Sensory Grounding Aid
Scensu is an accessible sensory self-help product to help ground persons during a dissociation episode. Its discreet, easy to conceal size, is designed for quick access use, thus minimising embarrassment to the user.
What is Dissociation
Dissociation is a defence mechanism of the brain, whereby people suffering emotional distress detach from reality by becoming both mentally and physically numb. During a dissociation episode, which can be brought on by emotional distress or a stress triggered event, means changes in the brains activity can result in the person becoming irrational, disorientated and unaware of their surroundings. Dissociation occurs usually as a result of childhood trauma i.e. neglect, mental or physical abuse, and can therefore begin at an early age. However, the impact of trauma and resulting dissociation sometimes only begins later in adult life. Dissociation is a survival technique to escape this trauma, whether it was emotional or physical.
Where Dissociation is a Problem…
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Little Access
Dissociation usually happens 0-2 minutes between a trigger episode and a dissociative episode. As a result, current grounding solutions are hard to access in time
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Embarrassment
Dissociation is often seen as a stigma. Sufferers are often so embarrassed of showing they have dissociation that they often do not want anyone else knowing. As a result it means they do not attend therapy or even admit that they dissociate.
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Little Awareness
In order to ground before a dissociative episode occurs, the person must be aware of the various psychological changes in their body. However unless they attend therapy, this can be hard to discover.
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No Access to Therapy
Dissociation is helped by therapy. However therapy can be expensive, often takes time, and requires the person to discuss their experiences and feelings. For these reasons, many users do not attend therapy.
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Its all Trial and Error
Persons who dissociate need to discover their personal method to ground themselves. Many different types of trial and error solutions exist but this means that it often takes time and money to discover what works for any one individual.
Concept Sketching
Therapist Collaboration and Evaluation against PDS
The Concept
Thorough Development
Scensu took on many different types of development to ensure it could best help someone with dissociation. Please click on the button to see the full range of development
The Final Solution
How it Works
Validated with Accredited Therapists
“This will work. You need something that squeezes”
— Therapist 1
“I think its brilliant – there is a market for this.”
— Therapist 3
“You can feel this better to a ball – you’ve got more to focus on… I think it’s a great idea and unique”
— Therapist 2
“It’s a really good idea, I like it”
— Therapist 4
Prototyping
User Journey with the Product
Scensu - the leading future product for Dissociation and Mental Health
As Scensu is the first product that helps with Dissociation, there is a huge potential for it to lead in the future. According to the NHS, more money is to be spent on providing more care centers for those with mental health problems. With this in consideration, Scensu can be used as a leading product to raise awareness on Dissociation and Mental Health
Engineering Drawings to send to Manufacturers
