Nervous System Regulation in Late Diagnosed Autistic Adults

I've spent a lot of time (too much?) researching and purchasing sensory/fidget toys to help with my sensory overwhelm. I've compiled my favorites along with some suggestions from friends to give you a list of only the best!
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ONO Fidget Roller (affiliate link): bit.ly/3xLZnQY (use code: MOMONTHESPECTRUM for 10% off at checkout)
Flare Earbuds for Sensory Overwhelm (affiliate link): www.flareaudio.com/momonthesp...
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🌟 MORE RESOURCES: www.momonthespectrum.life
To jump to specific products, click on the timestamps below (purchase links further below):
Overstimulation vs. Understimulation (1:21)
Why do we need to regulate our senses? (2:06)
Disclaimers (2:31)
When to acquire sensory products (2:58)
Weighted Blanket (4:08)
Weighted Lap Blanket (5:12)
Nail Clippers on a Keychain (5:38)
Dishwashing Gloves (5:53)
Noise-cancelling Headphones (6:34)
Weighted Seep Mask (7:16)
Essential Oils (7:25)
Sensory Handtools (7:49)
Bluetooth Headband (8:17)
Aaron’s Thinking Putty (8:44)
Exercise Ball (9:24)
Pop-It (9:44)
Supplements (10:30)
5-HTP Plus (10:56)
Scullcap (11:41)
Magnesium (12:11)
Fidget Toy Pack (12:34)
Silicone Rings (13:37)
THE STORY (14:13)
Upcoming Videos (16:16)
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SENSORY PRODUCTS PURCHASE LINKS
For easy accessibility, I've included purchase links to big companies like Amazon and Target. Many of these items may be available through friends, neighborhood Facebook groups, trade, resale shops, or locally-owned small businesses. I encourage you to shop local and spend less whenever possible!
Weighted Blanket:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Weighted Lap Blanket:
tinyurl.com/xw4b3py
Nail Clippers:
www.amazon.com/Crispy-Unisex-...
Dishwashing Gloves
www.amazon.com/Mr-Clean-Premi...
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
www.amazon.com/Soundcore-Canc...
Weighted Eye Mask
www.amazon.com/Compression-He...
Sensory Handtools
www.amazon.com/Learning-Resou...
Bluetooth Headband
tinyurl.com/yybw5a4v
Aaron's Thinking Putty
tinyurl.com/jd4vudcm
Exercise Ball
tinyurl.com/mjn8u9w9
Pop-It
tinyurl.com/45kxpkxw
5-HTP Plus
tinyurl.com/3vr7xsey
Scullcap
tinyurl.com/y76s4dvp
Magnesium
tinyurl.com/5xfajus4
Fidget Toy Pack
tinyurl.com/yztj23bf
Silicone Rings
tinyurl.com/yk7fxk85
Music by Milky Wayvers ("Mountain")
/ milky-wayvers-mountain
#autism #autistic #aspergers

[@Sunset1705]

“Moms special toys that we’re not allowed to touch” 😂 can only imagine what her mom thought. Thanks for sharing all these items!

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Haha still trying to live that one down. 😅 and you’re welcome!

[@dmartz02]

😂😂

[@debrac1688]

Oh, that is such a " I could die" moment. 😂Oh well, we can't take our selves so seriously😚🥰.

[@SweetyHelen92]

Omg I'm dying 😂

[@SugarRainbowRomance]

I’m an autistic teacher with a lot of autistic children in my class. I got a weighted blanket for my classroom that the children drag around. They’re super helpful not just for lying under! They also lay it out like a picnic rug and roll over the little pockets of beads and sit in circles with it over all their legs. Two of them even lay it out, and roll into each other at the same time so they’re side by side burritos.

[@gigahorse1475]

Awww that’s so cute!

[@afoolinherfolly]

Brilliant!

[@ASLtoMusic]

You just helped me think about becoming a teacher I love teaching things to other people, but because of 3/5 of my disabilities in the classroom (dyslexia, hearing loss, and ASD) until I read this I would have been uhh I'm going to a lab for STEM.

[@haannguyen4402]

I use a weighted blanket to help me sleep

[@Swarmie]

oh jeez thats really awesome! i wish i couldve had a teacher like you growing up!

[@ladydede88]

I don’t know if im autistic but I do check off a lot on the boxes. Yesterday I purchased noise canceling headphones (that’s what I searched and this video came up) and it felt like a warm hug. I never wanted to take them off. I noticed I could focus more and I was way more relaxed and less overwhelmed and Anxious. I wore them to work and it was the only day I didn’t feel like I wanted to run out the building

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Thanks for your comment.

[@TomMeehanMake]

OMG dish washing gloves. I never used them till my 30's. They made it possible to actually touch food residues and clean bathrooms without feeling like I wanted to crawl out of my skin. Downside is that It can be horrible when water actually get inside them.

[@msjannd4]

Yes, the water inside drives me crazy! 😢

[@Hekeepblessingme]

I always have rubber gloves to clean!! Idc if I can just wash my hands after (I do when the gloves come off anyways) but I can NOT clean my bathroom without them 🤢

[@BVoshol]

Get two pairs! And some dishwasher glove stands. That way, when you mess it up, you can just switch to the second pair

[@AlexisTwoLastNames]

discovered gloves abt 3 months ago YES. so good. and headphones while washing to avoid the noise.

[@le_th_]

The water getting inside the gloves is bad for everyone, both on and off the spectrum. lol Ick.

