Anxiety disorders are common in people with ASD (autism spectrum disorder). That doesn’t surprise me.
There is little information on how autistic people can reduce their anxiety. All medical articles just talk about how common anxiety disorders are among us. Yet they don’t offer any solutions.
Psychiatric treatment hasn’t helped with my anxiety. That’s why I started experimenting with alternative therapies long ago.
One of my newest discoveries is autism sensory soothing visual videos.
Autism sensory soothing visual YouTube videos make me feel happy and relaxed
YouTube is full of autism sensory soothing videos. The videos can help people with autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder. They could help relieve stress, anxiety, and meltdowns.
I’m familiar with the power of music in improving mental health. I’m particularly impressed with isochronic tones.
But the music is not the main thing about the sensory visual videos. As the term “sensory visual” suggests, it’s all about visuals.
Typically, objects and shapes in rainbow colors move on the screen while the background music plays.
For example, in this video, colorful spotlights move around. Then, glowing orbs in colors of the rainbow drift on the screen. The bright, colorful objects moving on a black background remind me of space.
The different animations in the video alternate. So, the same animations repeat in intervals. Most autistic people find repetition relaxing, which is probably one of the reasons why these videos work.
Even though I’m sensitive to bright, artificial lights, the colorful lights in the video don’t overstimulate me. They calm me. When I look at the video for a few minutes, my stress melts away.
Something is mesmerizing about the bright-colored objects moving gracefully in the darkness. These animations are so beautiful that sometimes I cry when I look at them! They make me feel so happy and alive.
I’m not the only one who loves these videos. People have left comments about the video that it helped them overcome meltdowns and panic attacks.
Someone comments they’re not autistic, but the video helped them with anxiety. A 10-year-old autistic kid says they cried tears of joy while listening to the video.
Not all sensory visual videos work for me equally, though. For example, I don’t find the animations in this video calming. I just like the music.
The joy of sensory sensitivity
Autistic people often have sensory sensitivity. This is usually portrayed as a deficit. Sensory sensitivity does make daily activities, say, a trip to a supermarket, challenging.
But my sensory sensitivity also allows me to use my senses to relax and enjoy myself.
Maybe my sensory sensitivity is why sensory visual videos give me such intense pleasure and relaxation.
When the sensory experience is overstimulating, it’s hell for my senses.
If the sound, visuals, smell, or touch, is just right, what a joy it brings!
A DIY calming sensory visual toy
What if you’re stressed and anxious but don’t want to open YouTube?
Or maybe you don’t even have time for that because you’re having a meltdown in a nanosecond.
If you don’t mind a little DIY, you can make your own calming sensory visual toy. One of my favorite YouTube channels, How to ADHD, has a tutorial video for making your own calming glitter bottle:
I haven’t made one yet because I don’t have the ingredients. I do want to make one of these. It would be so handy to have a calming bottle at hand.
I wonder if a lava lamp would have the same effect. Lava lamps also have those moving, glowing things inside.
I hope this post has given you some creative ideas for easing your anxiety and meltdowns.
Have you tried autism sensory soothing visual videos? Or anything similar, like a calming glitter jar or a lava lamp? Please let me know in the comments!
