What is Spoon Theory?

In this week’s episode, Aniesa discusses Spoon Theory, first coined by Christine Miserandino, and how energy levels in neurodivergent people can be affected differently and what can be done to help manage them.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Christine Miserandino first coined Spoon Theory when describing her chronic illness to a friend, using physical spoons as a unit of energy.
• For each activity her friend listed, Christine removed a spoon. Once all the spoons were gone, she had no energy for other activities.
• Many people use other items or concepts in place of spoons. Aniesa uses battery percentages. 
• A few months ago, when Aniesa was suffering from anaemia, merely thinking about her day took up ‘battery energy’.
• When considering neurodivergent children, we must consider what extra factors take up their energy. 
• Dealing with loud noises, flashing lights, or lots of people, can all use excessive energy.
• Kids may seem calm in the morning, but by school’s end, they can be dysregulated due to the energy they’ve had to use throughout the day.
• We need to find ways to help ourselves and others around us add to the spoon supply.
• Creating safe sensory spaces for children (and adults) to escape to, planning fun activities requiring less energy, and deciding on language to convey struggle help manage energy levels.

BEST MOMENTS
“Personally, and that’s because of how my brain works, I can’t get to grips with the idea of spoons. For me, I use the analogy of a battery, and I’ll speak in percentages. So, each bar of a battery is how much energy I have left.”
“Think about setting up systems and structures where a person can let you know if they’re struggling.”

CONTACT METHOD
www.instagram.com/aniesabblore/          
www.instagram.com/sensationalkidstherapyuk/ 
www.facebook.com/sensationalkidslondon

ABOUT THE HOST
Aniesa completed her degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Stellenbosch, in South Africa. She has since been focusing on paediatrics and sensory processing and integration. She has worked across a range of paediatric fields and has extensive experience in autism, specific learning difficulties, as well as anxiety and emotional regulation. 
Aniesa has one teenage son with autism, and one with sensory difficulties. She herself was diagnosed at a late age as having ADHD and has found that understanding her neurodivergence has led to a greater connection with children and their parents. 

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