[@burlapandlacebookworm]

We also have some touch sensitivity, so I have a reversible fabric bracelet I just started wearing that has two distinct sides. If I have the pattern side out I'm available for extra hugs and snuggles with my 2 & 4yo. And if the solid color is showing mama needs some no touch time . It helps set the boundary with them. For my one daughter who also has issues being touched sometimes, we got her a red silicone bracelet she can put on whenever she wants space too. It helps us all communicate our needs without always having to use words or be upset after we've been touched when we weren't up for it.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Love this!

[@amberwashington6604]

SOOOO I started researching fidgets and got interested in fidget jewelry. Then I decided I could just...make it. So I spent a LOT OF MONEY on jewelry-making supplies and now...I make jewelry. Not even fidget jewelry. Lol!

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Haha I love this!! Do you sell it or make it for yourself or both?

[@amberwashington6604]

@@MomontheSpectrum so I was making it for myself but several people have asked to buy so I'll just see where that goes I guess. Lol!

[@amayabronagh]

I love knitting/crochet/sewing. Keeps my hands busy, keeps my mind focused and calm in over stimulating environments and doesn't look too weird 😁 The one downfall is that sometimes people are curious about what I'm doing and loads of passers-by will stop and talk to me 🙈

[@Mamaofchaos2]

I find this really helpful too plus find the colours and textures of the yarn are really soothing. I heard someone describe it as socially acceptable stimming! Since I’ve started knitting I honestly feel like I can’t be without it.

[@krickett8538]

Tatting is pocket sized! (But knitting is my favorite)

[@susanlivingston3075]

I cranked out so much crewel embroidery during the pandemic I eventually started selling them at craft fairs.

[@magdalenabozyk1798]

My grandma used to carry knitting with her -everywhere-. As soon as she sat down she would pull out her current project from her bag. She could talk and knit. She did complex designs in color and texture, without ever looking at design sheets. Through my childhood I never had to buy a sweater. Lately it stopped boggle my mind. I need to keep my hands and my mind busy when I watch movies (even youtube). Otherwise I can't focus and feel under-stimulated. But, I think it has more to do with attention deficit than the spectrum. At some point in time I did crocheting, and even macrame.

[@eeaotly]

@@krickett8538 Tatting?! Never heard that word before!

[@canadianlynx3068]

I never realized I was using objects for sensory overwhelm until I watched this and a few of your other videos. As a child I always had a favorite sweater I wore to school - used to feel out of place if I didn't have it. I fidget alot - always have my feet going under the table or playing with whatever nearby I could get my hands on. When attending work meetings I would draw the entire time - they used to think I was zoning out until they asked me questions about the meeting and I would answer correctly, then they accepted that it was just they way I was. I like to keep coins nearby and will play with them when I get a bit bored - I like the way they feel in your hands and the sounds they make :) A weird rattle or out of place noise in my car will drive me batty until I locate it and make it stop. Can't stand it when people drum their fingers on the table or do other repetitive noisy things. When I go to loud places sometimes I bring earplugs with me to dull it down (I've been know to literally jump in my seat if I hear a sudden loud noise behind me). Oh yeah, and I'm the easiest person to startle in the room (some have even made sport out of it, lol).

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

[@MelissaThompson432]

Yep! I can relate.

[@Clarachk]

A lot of the same for me here with what you said. I keep a wad of blue tack in several places to fidget with. I keep one on the handle of whatever coffee mug I’m using because, if I keep it in my pocket, everything gets stuck to it. I am also the sound police. Not 10 minutes ago, I heard a high pitched, new noise when I was in my mostly silent kitchen, alone. It was my lonely single earpod buzzing in my ear, even though it just verbally told me turned off/ disconnected because I walked too far away from my phone. When I took it out, the little Blinky light was still blinking and it was emitting a noise that I’m pretty sure only dogs can hear lol I’m set here now thinking of all the sensory things that I keep around me and do to keep me somewhat sane

[@wendyguest1170]

These are all great suggestions! I love love love your videos. Not a toy, but replacing all our lightbulbs with smart color changing lightbulbs has been an absolute lifesaver in my little everyone’s-an-aspie household. Warm low pink light in the evening to relax, clinical white in the kitchen when I need to see, deep blue in the bathtub feels like vacation etc etc. All individually dimmable from our phones or Alexa. Life changing!!!

[@MomontheSpectrum]

This is great to know! Thanks so much for sharing, Wendy.

[@afoolinherfolly]

Love that for you! My game-changer was switching all the bulbs to low watt incandescents. And I love dimmer switches! Someday I dream to have every light on a dimmer switch 😍

[@RisseDesBluts113]

Omg! My fiance and I need this in our lives, like, yesterday lol

[@mikafoxx2717]

I had to change all my lights to higher 90+ CRI LEDs because the low CRI was messing with my senses and making me feel horrible. I even bought 98 CRI flashlights from a company called convoy, with those beautiful nichia 519a LED's.. may or may not have done a deep dive on that info.

[@MelissaThompson432]

You may have just saved my sanity. I cried when they outlawed incandescent bulbs; the stupid grocery store brand LED bulbs have dim, ugly, yellow light. They're depressing. High CRI bulbs for me, from now on!

[@bducore]

I discovered that wearing compression socks actually helps calm me down all day…it’s something about the constant pressure, and I’ve worn them since before I was diagnosed and even knew I was autistic

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Oh wow great to know! Thanks for sharing.

[@tatiana4050]

I was forced to wear them when i had to stay in hospital before surgery, and i hated it so much, i wanted to rip them off everytime i couldn't distract myself

[@adeleennis2255]

See I’m opposite, they make me feel like bugs are crawling on my legs. I can’t take it.

[@laurawhaley9499]

I also do the same thing! Now I have to wear compression socks due to medical issues, but even before then all of my socks were at least snug. If they were loose at all I wouldn't be able to wear them for more than 5 seconds. Looking back, my sock preferences make so much more sense now.

