A few weeks back I was out on a sunny Sunday morning with a few friends. We were sitting and watching a sports game at a small restaurant when all of the sudden a truck load of people came in. They we’re also there to watch the game.
What began as a leasurely time with plenty of space and barely any loud noises, quickly became an overwhelming environment for the senses. Within minutes, there were rows of people to my left, right, front and back. Even turning in my seat presented as a challenge.
I noticed my body become more tense and my mind begin working on an exit strategy (I remember going over the phrase “four big steps to the entrance” in my head). Being with a group, I didn’t want to ruin the fun. Thankfully, I decided to use the restroom.
After plowing through the crowd. I suddenly found myself in a quiet, dimly lit, and spacious place. I realized how valuable this space was for me in the moment. The bathroom gave me a chance to breath, look at my watch and see how much longer we would likely be at the restaurant, and check in with how and why I was suddenly feeling so overwhelmed. I began to laugh at myself for the level of relief I was getting from a place people traditionally do not look at as pleasent* (*I was lucky in this case to find a decent bathroom).

After I returned to the table, I wrote this blog post on my phone – thinking about how important the restroom could be as a break tool for those with sensory integration challenges and social-anxiety related issues.

After telling this story to a group of parents in my monthly support group, one parent shared that she and her daughter often utilize the restroom and “count the tiles” on the wall to regulate.