DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Larissa Geleris, an occupational therapist specializing in sensory processing disorder, who shares her insights on how parents can manage sensory overload and emotional regulation during intense moments with their children. She discusses the importance of understanding one's own sensory needs and bucket capacity, and provides practical strategies like leaning against a wall or chewing crunchy foods to help regulate the nervous system.
Larissa explains that sensory processing is foundational for accessing higher-level skills like emotional regulation, and that a dysregulated child can easily dysregulate an adult. She emphasizes the need for parents to proactively manage their own sensory input throughout the day so that they are in a regulated state when their children have meltdowns or tantrums.
The episode offers concrete tools for parents to empty their sensory buckets, such as setting reminders to lean against a wall or mindfully engage in crunchy/chewy snacks. By addressing their own sensory needs, parents can better enjoy and connect with their children, rather than feeling overwhelmed and struggling to manage intense moments.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Sensory processing and regulation are foundational for emotional regulation and accessing higher-level skills in parenting.
- Parents need to proactively manage their own sensory needs and bucket capacity to avoid becoming dysregulated when their children have meltdowns or tantrums.
- Practical strategies like leaning against a wall, chewing crunchy/chewy foods, and setting reminders can help parents regulate their sensory input and empty their sensory buckets.
- By addressing their own sensory needs, parents can stay calm and present during intense moments with their children, enabling them to truly enjoy and connect with their children.
- Reframing sensory overload as a safety mechanism can help parents be more compassionate with themselves and understand the underlying process.
- Mindfully engaging with sensory regulation strategies, rather than doing them mindlessly, is key for maximum effectiveness in managing sensory overload.
- A dysregulated child can easily dysregulate an adult, making it crucial for parents to manage their own regulation proactively.
- Sensory regulation enables parents to access higher-level skills like emotional regulation, attention, concentration, and executive functioning, which are essential for effective parenting.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “So if we shift that understanding of sensory processing and sensory overload, really, to a sense of foundational safety, then it's a lot easier to, one, show kindness to ourselves when we enter sensory overload and also to understand how foundational it is. And it's really, it's when we are experiencing sensory overload, it's just our sensory systems working a little too fiercely in the midst of sensory chaos.“ by Larissa Geleris
- “If we are not regulated down in our brain stem, all of the other demands of parenthood can't happen. They're just not available.“ by Larissa Geleris
- “You know, parenting is beautiful, and when we are in a regulated state, from a sensory perspective, our nervous system is available to have safe, connected relationships. And that means enjoying our children, playing with our children, and really getting to know them.“ by Larissa Geleris
Entities
Company
Person
Product
Episode Information
Good Inside with Dr. Becky
Dr. Becky Kennedy
5/21/24