[@kinashy8863]

Omg that's exactly what I need

[@burlapandlacebookworm]

Haha!! That story is so funny! We've started calling them 'sensory tools' instead of toys so they know they need to be put back where they belong so we all know where they are when we need them lol! One of my daughters likes to chew things, so we recently got one of those silicone chew necklaces and we've hung it on a low hook where she can access it without having to ask for it.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

love the clarification between tools and toys! that's great.

[@diaphanouswaffle]

@burlapandlacebookworm thanks so much for this reframing, bc "toys" has a certain connotation in contrast to "tools"...not that sensory regulation has to seem gravely serious, but just that "toys" seems like something that other folks could be more dismissive of while "tools" conveys that these items genuinely serve an important purpose (of course, "play" is an important purpose, but you know what I mean).

[@ParabolicProfits]

My son has chew necklaces and he calls them his "chew toys" which ive had to tell him to just call his "chews" because chew toy sounds like a dog toy lol.

[@Cerebrum123]

Autogenerated captions says that Plato is only fifty cents, I think they are underselling him a bit.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Hahaha. Good to know 😂

[@Cerebrum123]

@@MomontheSpectrum I was hoping someone would get a laugh out of that.

[@MintyVoid]

Gloves for dishwashing is totally a game changer. I just hate interacting with the food waste/etc. One thing that I realized that gloves can be applied to as well is LOTION! I hate the feeling of lotion on my hands when having to moisutrize after showering. I started using a glove for tanning, its reusable, soft, and leaves my hand dry. Just having it makes it more likely for me to moisturize.

[@thedevilandhertrumpets4268]

Yes! I use the back of my hands to apply lotion to them as greasy palms and fingers make me insane.

[@magdalenabozyk1798]

I hate the feeling of gooey or sticky stuff on my hands, too. hand creams that leave a film on my hands is the worst. I end up washing my hands all the time when I cook, because all the things I need to touch and have to leave my hands straight away.

[@debrac1688]

Yeah, my daughter won't do these tasks. And she hated finger painting as a child

[@Tickles_The_Oaf]

I am an autistic woman. I love your idea of using silicone rings in place of wedding/engagement rings! Mine bother me but my engagement ring has bent and I can’t get them off. I have lots of sensory toys - weighted stuffed dogs, this awesome wooden balls puzzle kind of thing that feels and sounds so satisfying. Plastic slinky, infinity cube, fidget cubes, tangle, little mochi toys (when I want to appear NT) , rubber duckies, that slug that goes clickety clack. And lots and lots of pop its!! I also have a bit of a more unique hobby. I like junk journals and like putting down my verbal stims. My current one is “My money don’t jiggle jiggle, it folds.” Or stuff I hear or read that is interesting to my ear. I like using different textures in my journals and can spend ages and ages flipping through a book, adding stuff, covering up stuff.

[@laurawhaley9499]

I also have one of the clacky slugs and it is like my favorite fidget ever!! Sadly because of the noise I can't use it in my college classes. thankfully though my friends are all very used to my stims and so I am able to use it whenever we hang out. We sit and talk and I just clickety clack away!

[@rlee7077]

Silicone rings are fantastic! I just realized I use my silicone ring as a stim, which I didn't really think that I did much stimming.. (but biting cheeks, picking nails, biting nails, playing with silicone ring, etc are things I realize I do)

[@Clarachk]

I’m also a huge fan of multimedia, mixed-media journaling. It definitely gives me a sense of creativity and satisfaction, and lets my brain be free and relax

[@gemmaparnell6027]

I rub a little oil into my hands before I put dish gloves on and I think it makes the gloves feel much better, I only started to do this to help my nails grow :)

[@MomontheSpectrum]

ooh cool suggestion! Thanks for sharing.

[@megrivers-wright5410]

Oh, please tell me you’re collecting your “bloopers” videos to compile and share. Hearing “Mommy, I just went poo-poo!” In the background and seeing your reaction would be awesome. 😆 Lots of parents have been there!

[@TeraGreene1]

😂😂 😅 yes, we have!

[@magpiejoneski139]

5HTP has been life changing for me. I have had insomnia since I was a child. Started 5HTP seven years ago. It works cumulatively over time (I assume allowing your brain to build up serotonin, or something to do with your serotonin pathways). In any case, I initially needed a crazy amount to actually sleep, around 5x the regular dose. Over time I’ve been needing less and less to the point that now I only need to take a single cap for a span of maybe 3 or 4 days every couple of months to top myself up once I notice my insomnia and bedtime monkey brain creeping back in. It’s really miraculous. Also GABA for chronic anxiety, equally game changing. For the first time in my life I understand where I end and my anxiety begins. My anxiety had been such a constant in my life that it felt like part of my personality, but now I can feel it as more if an external thing that reminds me to take my GABA (which is also cumulative similar to 5htp and I now only need to take now and then). *Disclaimer to never take 5htp if you’re on SSRIs because you can get serotonin syndrome.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Thanks for the info!

[@spooks2086]

I'm on Prozac for my depression and anxiety so it helps me a lot

[@grandmascatsandbooks]

If the “special toy”Story isn’t already a KZbin short, it would make a good one. It deserves its own video. 😂

[@StarchildMagic]

I love these ideas for my anxiety and ADHD as well. I keep sooo many little playthings around my desk. I have a fidget spinner, fidget cube, an old fabric tape measure that I wind around my fingers, a cat's cradle string, a fabric hair tie, and a hair clip. The weighted ball in particular is one I would add to my collection, and maybe the box of beans to just play in with my fingers.

