Author: Edda Mia Löhr
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Stimming: Why self-stimulating behavior is essential for our nervous system
Snapping fingers, tapping their foot in a rhythmic way, or making repetitive sounds. These behaviors can be part of stimming, which stands for self-stimulatory behavior. But what exactly does stimming mean, and why is it so important for neurodivergent people, such as those with autism or ADHD? Stimming describes repetitive movements or sounds that help…
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Hypervigilance: A Survival Mode
What Is Hypervigilance? You walk into a room full of people, and your brain immediately analyzes everything: the faces, the noise levels, every small movement. You want to relax, but your system is in constant alert mode—a scenario familiar to many neurodivergent individuals. This heightened state of awareness, known as hypervigilance, is a mental survival…
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Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria(RSD): When rejection becomes an emotional crisis
You may be familiar with the feeling: someone criticizes you, and even though it was meant harmlessly, it hits you like a slap in the face. You can’t stop thinking about it and feel like you’ve completely failed. This intense reaction to rejection has a name – rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD). RSD is an emotional…
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Alexithymia: When feelings can’t find words – and how you can discover them
Do you feel like you can’t put your emotions into words? Maybe you even wonder if you feel anything at all because it’s so hard to name it? These insecurities drive many people to the term alexithymia. But don’t worry, you’re not alone – and the problem is solvable. What exactly is alexithymia? Alexithymia literally…
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Sensory Gating Deficit: When Stimuli Become a Challenge
Imagine sitting in a café. People are talking over each other, the lights flicker, and suddenly, you feel overwhelmed by everything around you. Welcome to the daily reality of many individuals with a sensory gating deficit. For those affected, this condition is far more than mere “sensitivity”—it can significantly disrupt everyday life and is often…
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Time blindness: what it is and how to deal with it
Do you feel like you can’t tell the time? It’s as if you’re walking through a fog all day and suddenly it’s evening again – without knowing where the day went? You may wonder if you have time blindness and how you can deal with it. These questions are asked by many people with ADHD,…
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Autistic burnout: exhaustion beyond the ordinary
You sit on the couch and feel that you just can’t take it anymore. It’s as if your batteries have been dead for a long time, and yet the world outside continues to demand peak performance from you. You function, you mask, and now you feel like a robot that has finally run out of…
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Hyperempathy: The Overwhelming World of Emotions in Autism
Imagine entering a room and the emotions of the people around you hitting you like a wave. You feel sadness, joy, anger – sometimes all at once. You want to help, to save the world, but the overload paralyzes you. If you are looking for hyperempathy, you may feel that you feel too much yourself…
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Polyvagal Theory: An Introduction and Critical Examination
What Is the Polyvagal Theory? In recent years, the polyvagal theory has gained significant popularity, particularly in trauma therapy, while also sparking ongoing debate among scientists and therapists. Developed in the 1990s by American neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Porges, this theory focuses on the vagus nerve and its role in regulating social, emotional, and physiological states.…
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Lack of drive: Why our perception exhausts us – and how you can counteract it
Do you know the feeling? You want to get something done, maybe you even have a thousand things on your mind – but your body isn’t cooperating. Instead of getting started, you feel tired and listless, as if you’ve been dragging heavy boxes for hours. You wonder, “Why am I so listless even though I’ve…