Everyone experiences the world in unique ways based on their individual
neurological systems, which have developed over time in an intricate and complex
interplay between our genetic endowment, our sensory systems, and our past
experiences of the world and the people in it. Convincing evidence has shown that
people with mental illness and trauma histories have differences in their sensory
processing patterns and also that they are more likely to be insecurely attached. In
recognition of this, occupational therapists have shown a rapid increase in interest in
the implementation of sensory approaches in mental health over the last 20 years. The
relevance of attachment theory and the interrelationship between sensory and
attachment systems have more recently been recognised in occupational therapy, with
the recognition that these two systems develop at the same time within the same
environmental conditions. In this chapter, an overview is provided of our sensory
system, our attachment system, the interplay between these two systems, and the
relevance of these systems in the fields of mental illness, trauma, and substance use.
Understanding the sensory and attachment systems and the interrelationships between
these can inform person-centred and trauma-informed occupational therapy for people
with mental illness, ultimately improving occupational performance for clients with
mental health conditions.
Keywords: Anxiety, Attachment theory, Co-regulation, Dysregulation, Individual, Intentional relationship, Mental health, Schizophrenia, Self-regulation, Sensory approaches, Sensory patterns, Stress, Substance use, Therapeutic relationship, Trauma.