[@kathyeberle]

Thank you for sharing. I placed my toaster in a small wooden tray to 1) stop the crumbs from getting all over the counter and floor and cupboard. I keep the toaster in the tray at all times. 2) I hate the sound of metal toasters banging around so with it in the wooden tray it is muffled.

[@CGWatts-li6lq]

This is the sign! I'm getting a cat - the best sensory regulation buddy in the world! Yours is Sooo cuteee. :)

[@MomontheSpectrum]

cats are the BEST! 😸

[@dawnmulder3540]

We used fidgets in my classroom. My mantra was “They are tools not toys!” I use fidgets for my own ADHD and sensory needs. 😊 The weighted blanket is a favorite, but my absolute favorite is the one you showed with the key rings, bike chain bits, and bands. I got so excited when you showed that one! 😊

[@ness7362]

Suggestion to keep your husband from losing his covers at night: Make your bed with the weighted blanket BENEATH the comforter/flat sheet. You retain the warmth of the main bedding AND the pressure of the weighted blanket without sacrificing your partner's comfort and sleep.

[@allyfrasier6306]

Loved the story! So funny!😂 Thank you. I'm 45 just diagnosed. I'm sort of frozen, in shock..everything finally makes sense. I really appreciate all the information you've shared, thank you.

[@OneofaSkeind]

Hi Taylor. I love you channel! I have begun a deep dive into my late diagnosed ASD and the information you have provided is immeasurable. Much love 💕 I am an extreme crochet(er). It provides me three comforts that help regulate me that I want to share. 1. Counting - Crochet often requires counting stitches. I count in my head constantly. Counting stitches really help me calm. 2. Touch/Feel - I touch everything to feel. I love to feel the soft yarn and crochet stitch textures. 3. Stimming/Autistic Inertia (I hope I'm using that correctly?) - crochet keeps my hands BUSY! 🙌🏻 🙌🏻 🙌🏻 It provides me endless hours of (socially acceptable) stimming when I don't feel comfortable.

[@afoolinherfolly]

Duuuude I turned the nail picking into a stim! So a cool thing for me is that when I remember to let myself act like my child self when I want to, she teaches me amazing things just by being her clever little self, like paying attention while I'm playing with the nail and doing it gently, and over time I just got a feel for how to do it in a healthy way and picking at it just the right amount and in just the right way to get it to a texture I like, and now it's this little gift when a nail starts to go, like an amazing sensory toy literally at my fingertips!. I love to run the edge of it lightly over the tip of an adjoining finger or the thumb, early on it's scratchy, but with time playing with it, it becomes kinda soft and smooth and bendy flexy 😍 And it's got a meditative grounding vibe because it brings me present and to my body, which I think all stims are trying to do in a way, but this one particularly grounding for me

[@ZhovtoBlakytniy]

I discovered by accident that "baby paper" is really nice and stimmy. Its like crunching paper and it is reusable. There's a piece of thin plastic material between two pieces of fabric that makes a crunchy sound, often in baby or pet toys. Entertainment for all ages and species 😂

[@kateshiningdeer3334]

Oh, I'm going to have to get some for my cat! Years ago a cat I adopted came with a little fabric square with a piece of cellophane and some catnip. Not only did the cat it CAME with love it, but two of our other cats decided it was the best toy ever! It made a similarly crinkly noise. I hadn't thought about that in years - and I bet at least a couple of the current cats would love that!

[@anelethomson1036]

I fiddles a lot with my nails too, biting and peeling till there is nothing left… until I had my first nail appointment. The gel feels so good when I touch my lips with my nails! It’s very calming and the art is beautiful to look at. I choose only soft colours so that I’m not overstimulated by it. Another regulation I do when going to bed is sculp my hands over my ears while laying on my side, soft tot between my elbows. The sound of my blood circulating has an instant calming affect! I start to breath slowly and deep immediately and fall asleep almost instantly. Do that during the night as well after being up for a glass of water and visiting the loo! Simple but so effective! Thanks for all the videos! 👌🏻

[@mikuenjoyerXD]

I really like to rub soft nails on my lips too and I think it is a unique stim! I haven't heard anybody else talk about it yet until now

[@mikuenjoyerXD]

Also I might try the hands over ear thing to fall asleep, it seems relaxing 😌

[@isisseeker]

I love some of these BUT I do have a question.. A lot of my sensory issues relate to smells also… I kept imagining the smell of your globes and silicon toys, and some metals… do you have any suggestion?

[@WeepingWillow422]

If you ask me, the best sensory "toy" (so to speak) that you have was on your couch sleeping and cleaning itself. Just watching him throughout your video made me smile. I have a kitty and she does so much for my mental and cognitive health just by being her fabulous self. I have not tried weighted blankets. I'm afraid of ordering one because I'm not sure if I'll like them or not. Idk if anyone I know has one to let me try out. I have a fidget spinner I got off of Amazon that lights up so when it spins it makes all kinds of different light patterns. I loooooove it!!! Not sure if you have tried fidget spinners yet.

[@EsmereldaPea]

Hmmm. A clear illustration that everyone is different. The cat was extremely distracting for me and actually anxiety inducing. I've had cats forever and for some reason, when they clean themselves, I have to leave the room. Some of it is the sound. And even though I couldn't hear the cat in the background, I could "hear" it.

[@christineclarke9063]

I just ordered my thinking putty cant wait to get it. After 40 years if masking and suppressing myself iam slowly releasing and remembering things i did/ too regulate. I love your channel ❤️ 💕 thankyou 🌻

[@mellowgeekstudio]

ANC means Active Noise Cancelling. Active comes from the fact that there is a microphone that picks up the ambient sound and then sends a reverse way the the speakers, thus reducing its intensity.

