In a world full of stimuli, our brains work tirelessly to filter, interpret, and respond to countless pieces of sensory information every second. For most people, this process happens seamlessly, but for some, it can be overwhelming. Sensory processing challenges and anxiety often go hand-in-hand, creating a cycle that can be difficult to break. In this article, we’ll explore the science of sensory processing and anxiety and how they are interlinked.
What is Sensory Processing?
Sensory processing is the brain's ability to receive, organize, and respond to sensory input from the environment. This input can come from various senses:
- Visual - sight
- Auditory - hearing
- Tactile - touch
- Gustatory - taste
- Olfactory - smell
- Vestibular - balance and spatial orientation
- Proprioceptive - body position awareness
- Interoceptive - internal body signals like hunger or heart rate
For individuals with accurate sensory processing, these inputs are seamlessly integrated, allowing them to respond appropriately. However, for those with sensory processing difficulties, the brain may misinterpret or overreact to these inputs or miss other inputs altogether. This can result in heightened sensitivity to certain stimuli (hypersensitivity) or reduced responsiveness (hyposensitivity).
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural response to perceived danger or stress. It activates the body’s "fight or flight" system, leading to physical symptoms such as a racing heart, rapid breathing, and heightened alertness. There are times when feeling anxious is an expected and even beneficial reaction; however, chronic anxiety that persists can interfere with daily life and well-being. Anxiety disorders affect over 40 million adults in the U.S. annually, making them the most common mental health condition, and an estimated 10% of kids have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety can manifest in various ways, including:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Excessive worry about everyday situations.
- Social Anxiety Disorder: Fear of social interactions.
- Panic Disorder: Sudden, intense episodes of fear.
- Specific Phobias: Fear of particular objects or situations.
- Separation Anxiety: Excessive fear of being apart from loved ones.
How Anxiety Impacts the Brain
When anxiety presents, it can trigger the brain to shift to a state of hyper-alert. This level of alertness means the brain tries to take in and process as much sensory information as possible to understand what is happening in the environment. The evolutionary perspective is this sense of hyper-awareness helps the brain detect possible danger to stay safe or escape danger. This is contrasted with typical sensory processing throughout the day, where the brain works to conserve energy and only processes the information deemed pertinent. This state of increased awareness comes at a cost, as it requires high amounts of energy in the brain to process increased information. As the brain begins to run low on energy to support functions, some of the first areas impacted are higher-level brain functions that also require large amounts of resources to sustain. These higher-level brain functions include attention, inhibitory control, memory, and executive functions such as planning and prioritization.
Feeling anxious can result in a loss of control, which can subsequently increase anxiety. Thoughts and behaviors can get stuck in a loop of repetition, focusing on the fear or possible negative outcome, even if the concern driving the anxiety is not logical. At this moment, the brain is in a fight-or-flight or freeze mode, making it challenging to shift back to a calm state where you can more easily process information logically, plan, and move beyond repetitive thoughts.
How Are Sensory Processing and Anxiety Connected?
Research shows that sensory processing difficulties and anxiety often coexist, particularly in children. The connection lies in the brain’s sensory systems and how they interact with the limbic system, the area responsible for emotions and stress responses.
- Heightened Sensory Sensitivity: Individuals with sensory processing challenges may feel overwhelmed by ordinary stimuli, such as loud noises or bright lights. This over-arousal can activate the brain’s stress response, leading to feelings of anxiety.
- Difficulty Regulating Responses: When the brain struggles to filter sensory input, individuals may find it challenging to regulate their reactions. This dysregulation can cause frustration, withdrawal, or even meltdowns, which can increase anxiety over time.
- Negative Feedback Loop: Anxiety can exacerbate sensory sensitivities. For example, a child with social anxiety might feel hyper-aware of sensory input in a crowded room, amplifying their discomfort and reinforcing their avoidance behaviors.
Retained Developmental Reflexes: A Missing Link
Another critical factor contributing to sensory processing challenges and anxiety is retained developmental reflexes. These are reflexes that emerge in infancy and typically integrate as the brain matures. Examples include the Moro reflex (startle response) and the ATNR (asymmetrical tonic neck reflex). When these reflexes do not integrate properly, they can interfere with sensory processing and emotional regulation.
- Impact on Sensory Processing: Retained reflexes can cause the nervous system to remain in a heightened state of alertness. For instance, a retained Moro reflex may lead to hypersensitivity to sound or light, making it difficult for the individual to feel calm and focused.
