Transition, stuckness, a strategy. Lolly pop sticks.

Originally published on 16th August 2024 on NeuroDiversity University Blog FaceBook page,

This is one of my Self Care strategies. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Sometimes I remember, sometimes I don't.

Sometimes is better than never.

I struggle with Task Paralysis, Task Initiation and Transition. I freeze.

In between clients, at the end of my day, random any times but normally moving (thoughts, places, tasks) between things.

Basically any Transition.

I have a menu of different things that help my nervous system to help me Transition.

This is Nervous system stuff. Trauma Geek - Trauma and Neurodiversity Education is fab at teaching this stuff. Go have a look if this interests you.

Vagus nerve Stimulation is the ability to regulate.

I attempt to regulate my nervous system to either give me energy (upper) when I'm frozen/stuck/disconnected or it brings me down (downer) when I'm frenzied/frightened/hyper.

There's no rule as to what brings everyone up and down. What brings someone down may bring another up.

If I'm up I don't want something that moves me more up. If I'm down I don't want to do something that keeps me down.

Speed keeps me calm so it's obvious some people react differently, uniquely.

So finding what uniquely works for you is key.

I wrote ideas of mine on lolly sticks and if stuck, I can grab one randomly instead of having to remember or choose one.

Decision paralysis is a thing so this strategy helps me when I'm dysregulated, paralysed or struggling to transition.

Not always. But just sometimes.

I am a sometimes person and that's ok.

Practicing these things randomly helps me more when I actually need them. Practice just when you can. No shaming anyone here because I'm not a consistent person so habits are particularly hard for me to follow unless they are a dedicated interest/naturally stimulating.

Just thought I'd share in case it helps someone.

Ps lolly sticks in my mouth are icky, but just touching one is ok (as long as I know its not going into my mouth).

Lolly sticks of varying colours, each with a small task/thing written in black ink. These are laying flat on a wooden table just to show you. They are normally kept in a pot on my desk.