[@nellpulaski4919]

Thanks was just researching that as well.

[@mellowgeekstudio]

@@nellpulaski4919 Sure thing. 👍

[@ivanbraginskienjoyer2089]

I draw as a stim and its been my go to for stimulation. I'll take paper to work and draw during downtime. I've never gravitated to stim toys but my biggest comforting objects are cardigans/jackets and blankets. ☺

[@amandamandamands]

I have fidget rings, the middle of them are slightly textured and spin but if you are just looking at them they look like normal rings. An alternative to noise cancelling headphones if you want to reduce volume around you (and aren't wanting to listen to music etc at the time) and have it look not obvious is things like loops, flares, vibes (sure that there are other brands) - they work by decreasing the overall db but not the clarity (the difference to normal earplugs) and sit neatly in your ears (as long as you can handle in ear headphones you can wear these).

[@augiespicer1270]

I'm on tbe spectrum and ADD, when I was a daycare provider I especially loved when the kiddoes wanted to play with wood puzzles. The random clicky clacky sound of the wood puzzles pieces, oh my, it was like sliding into alpha wave pool. I'd get a soft rolling sensation rolling over my scalp that felt so soothing. I had done biofeedback sessions, so know how different wave states felt. Beta waves are headachey like doing taxes; theda waves like pre-sleep wind down, but alpha, that is the most delicious state. Plus puzzle play not the only source to achieve that state. Very relaxing, but alert, great way to center. Just an observation to share. Thank you.

[@sparrow8072]

Yesterday I impulsively cut the collar off of my sleep shirt because it was massively overstimulating me. I then spent the rest of the day fidgeting with the collar 😂 it was so satisfying to pull/scratch/twist while I was doing other things.

[@heikobarnholdt7313]

Hand drums! Particularly with authentic goat skin. And I just got a Djembe from Meinl that had synthetic goat skin that actually was nice… Love it! And with drumming you can do cross-over exercises and groovy, repetitive beats while getting that energy out.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

I have a djembe too! Love it so much.

[@MelarkyClarky]

Am I the only one who finds fidget toys anxiety making? Soft fluffy fabrics (some, not all... some make me positively gag) I find calming, as well as tassels. Weighted lap pads, & blankets are good too... but rubbery, faffy, fiddly things put me in a spin. 😳

[@Heyu7her3]

I believe I am the same way. I think I am a sensory/soft fidgeter. Traditional/ hard fidget toys annoy me because they make too much noise and aren't soft enough. I want to look into fabric fidget toys

[@quirkyturk3y396]

Tassels! 😻💓💞

[@kristen92431]

Man, I wish dish gloves helped me. I haaaate touching dish water - all the bits of stuff floating around is unsettling, so I was like "yeah! dish gloves!" Well, when I'm doing dishes, I can feel that I'm touching water, but my hands are dry and they feel like they should be wet, but they're not....if that makes sense. It's an awful sensation and I'm really glad that my husband doesn't mind doing dishes..lol.

[@kingrix]

I was recently diagnosed and I just want to let you know that I absolutely love your content. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

[@snorlaxgender]

Quick warning about SAM-e! It was the first thing I was given for depression, so clearly there are good results for some, but I ended up having a (possibly allergic?) reaction where my body heated up to the point I was almost purple and a teacher had to intervene. Sometimes we can have paradoxical effects to supplements too 😞

[@Mamaofchaos2]

I’m so glad to here someone else mention the thing about washing dishes! I feel exactly the same about washing the dishes. I didn’t realise it was a sensory thing until recently can’t stand doing them without gloves and the water has to be boiling hot or they smell terrible. I always used to get told off for using tons of washing up liquid because I hate the dirty dish smell. 😂

[@T1MB05L1C3]

Cat should always be in the background for the videos from now on

[@MelissaThompson432]

Cat is definitely a comfort item. Can double as a weighted blanket.

[@T1MB05L1C3]

@@MelissaThompson432 Agree but don’t have pets because can’t own them.

[@sherrypolleyart1290]

Gonna check your videos, but if you haven’t done one, I would looove any ideas, tips, routines, tricks, etc. for maintaining good hygiene. I don’t know if you’ve struggled with that, but I know that tons of us on the spectrum struggle with it. For me, showers are absolute sensory hell (baths are not better). I’m 38 and I still have real panic, and I anxiously avoid my showers for days, every time. Quite discouraging, since being clean feels so good (once I’m dry, that is!) and it boosts my confidence a Lot. Being dirty around other people is really stressful, I obsess about if they are noticing and what they think. But I find it just super super hard to face taking a shower, almost every time. Just a thought for a video topic if you have any insights.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@MommaDuck7]

Is there any way you could address how to parent when you're neurodiverse & you have *lots* of kids? We homeschool, too, which is an added layer of complexity. 😬

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Thank you for this suggestion! I hope to have more parenting content soon. For now I do have a parent support group if you're interested. We are meeting Wed. Dec. 7 @ 6PM CDT. You can grab a spot here: calendly.com/momonthespectrum/autistic-community-groups?month=2022-12&date=2022-12-07

[@MommaDuck7]

Ooooo, TY!!! 🥰

[@julie8234]

I have ALL of these things! I certainly went out & bought all the toys & books after my dx last year. Agreed: weighted blanket & eye mask rule

[@Jaedeajnx]

Adding on to the gloves hack, those scrubbing brushes for dishes have made it so much easier to wash dishes💜

[@jbrubin8274]

9:12 The moment I stopped and popped over to Amazon for this thinking putty. As this far I have seemed to have gathered near exactly what you have shown thus far. That soft ear head set, I have in the exact same color, I love it. Looking back the weighted blanket should have been my first choice. I didn’t know how comforting that would be. It’s now a part of my daily life. 💯

[@Nurturing2]

You’re AMAZING❣️ Thank you for all you do!!!

