We experience movement and balance differently. For some people, these sensations are especially intense. A person may constantly bounce a leg or rock on a chair, enjoy spinning in an office chair, walk quickly, or seek the feeling of speed, acceleration, and bodily movement. The opposite also happens: an elevator, escalator, sudden turn in a car, or even a swing may bring not pleasure but a strong sense of disorientation, anxiety, nausea, or losing their footing. These experiences relate to the vestibular sensory system: how the brain processes movement, acceleration, and balance.
Vestibular hypersensitivity occurs when movement or a change in the body’s position in space overwhelms the nervous system very quickly. It is like a tiny cup that overflows after just one or two drops.
What this can look like
- Difficulty tolerating swings, merry-go-rounds, or amusement park rides.
- Motion sickness in a car, on public transport, or in an elevator.
- Anxiety or loss of stability during sudden movements.
- Fear of falling and difficulty trusting the body’s movement.
- Cautious movement and avoidance of sudden changes in position.
- Exhaustion, dizziness, or a sense of being “off balance” after a lot of movement.
Here, the nervous system looks for predictability: no sudden changes of position, solid ground, and a sense of support and control. Vestibular hypersensitivity can also emerge after substantial loss of vision or changes in motor functioning, as the nervous system reorganizes in response to other sensory systems working differently. It may also affect a person’s confidence. The experience can feel almost reflexive: if the body does not feel secure in space, the person may not feel secure in the world.
With vestibular hyposensitivity, the body seems to need more movement and seeks increasingly strong sensations of motion—less for the muscular effort than for the sensation of moving.
What you may notice
- A constant desire to move and change the body’s position in space.
- Enjoyment of speed, spinning, and rocking.
- Difficulty sitting still for long.
- The body seems to “wake up” through movement.
- Enjoyment of intense sensations, a fast pace, or vigorous physical activity.
- Changing position or rocking helps the person concentrate, pay attention, and feel alive.
Here the nervous system seeks stronger stimulation: speed, rocking, changes of position, sudden movement—”more, please!”
Vestibular sensory seeking often looks like what others call “restlessness,” “anxiety,” or “a love of adrenaline.” Yet it can be a way for the nervous system to get the input it needs, relax, and regulate through movement.
When the vestibular system is hypersensitive, it should not be overloaded with this kind of training in an attempt to “make it adapt.” That only increases stress. The unpleasant sensations can be addressed by working through other sensory systems where sensitivity is lower. Sensory systems are interconnected. When systems that are under-responsive receive the input they need, sensitivity and irritability in over-responsive systems can decrease.
This is a general principle of sensory integration. I will discuss it in the final article in this series, after describing the sensory systems and their individual characteristics.