Sensory Anxiety: Not Your Ordinary Anxiety Part 1
By Erin Clarelli, MS. OTR/: & Jessica Jordan, MS. OTR/L
Sensory Anxiety: More Than Ordinary Worry
Sensory anxiety occurs when someone with sensory processing disorder (SPD) becomes anxious about the potential sensory stimuli they might encounter in daily life. This is different from general anxiety in a crucial way: exposure to sensory triggers often makes things worse, not better.
It’s important to note, this doesn’t mean sensory anxiety is more or less severe than other types of anxiety. It simply stems from a different root: neurological sensory differences, not cognitive or emotional worry alone.
Sensory Anxiety vs General Anxiety
Let’s take a closer look at how traditional anxiety differs from sensory-based anxiety, using the example of balloons:
General Anxiety
A child is startled by a balloon popping at a birthday party.
They start feeling anxious any time they see a balloon.
With support, they begin spending time near balloons, first in the same room, then touching one, and eventually playing with them.
Over time, we hope they can learn that the fear was irrational and the anxiety decreases or subsides.
Sensory Anxiety
A sound-sensitive child hears balloons popping and is deeply overwhelmed by the noise.
They begin feeling anxious every time they see a balloon, anticipating the sensory overload.
Even with exposure, the popping noise continues to be physiologically distressing.
The anxiety remains because the sensory system is still perceiving danger, because of a very real neurological sensitivity.
Why Sensory Anxiety Happens: A Neurological Root
What is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)?
SPD is a condition where the brain has difficulty organizing and responding to the stimuli in its environment (sensory input). Some individuals may be hypersensitive to things like sound, light, textures, or movement. Others may seek out intense input (movement, touch, etc) to regulate.
Predictability and Safety
For many individuals with SPD, new or unpredictable environments can feel threatening—not emotionally, but neurologically. Their brains struggle to filter, integrate, and adapt to incoming input. This makes routines comforting and unexpected stimuli distressing.
When the world feels full of sensory unknowns, anxiety becomes a natural response, rooted not in irrational fear—but in the body’s very real need for predictability and regulation.
What Comes Next: Supporting the Nervous System with Care
Understanding why sensory anxiety happens is the first step but it’s just the beginning. Once we recognize the role of sensory processing in these heightened emotional responses, we can start to notice the signs earlier and respond with greater care.
In Part 2, we’ll explore how sensory anxiety may show up in the body, and share strategies to help individuals feel safer, more supported, and better equipped to regulate through overwhelming moments.
Helpful Links
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