[@TinyEevee]

i found at a Dollar store one of those pop-it things but a BRACELET, super great

[@juleslund1515]

I'm so happy I found your channel, this amazing community and excited to find out some ideas to help so that I can regulate my emotions, my central nervous system.. I love the weighted blanket 💛

[@annmzli]

I feel the same way about jewelry! Especially earrings and rings. Depending on the necklace or bracelet those are usually okay.

[@kateshiningdeer3334]

Thank you! I'm 46, diagnosed a bit over 3 years ago, and watching things like this reminds me of the things I did as a kid that I didn't know were stimming, and eventually got shamed out of. I feel like I have to figure out what works all over again from the beginning. Several things you mentioned reminded me of things I used to do! What you were doing with your rings, for instance, I did with jelly bracelets in the mid-80s! And I always loved running my hands through beans (or my local bead shop's bin of natural stone beads, priced by the baggiefull.) I should really set up something like that! I also found a tiny version of the bubble pop thing - about 3" round, so easy to stash in a pocket. And I just bought a set of those connected rings! I wasn't sure I'd like them, but they were cheap, so I thought, "Well, why not?" Great toy. Also, Walmart has a folding cube puzzle toy for about $3 that I love. I think it's called a galaxy cube? It's purple with realistic types of stars printed on it. It's hinged so you can basically just turn it around on itself. What's funny to me is that I had a similar one as a kid, and I loved it, but had no idea why. Now I know! My basic rule is if it's under $5, try it. If it's more than that, I have to think about it more. But that rule has gotten me a lot of neat things I might have otherwise bypassed!

[@TRXST.ISSUES]

This was so awesome! Now realizing why I would tear napkins to the smallest shreds piece by piece at fast food restaurants… straw wrappers too. I really need to pick up some of these. Bahahaha to your daughter’s story lol 😂 great you were able to smooth things over.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

seriously wanted to crawl under my bed and never come out. haha. speaking of ripping things... when my grandparents took me to get ice cream when I was little, I'd get it in a styrofoam cup, and then after I was done I would tear the cup apart piece by piece until it was totally dismantled. Just remembering this as I read your comment.

[@jaskierdraven9191]

In elementary if we where using scissors I would cut up the extra paper into tiny pieces. And I had to do that before I could throw away the paper.

[@hopesprings4034]

Oh wow I did that for years!

[@JHixon-bi8ok]

Magnesium is helpful, as you mentioned. My favorite is magnesium taurate because it helps induce drowsiness during nighttime bouts of insomnia.

[@cupofteawithpoetry]

Thank you. I love your channel! 😊

[@BilliesCraftRoom]

Shashibo also sometimes called magic cube, is a fave, s oft toys, love those poppy things too. Think n stink on stay in have been an awesome place to get figets too

[@nealbakermiriam]

The sound on your popper is so satisfying I have never heard a crunch like that on a popper before. My mother-in-law has asked me why people play with poppers and she doesn't really understand or see the the fun or benefit in them what would you say to someone that asked a question like that

[@Brittney1986]

I waaaaaant all of these! I laughed literally out loud at you using the yellow pick-up thing! 😂 I’ll be putting these things on my list, thank you! We both have an orange cat too, couldn’t live without him! 💕

[@MomontheSpectrum]

😸

[@tiffanylin6201]

My go to sensory item/stim item is this pillow my grandma made for me before she passed away. She replicated the pillow I had as a child. It has this very specific ruffle around the edge of the pillow. It is both smooth and rough at the same time. I can't sleep or function without it. My other sensory items include spinning toys (no sound or minimal sound), squishy ball (low sound ones, not sticky) and my number one item noise cancelling AirPods.

[@Dan_Chiron]

Thank you for recommending the bluetooth headband, I didn't know that even existed! I enjoy listening ASMR to help me sleep, but my partner doesn't like it, so I wear earphones, which are very uncomfortable to sleep on and make me wake up with sore ears. Btw, my brother is a musician and he prevented me from listening white noise for too long, he says white noise contains all the human audible frequencies mixed, so listening at it on a regular basis may have the same outcome to your hearing apparatus than listening to loud music (aka tinnitus or hearing loss of certain frequencies).

[@didntcreateahandle]

I did a hard snort on the special toys in the nightstand!!! Lol😂🎉

[@PhoebeFazio]

I have not been diagnosed yet (working on it) but my two adult kids have both been diagnosed late in life. Thank you for your videos. And I’m going to get some of these for Christmas presents. One of my kids crochets fidgets/stims and sells them on Etsy and local craft faires. It is a ston for them to make and they love that they can help others. They are always experimenting with different yarns for color and texture. I need to buy some for me!

[@rebeccakrezanski8227]

This is an awesome video, so helpful for me! I cant wait to try some of these things. I laughed out loud at the end, oh I felt it, I imagined the cringiness!

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Haha yep... living it out in realtime as my daughter was talking... .*Michael Scott Cringe face*

[@Kelli5555]

Omg your thumb nail is me!! 😂 I have the exact same headphone set up

[@gloriamurley385]

Taylor, I REALLY appreciate you!

