The Compass | Our Tangent

Three Things You Can Do Right Now

Before we fix anything, let's just find the ground.

Breathe In...

Match the circle. Inhale as it grows. Hold. Exhale as it shrinks. You don't need to do anything else right now.

Check Your Battery

You can't pour from an empty cup. Acknowledge where your energy levels are right now without judgment.

Get the Battery Board

Lower the Bar

Drop the expectations. Cancel the non-essentials. The only goal today is survival, and everything else is a bonus.

Choose the path that sounds most like your current reality.

"Everything Feels Too Much"

Sensory overwhelm strategies and de-escalation

Dim the lights and lower the volume: Start by reducing the sensory input in the environment. Close the curtains or turn off harsh overhead lights.
Limit demands: This is not the time to ask questions or make decisions. Switch to low-demand mode.
Offer a sensory anchor: A weighted blanket, a favourite texture, or a tight hug (if welcomed) can help ground a dysregulated nervous system.

"My Brain Won't Start"

Breaking executive function freeze with gentle momentum

Find the micro-step: Don't try to "clean the room." Try to "pick up one blue thing." Make the first step ridiculously small.
Use body doubling: Sit in the same room as someone else who is doing a task. Shared focus can help jumpstart your own.
Change the sensory environment: Sometimes moving to a new room, putting on a different texture of clothing, or changing the background noise can reset a frozen brain.

"We're in Meltdown Mode"

In-the-moment support and co-regulation

Ensure safety first: Remove dangerous objects. Keep a safe distance if hitting or throwing is occurring.
Stop talking: During a meltdown, the language processing part of the brain is offline. Words just add to the overload.
Regulate yourself first: You are their external nervous system. Focus on deep, slow breaths. Your calm will eventually help them co-regulate.

"Nobody's Talking"

Communication breakdowns and non-verbal tools

Remove the pressure to speak: Speaking takes a massive amount of cognitive energy. Validate that it's okay not to talk right now.
Switch to alternative communication: Use text messages, written notes, or pointing to communicate basic needs.
Wait it out: Give processing time. Ask a question and wait 10-15 seconds before repeating or moving on.

"School Is the Problem"

Navigating systems, advocacy, and decompression

Prioritise after-school decompression: Provide a low-demand, low-sensory environment immediately after school to recover from the day's masking.
Focus on nervous system over compliance: A dysregulated child cannot learn. Advocate for accommodations that support regulation (e.g., ear defenders, movement breaks).
Document everything: Keep a record of communications, incidents, and successful strategies to build a case for formal support.

"Bedtime Is a Battlefield"

Sensory-friendly wind-down and sleep transitions

Create a visual transition runway: Use a visual schedule to make the steps to bedtime predictable and concrete, removing the element of surprise.
Incorporate heavy work: Activities that provide proprioceptive input (like carrying books or gentle squishing) can help calm the nervous system before bed.
Review sensory input: Ensure sleepwear is comfortable (no itchy tags), the room temperature is optimal, and background noise is controlled (e.g., white noise machine, rain sounds, gentle sleep music ).