / Meltdown Chart based on our experience in great outdoors while walking, hiking and exploring the world around us.
In the words of a dictionary, science and medicine:
Sensory overload is when your five senses — sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste — take in more information than your brain can process. When your brain is overwhelmed by this input, it enters fight, flight, or freeze mode in response to what feels like a crisis, making you feel unsafe or even panicky.
In the eyes of those who does not understand:
Misbehaved child who is having a tantrum over everything because a parent has spoiled them.
Our world:
Trying to understand the trigger while dealing with the meltdown and calming the child/adult in a way they need – this time. Taking punches, being yelled at, catching thrown items, securing their head and general wellbeing while feeling like a failure as parent and completely helpless in that moment. Going to meetings and seminars to learn strategies, charts and other ways on helping them cope and thrive! We could go on and on on this, but lets not- this time!
So to summarize: “Beneath every behavior is a feeling. And beneath every feeling is a need. And when we meet that need rather than focus on the behavior, we begin to deal with the cause and not the symptom.” ~ Ashleigh Warner
Shamrock Squad Sensory Overload Scoreboard
When we are out and about on our adventures, meltdowns do happen. Some days they are rare and others – well, when something starts to go wrong, it goes wrong with a bang! This, again, is going to be purely based on our experience on the day. We will try to explain what happened and what triggered sensory overloads on each activity. Some of them could have been completely avoidable! Others, it just happened!
The most amazing thing is, that we have a bunch of strategies at our disposal as well as tons of experience (over 10 years worth!). Some may think that with this amount of tools, there shouldn’t be anymore episodes happening. Wrong! They do, they will and it’s just the matter of how to deal with them (or not). Everyone is different, so, again, the scoreboard will purely be based on our members AND on the particular day!
You may be surprised to see us, moms, on that scoreboard. Don’t be! We have meltdowns too, we go to red zone, blue zone and our engines can overheat as well and they do!
Some of our moms has been extremely apologetic to bystanders if sensory overload has happened in public place or has been witnessed by someone outside of their household. We have learned a valuable lesson over time, and that is – do not apologize, inform instead if you feel the need. Our priority is the child and if they are having a meltdown, we deal with it then and there. If you, the bystander, have a problem with that, proceed with your plans, think what you like – you are not walking in our shoes!
High five to those who are struggling in a world that is too loud, too bright, overwhelming and still continue to shine each day. You are brave and doing amazing. That takes a lot of strength.
And all Special Needs Parents, you are doing a great job! You are strong. You are brave. You are valuable. You are needed. You are beautiful. You are not alone and never forget that!