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Aww thank you!! 😊

[@joshgray376]

I really enjoy your videos. I find so many similarities in what you describe, and what I experience day to day. I love getting another perspective and hearing the solutions you've found that work for you. I also just wanted to add that ANC = Active Noise Cancelling. There are a few methods headphone makers use to block out surrounding sound. Some make the big earphones that use insulation to block out sound, and those with ANC that use a microphone and technology to counteract noise. ANC can work best for droning or constant noise we can find irritating. I love the big cushy headphones that combine both ANC and the insulating construction. I have some that look very similar to what you showed.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Oh thanks for this info! Very helpful!

[@catchingstars7]

Good content! This anekdote in the video had me laughing out loud at the end. Thank you for sharing.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Glad it was worth a laugh :)

[@burlapandlacebookworm]

Love some of these ideas! Thank you for sharing!

[@MomontheSpectrum]

you're welcome! And I've listed many of these products on my website now at www.momonthespectrum.life under the My Favorite Things tab.

[@LilMissSpeeedy01]

I have a very similar fidget toy kit that has most of those fidget toys in them. I love the one you squish with your hand it makes those gross bubbles. I also love the bubble popping one. I have like 7 of them hahaha. I also have this other one that is a block kind of one, and you can make it into a square or an oblong and it has cool pics on it. That one feels particularly nice.

[@indiktr]

thank you for making colourful clear varieating album covers for these videos; helps to find back to those vids I need to find

[@MomontheSpectrum]

you're welcome! Glad you appreciate them 😊

[@annefox482]

Thank you for sharing these ideas and items! It's always so great to see how people vary their preferences. I haven't been officially diagnosed, but most of my friends have, and I always have resonated with ND and autistic content, so I'm pretty sure I'm on the spectrum. I've been collecting things to help me regulate as well. I tried the sleep mask, but it pressed on my eyes too much. Tried the audio headband, but it was difficult to charge, so I switched to earbuds that gently go around the ear shell. ANC headphones are the best for when my husband is on a call, or I'm at the airport. Loop earplugs help me to not crawl out of my skin at events and going out dancing. I tried a weighted blanket, but it was too heavy and made my bones hurt, so now i just have a dense super soft blanket that I double up, and it's perfect for me. I found a fidget cube at Target, and I also have a "worry stone" that I carry at all times, but I call it my calming stone instead. Recently, I saw a scent kit at CVS andbi felt like a kid at Christmas! It's made by the same people who make the Melissa and Doug toys for kids, but it's things for adults using essential oils. There's a fidget stone, small area air freshener, and a pen with oils for different moods. I also got their journal, which has a squishy cover and textured pages. I'm extremely sensitive to angels, so it's probably my favorite find of all.

[@gurgleblurgle7345]

Watching this as I cover an annoying dropped shoulder seam in sweater I otherwise love with some old T-shirt scraps

[@Alystu]

One of my favorite fidgets are those sma silicone face scrubbers. The ones with the suction on the back.

[@natalies3032]

I like squishmallows and plush toys keep me calm, i like having soft textures like a fluffy rug i can stand on, i use a velvet scrunchy on my wrist as a fidget toy. I love infinity cubes, i like the loop earplugs, i also like noice isolation earphones (rather than heavy headphones), when i had long hair i used those coil hair ties so they didnt hurt my head, i get tinting on my reading glasses to help with the light sensitivity, i have a diffuser for essential oil and i also use rollon oil blends, sometimes heat pack can help me feel calm.... I think thats it lol

[@debrac1688]

How do you store/organize your stuff?

[@piggystims702]

So much of this is relatable! I was the exact opposite with the dishwashing gloves. I can't stand how they make my hands feel and smell and couldn't wash dishes until I realized you could do it without gloves 😂

[@nikola2812]

Same! 😅

[@altyrrell3088]

I'm the same way, but my whole immediate family is neurodivergent, so I'll get some Mr. Clean gloves for others.

[@leetrevor59]

I have a microfiber cloth that I use to clean my glasses and sometimes I use it to stim. There's a lot of fidget toys on Amazon too

[@jiggermole]

My friend got me a quartz crystal with smooth and sharp sections. Works really well.

[@evelyngeremia1678]

Wow so many things you’re saying I identify with ! Saw your list video and said yes to almost everything.

[@dffulmer1]

I am currently trying out grounding mats as described in the Earthing movie. They are supposed to reduce inflammation and balances the body-mind, calming you. I also have a small weighted blanket, a squishy ball, an infinity cube, an Ono roller and many soft, fuzzy stuffed animals. Fuzzy blankets of any kind are wonderful!!!🤗😊

[@MomontheSpectrum]

So interested to learn more about grounding mats! I have heard of them but haven’t used one.

[@dffulmer1]

​@@MomontheSpectrum So far I am using the grounding sleep mat on the bed and the universal grounding mat on the couch. I like them and have ordered the flip flops!👍👍

[@DailyPay-Worldwide]

Enjoying your videos so much!! Do you have any suggestions for those transitions you mentioned? I’m a mom of five and recently realizing spectrum qualities in myself… I STRUGGLE with transitions and haven’t found a good way to guide my own children through them either. I’d love to know what other moms do- when it’s time to leave, time to make dinner, all the ways we move through our days. Thank you!! :-)

[@lynnhettrick7588]

I had to pause your video to go order a few of these! Thank you. Aside: Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved the heavy vest at the dentist. Then when my kids were diagnosed with SPD 15 years ago, I bought them weighted blankets. My younger one still likes his but I use my older child’s weighted blanket now for myself.

