🌿 ND BrainSpace: What We Learned About Anxiety (and How We Soothe)

20 Oct

Our first ND Brain Space session was awesome — a room full of curious, kind, brilliantly neurodivergent humans coming together to explore how our brains work, worry, and recover.

We focused on anxiety — what triggers it, what helps soothe it, and what we can learn from each other along the way. The honesty in the room was remarkable. Everyone contributed to a giant board of post-it reflections, and the patterns that emerged were both powerful and familiar.

💥 What Triggers Anxiety in ND Brains

When we looked at everyone’s experiences, a few clear themes came through.
Anxiety often shows up when there’s uncertainty, unpredictability, or a lack of safety — especially in social, sensory, or high-expectation settings.

🌀 Uncertainty & Change

Plans changing unexpectedly
New people, places, or situations
Not knowing what to expect or what’s expected of us
Time pressure, lateness, or running out of time

💬 Social Safety

Fear of saying the wrong thing
Feeling judged or criticised
Unclear communication (like late replies or confusing messages)
Being the centre of attention or being excluded altogether

🧠 Overload & Perfectionism

Too much information or not enough clarity
Worrying about getting things wrong
Overthinking, catastrophising, or masking anxiety
Feeling like we have to “just carry on”

🔊 Sensory & Environmental Triggers

Noise, chaos, travel, queues, crowds
Food safety, temperature, lighting, or lack of control over surroundings

It’s no wonder anxiety can spike when the world feels unpredictable, noisy, or socially complex.
Neurodivergent nervous systems crave clarity, safety, and choice — things that aren’t always easy to find.

🌷 What Helps Us Soothe

Our “soothers” board was like a treasure chest of coping tools — from the practical to the sensory, and from solitude to connection.

🧘‍♀️ Calming the Body

Music, baths, walks, running, fidgeting, deep breaths, naps, or just dimming the lights.

🏡 Safe Spaces & Solitude

Being alone in a familiar quiet space, reading, watching films, cuddling pets, or simply removing yourself from the chaos.

🧭 Finding Clarity

Lists, checklists, spreadsheets, step-by-step plans, visual organisation — and sometimes letting someone else make the decision!

💞 Connection & Understanding

Hugs, kind words, talking with friends, being around people who “get it”, and being taken seriously.

🎨 Expression & Creativity

Crafting, painting, writing, cooking, playing music, having a good cry or a scream into a pillow — all part of emotional release.

🧠 Self-Kindness & Acceptance

Mindfulness, therapy learnings, and gentle reminders like “I’m okay” or “life is a bit chaotic, and that’s alright.”

💡 What We Learned

Anxiety isn’t “irrational” — it’s often a reasonable response to overwhelm, confusion, or lack of control.
Soothing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some of us need people; others need peace.
There’s power in naming our triggers — not to avoid life, but to understand what our nervous system needs to feel safe again.
The best “coping tools” are often small, sensory, and rooted in self-understanding, not self-blame.

🌱 Moving Forward

Next up, we’ll be exploring:

✨ Wellbeing – What Really Works for ND Brains?

🗓 Wednesday 5th November | Stratford-upon-Avon
💬 A gentle space to share, learn, and connect

We’ll look at how ND brains experience rest, energy, and joy — and what actually supports wellbeing when the world feels like a lot.

If you were part of our first Brain Space, thank you for helping shape something truly special.
If you couldn’t make it, you’re warmly invited to join us next time — all ND minds welcome.

Because ND Brain Space isn’t just about managing anxiety — it’s about understanding ourselves, supporting each other, and building community where we can all thrive.

Hannah Chatterley