Sensory seeker vs. sensory avoider

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I am a sensory avoider and my 5 year old son is a sensory seeker. Honestly, he drives me crazy. I love him to death and I know he can't help it. Is there anything I can do to cope better?

Also, he's a jumper...should I buy one of those little trampolines? Is that a bad idea, since he's extremely accident prone and fearless?

Whoa... ditto! (I have two - a 3 year old who has literally knocked me over sensory seeking and a 5 year old whose favorite stims are loud vocalizations and mouth sounds - the worst for me). Having 2 sons with ASD wouldn't be nearly as tough if I didn't have my own sensory sensitivities! It's really hard, so I definitely get what you're saying. I've always been an avoider, so I try really, really hard to figure out what they want/need.

I'd love to hear some ideas too, I try so hard to handle it well but I admit to melting down a lot after they go to bed.

I've learned a lot of techniques for them to get their needs met in appropriate ways. We do lots and lots of squishes, jumping, heavy work out in the yard, running, "rock music dancing", rolling etc. I have a mental list of about 10 things I can try with them if I notice them running head first into furniture and that kind of thing. I tried the mini trampoline but it was just way too dangerous at their age. I gave in and compromised by letting them take the couch cushions off and jump at will - at least they have something blocking 3 sides.

For my vocal one... we still work on this every day. My husband taught him to "cluck" his tongue this week and I am pulling my hair out! We talk about "inside voice" and being able to make the sounds, just more quietly. It's a work in progress.

L2K

OMG the clucking and high pitch squeaking are the worst. Snapping and clapping are excruciating. I have been trying with him since he was around two, to control these things. It seems hopeless. As a child, I was an avoider and an only child. My sensory issues didn't start getting worse until I had my children. My doctor once prescribed me Xanax and that just made me fall asleep. By the time I was able to take it (when they were asleep) it was pointless because they were quiet and I could then calm myself down. There has to be an answer to our problem out there somewhere.

I both seek and avoid (seek and destroy?), though I primarily fit into the former category.

I have started to use ear plugs because sometimes my son won't shut up and sometimes I get all overwhelmed so I wear them.

Try ear plugs.

I am both though. I was a lot worse as a kid.

Only child here too, so I could pretty much control most of my environment. In fact, I didn't even get a diagnosis for me until after my son did. All the checklists and paperwork I was filling out for him, I said, "uhhhh, this is me too".

One thing that helps is having a partner who understands that when I say "I am reaching my limit" it's time to step in so I can go have some quiet time. In fact, this just happened today. We took the kids to a carnival and that pretty much pushed me to the edge of what I could handle. I needed a good hour of laying down in my "man cave" (LOL, even though I'm not a man) with earplugs in and something over my head.