What is a sensory diet

Thanks for that.  One of the recommendations in my report was to "expand sensory diet" and I wasn't entirely sure what that meant.

Just another thought, this video might be useful for you:

https://youtu.be/51fqpWj61V8

I am glad the explanation is useful. You don’t have to use weighted things to meet your sensory needs, it was just an example. In order to create your sensory diet, your need to understand your own sensory profile.

For example, thinking about answers to these questions might help:

• What brings you sensory joy? (Examples could include- your favourite stim toys, certain songs, smells or textures, tastes)
• During the day do you need to move about a lot? If so, try and incorporate movement and proprioceptive (the sense of where your body is in space) throughout your day. 
• What leads to sensory overload? Then you can try and prevent this by regulating your nervous system with things that provide sensory joy or are stimmy.
• What does stimming freely feel like in your body?

Music is a great idea. For example if you are feeling under stimulated you could listen to some upbeat songs and if you are feeling overstimulated listen to some calming music. There is probably a song for every mood.

You say you feel overstimulated and this may be related to your use of screens, so do you like going out in nature? Do you have any local green spaces you could visit regularly?

It’s good that stimming toys help, stimming is great. You say this usually only helps when anxious, but if you reduce your anxiety as much as possible surely you are less likely to become overstimulated? Please correct me if I am wrong.

I hope my response and suggestions are useful. What stims toys do you have? I bet they are really cool.

 That makes sense. im not very good with weighted things but I could try it

I feel very overstimulated a lot of the day. I find screens and the internet have a lot to do with it so I am trying to cut down on smartphone usage

Certain music helps, maybe this could be part of my sensory diet

My stimming toys help too, more when im feeling anxious than overstimulated though.

Do you have any other suggestions?

A sensory diet is basically a consistent way of meeting your sensory needs. A typical diet could include sensory seeking activities likely jumping on a trampoline  or for an autistic adult maybe press ups for example and then other activities that are calming for example using weighted blankets or deep pressure vests. The aim is to engage in these kinds of activities at certain times of every day to keep your nervous system regulated.

I hope this explanation is useful.

Does stimming help with overstimulation? If you are feeling overstimulated often you probably need to change your environment.

never heard of it.... but i assume it would be basic food with no weird after taste or textures that effect your appetite.