[@iluvhammys]

those little metal links are the best!! i personally don't like the plastic or silicone fidgets which is most of them because i don't like the texture but the metal has a such a satisfying sound and feel when you flip it

[@TeraGreene1]

Omg 😂 the story was great , but you decked out in everything, including the gloves, was giving me life!!! 😅 I’m not diagnosed, and just stumbled upon you this past week, but all the stuff you mentioned/showed/had us hear, was so nice. I have the fleece gloves to wash for a few years now and they are a game changer! I have a heat pack I use all the time, and/or I have my lover/partner just lay on me 😂 it’s silly , but the weight and heat of the human crushing me is so nice and calming. I know that’s weird, but when I realized it was what I needed, it just made the difference. I want to invest in an actual weighted blanket, too , to give humans a break lol I am an award-winning DJ so often times I just have on my headphones with no music on, to pretend I’m with music, or just for comfort. I also use my kindergartener’s noise canceling headphones sometimes. Anyway, thanks for this video! And for breaking out your special toys in such a public display for us!! 😂❤❤

[@lwentz5510]

Wow. Skin picking. Over my 68 years, I've probably peeled off 100 pounds of skin from my fingers. I don't worry about what my fingers look like. I've tried to "not do" this, but at this point, I think it's part of my DNA. Fingernail clippers are ideal for removing skin slivers.

[@ralphisxamida8533]

In my work class is one person who hammers on the keyboard. Normaly I can overhear that but lastly I had a hard day and started to play with my pen and made loud clicky noises. That stressed a third person and a big discussion started. We could solve it but since then I wear headphones and I will get my silend fidged toy soon.

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

It took me years to learn about why using gloves for dishes works so much better for me, then when I did it was like a "duh" moment, lol! I also use gloves when I'm putting pre-treaters on my clothes before I wash them. I can't stand touching that stuff and having to rub the fabric together to get it into the fibers!

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Gloves change so much for me! It's so hard to do dishes at any other place without them

[@KiraAfter_Dark]

I got an infinity cube a couple weeks ago and its legitimately the greatest thing I've ever had. I love it. I need to get like 6 more though cause its already wearing out... And my mom just got me a weighted blanket for my birthday. I love it so much!

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Just looked up an infinity cube! So cool!

[@KiraAfter_Dark]

@@MomontheSpectrum I also just got a bunch of little bike chain key ring things. They have a similar motion to the infinity cube but are silent so I can bring them into the office when we go back :D

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Thanks for the tip!

[@kayjay-kreations]

5htp is awesome

[@kratombutterfly9959]

I found this so interesting, I'm sending it to my therapist and my mom too lol I'm 56 f and just started healing 8 yrs ago after becoming ill in 2000, drs didn’t believe me, so it was a long, painful journey, but now that I'm getting better I'm more mindful of what's going on with my body. I'm realizing how sensitive I am to everything, I watched this thinking, this is me. I saw all your toys and need them all. Brushed aluminum is something I can't stand touching (even typing it feels weird lol) I always wondered why I am so sensitive with touch, sound and taste. I don't know if I'm on the spectrum, but am excited to start learning more. I'm always looking for ways to make things easier for myself, thank you so much for telling your story.

[@barbarateresarhiannonsreal1756]

I worked as an Employment Specialist (Job Coach) for people with disabilities. Our company always had fidget toys, coloring books & crayons, snacks ect at our employee meetings. We could also walk around the room to burn off energy. A few employees used noise canceling headphones & our bosses were awesome. Didn't breathe down our necks. A great atmosphere to work in.

[@genevieveflores1159]

I thank God for you and your desire to teach. Thank you for having autism❤️❤️❤️❤️ I have been sooooo alone and lost until now.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Im so glad these resources have been helpful to you! You are definitely not alone.

[@heatherhoye1054]

I have to tell you, I just Love you. Fantastic video even better story at the end. Thank you for sharing all of your stories. You help all of us so very much. I hope 1 day I get a text from you.

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Thanks so much for your comment!

[@heatherhoye1054]

Thank you, Tay......you have a beautiful gift and so special to share to make someone seen, heard and loved. God bless your sweet sweet heart.....

[@LeeERose]

I adopted a fidget ring (metal band with free-spinning band on outside) while I still thought I was just a case of bad anxiety. Edit to add: (I also noticed some more when looking around) I use my big squishy noise cancelling headphones OVER a stocking cap. This makes it less direct and confining feeling and gives my head a nice snug feeling. Yoga is really great for helping block out things. It's hard to hear all the stuff outside when you're really listening and attuning to your body. Starting cost $0

[@bryanmerton5153]

Hi Tay, another great video! I am still playing catch up! I think I got the same started kit as you from Amazon. Be careful with the squeeze ball with the goo inside. I had three and they all exploded😱! One on my keyboard! I probably played with them too hard😂. My favorite toy in my fidget spinner. I have it with me where ever I go.The second is Rubik’s cube. I solve it maybe 20-30 times a day. I bring my cube to work and solve it on my sit times. Its a great conversation starter. Who knew? The pop thing is wonderful also. Its like endless bubble wrap! I think I mentioned in another video that I also love Aaron’s Thinking Putty! I have three tins. I am really interested in the heavy ball and will probably go in search for one. Also interested in a weighted blanket. I had a major shutdown the other day and think it would have helped. Oh I forgot to mention my old stand by, hand flapping! That has been with me since I was 2! Hope your are having a wonderful day and thanks so much for all you do!

[@MomontheSpectrum]

Hi Bryan! Great to hear from you! So impressed with your Rubik’s cube skills. That is something I cannot do!

[@MommaDuck7]

Mom's special toys she stores in the nightstand! Bah ha ha!! That's fantastic!

[@MomontheSpectrum]

🙃

[@Shaqster77]

Haha the miniature picture of the video! 😂❤

[@Christine83507]

I love my pop-it ball! It really helps me not pick my lips.

[@KarenPFolk-qq7dx]

Weighted blankets - always!