Here's a list of what I keep in my bags, and how I keep them organized.
Before packing my bags, I think of all of my senses-- as well as how to manage my sensory needs.
- Vision
- Smell
- Taste
- Touch
- Hearing
Vision Management:
- Sunglasses (Battlevision Wraparound Sunglasses). Out of all the sunglasses I've tried so far, these work the best for me!
- Sleep Mask (Manta Pro Sleep Mask). This sleep mask is 100% blackout, which helps with visual overstimulation a lot!
Smell:
- Essential Oil Roll On
- Face Mask (I usually put the essential oil inside of the mask, which helps with bad smells)
Taste:
- Flavored Toothpicks, peppermint and cinnamon flavored.(Flavor Forest)
- Gum (Eclipse Polar Ice)
Touch:
- My collection of fidget toys.
- Playstation Vita Game Console (I downloaded GBA games on it!)
- My dragon, Obsidian. (Jellycat Little Onyx Dragon). She's my best friend and i refuse to go anywhere without her! I even made her a little collar with her name on it.
Hearing:
- iPod Nano 3g: Used for audiobooks
- iPod Touch 7g: Used for apps, comfort movies, and music. (3 full length movies are available!)
- Airpod Pros 2 (Noise cancelling <3 )
- 2 Pairs of wired earbuds
- Loop Earplugs
- Eargasm Slide Earplugs
- Ear Defenders
Miscellaneous Items:
- Planner
- Journal (No lines, which helps me also use this as a sketchbook!)
- Sudoku Puzzle Booklet
- Pencil Case with pens, pencils, highlighters, etc.
- Colored Pencils
- Whatever book I'm currently reading (Right now, its a book about my hometown and it's history).
- My Tablet
- My Communication Cards my friend made for me!
- Nail care kit (helps me stop biting my nails)
On the outside of my bag:
- Jellycat Ricky Rain Frog keychain (who I named "Eddie", after my friend!)
- Hand Sanitizer in an astronaut holder
- 2 Pikachu keychains, A kipling monkey keychain, and a rocket keychain.
Tools:
- Flashlight
- Scissors
- Multitool
Medical:
- Thermometer and Probe Covers
- Pulse Oximeter
- Alcohol Prep Pads
- Welly Bandages and Antibiotic Ointment
- The Medicines I take
- Instant Ice Pack
- Hot Hands (for sensory purposes, and my Pulse Ox doesn't read accurately if my hands are very cold).
- Applesauce pouches (I cannot swallow pills)
- Lots of salt packets
- Electrolyte Drink Mix
- Icy Hot Roll on and/or Tiger Balm (Tiger Balm works better for me, but the smell is overwhelming.)
- Tiny Trash Bags and Ginger Candy (Nausea)
Water Bottle Bag:
- Owala Water Bottle (The only water bottle i've used that I don't spill on myself by accident. and it's sensory-friendly for me!)
- LMNT Electrolyte Drink Packets, unflavored.
- Strawberry-Watermelon Drink Mix <3
- Snacks, usually Goldfish or a granola bar of some kind.
- ANOTHER Hand sanitizer, this one in a balloon-dinosaur holder!
More Details about my bag(s):
- My main bag is a full-sized bag that can carry all of the above items (excluding the water bottle bag, because I ALWAYS carry that separately). On days where I have more pain and/or less energy, I carry my smaller bag with only my essentials in it. (The items in the larger font are the things I always have on me!)
- My main bag is also an Ita Bag! It has pins relating to my interests and medical conditions on the front!
Fun Fact:
When full, my main bag is about 14 pounds! I weighed it the last time i went to my doctor. (My doctor overheard me say the weight of my bag and went "Oh my god!")