- Impact on Anxiety: When the body remains in a state of heightened arousal due to retained reflexes, it can mimic the physiological responses of anxiety. This can lead to an increased likelihood of experiencing anxiety symptoms, especially in response to sensory triggers.
Addressing retained reflexes through targeted exercises can help the brain and body regulate better, reducing sensory processing challenges and anxiety.
Latest Research on Sensory Processing and Anxiety
Recent studies underscore the strong relationship between sensory processing and anxiety. Key findings include:
- Brain Imaging Studies: Functional MRI scans reveal that individuals with sensory processing difficulties exhibit heightened activity in the amygdala—the brain’s fear center—when exposed to certain stimuli. This overactivation is also common in individuals with anxiety disorders.
- Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Dysregulation: Research suggests that sensory sensitivities may stem from an overactive ANS, which governs the body’s stress responses. This hyper-reactivity can make even minor sensory stimuli feel overwhelming.
- Co-occurrence in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Studies show a high prevalence of sensory processing difficulties in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), both of which are often accompanied by anxiety.
Deepened Understanding has Led to Additional Intervention Options
The understanding of the brain’s role in sensory processing and anxiety has drastically improved in recent years, allowing the emergence of researched-backed interventions to be applied based on this improved insight.
Traditional approaches to supporting anxiety and sensory processing, until recently, have often focused on managing symptoms through medication or improved coping strategies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Newer research-backed options concentrate on understanding the underlying neural mechanisms and have shifted the approach from managing symptoms to addressing a challenge at its root cause - differences in the brain pathways supporting these functions. By maturing and integrating how the brain takes in, processes, and reacts to sensory input and maturing whole-brain connectivity, research has demonstrated a reduction in anxiety and improvements in attention, cognition, and emotional and behavioral regulation.
How Brain Balance Can Help
Brain Balance is a holistic, non-medical program designed to support individuals with challenges related to attention, cognition, and emotional and behavioral regulation, including improved sensory processing. The program’s unique multimodal approach targets the root causes of sensory and emotional dysregulation by maturing and integrating the many individual functions in the brain that must work together for success in learning, behavior, and social interactions.
Key Components of the Brain Balance Program:
- Customized Sensory Activities: Brain Balance incorporates sensory integration exercises tailored to each individual’s needs. These activities help strengthen neural connections and improve the brain’s ability to process and respond to sensory input.
- Motor Skills Training: The program emphasizes physical exercises that stimulate the development of the vestibular and proprioceptive systems. These activities enhance coordination, balance, and body awareness, which are crucial for regulating sensory input.
- Reflex Integration: Brain Balance includes exercises specifically designed to integrate retained developmental reflexes if present. By addressing these reflexes, the program helps reduce hypersensitivity, improve focus, and alleviate anxiety.
- Nutrition Recommendations: Nutritional guidance and lifestyle adjustments are integrated into the program to address potential underlying factors, such as food sensitivities or lack of key nutrients, that may contribute to sensory or emotional challenges.
Moving Forward
Understanding the role of the brain and the intricate connection between sensory processing and anxiety is the first step toward effective intervention. By addressing sensory challenges and retained developmental reflexes at their root, programs like Brain Balance offer a comprehensive pathway to improved emotional well-being and quality of life.
If your child or loved one struggles with sensory sensitivities or anxiety, know that help is available. With the right support, they can learn to navigate the world with confidence and resilience.
References
[Ben-Sasson, A., Carter, A. S., & Briggs-Gowan, M. J. (2009). Sensory over-responsivity in elementary school: Prevalence and social-emotional correlates. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.
Green, S. A., & Wood, J. J. (2019). Anxiety and sensory over-responsivity in autism spectrum disorders. Autism Research.
Jackson R, Jordan JT. Reliable change in developmental outcomes of Brain Balance® participants stratified by baseline severity. Front Psychology. 2023 Aug 22;14:1171936. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1171936. PMID: 37674742; PMCID: PMC10478577.
Jackson R, Robertson M. A Retrospective Review of Parent-Reported Anxiety and Emotional Functioning in Children with Developmental Challenges After Participation in the Brain Balance® Program. Journal of Mental Health and Clinical Psychology. 2020 Jan; 4(1):10-20. doi: 10.29245/2578-2959/2019/1.1192.
Miller, L. J., Anzalone, M. E., Lane, S. J., Cermak, S. A., & Osten, E. T. (2007). Concept evolution in sensory integration: A proposed nosology for diagnosis. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.
