Sensory Desensitization

Lower your brain’s threat alarm with sensory desensitization.

Central sensitization

Sensory Desensitization is used to reduce central sensitization. Central sensitization is an amplification of neural signaling within the central nervous system that makes the body hyper-responsive to pain and sensory stimuli.

When it malfunctions, it acts like a faulty smoke alarm, triggering at maximum volume in the absence of smoke or fire. Someone experiencing central sensitization will experience heightened discomfort, which can make innocuous sensations painful.

Sensory Desensitization

The purpose of sensory desensitization is to help people with allodynia, hyperesthesia, or heightened tactile sensitivity receive a massage without discomfort.

Allodynia is a pain response to touch and is experienced by people with chronic pain and individuals with high-impact conditions like CRPS.
Hyperesthesia is heightened sensitivity to touch, causing sensations to feel stronger or unpleasant.

A Massage Should Feel Good

Allodynia and hyperesthesia may be experienced as acute discomfort or as chronic pain. Sometimes people normalize it as “just how skin feels.” This often results in a painful massage, especially during a deep-tissue session.

A massage doesn’t have to hurt. You should feel spectacular every second of your session, and under my care, you will.

Application

Sensory Desensitization uses gentle, nurturing touch to help calm the nervous system so that it doesn’t overreact to safe stimuli.

Desensitization Process

While central sensitization is best known for causing widespread, full-body pain, as in fibromyalgia, it may also be localized to a single region, limb, or other area of the body.

When sensitization is localized, targeted relief is applied to a distant area before addressing the pinpointed pain.

Because the sensory desensitization process is attempting to teach your brain a SIM (safety in me) positive neurotag, it requires patience and attentiveness. You must be engaged with the experience because your direct focus helps promote sensory relearning and positive association.

Providing your direct focus encourages your brain to create a new map of the body. It enhances your mind-body connection, thereby improving the baseline information your insular cortex receives through interoception. As a result, it will help you develop a healthier perception of touch and train your brain to refrain from creating pain.

What Should It Feel Like?

The proper amount of pressure is the least amount of possible discomfort. This often feels like a sliver of pain.

The goal of this stage of desensitization is to encourage a “meh” sensation in the area. Meh is akin to sensory boredom. We want you to experience this because it indicates that the brain has identified the stimulus as harmless.

Once an area has transitioned from hyper-sensitive to meh, more pressure is applied. Once again, the maximum degree of discomfort should be no greater than a sliver of pain.

This process continues until the area can withstand a moderate level of pressure without discomfort.

Sensory Variety

Areas that are sensitive to light touch have a lower PAP threshold. PAP stands for pleasure-annoyance-pain, and represents the threshold of stimulation someone can experience before discomfort.

Annoyance and pain can be avoided by using purposeful variety. Variety stimulates the brain, keeping it engaged in the experience.

Creating variety in a sensory desensitization treatment is a delicate balance because the goal is to encourage the meh sensation. Once the meh sensation has been achieved, the area needs a break from stimulation.

Once you experience the meh sensation, communicate it, so we don’t accidentally agitate the area.