I don't have any severe sensory issues, but I have a few and two of them seem to be rather uncommon. I do hate certain sounds, I hated having my hair brushed as a kid because it hurt like hell and I hated getting water in my eyes when my mom washed my hair as a kid etc, but these things seem to be pretty common with autistic people.
Two things I've always had an issue with seem to be very uncommon... at least I haven't really found anything on the internet. Well, I've found like two things on one of them, but nothing on the other. Anywaaay, what the issues actually are:
- I have always hated when I get pruney fingers. It's weird, because at the same time I've always loved to swim and be underwater. It's just that I can't touch a lot of things when I get them, because I just hate the feeling. For example, I can't touch my own or other people's skin, ESPECIALLY not their hands if they also have pruney fingers. I basically can't use my hands properly for a period of time, until my fingers are back to normal. This also goes for when I wash my hands, even if my fingers don't really get pruney, I hate the dry feeling so I have to wait until my skin gets it's natural oils back again before I can use them properly.
- As long as I can remember I've hated the feeling people's breath on my skin. I don't really know how to explain it, but you probably get what I mean. When someone is close to you, you can sometimes feel their breath blowing on your skin. I remember as a kid when I was playing computer games with my best childhood friend and when I was the one to control the mouse I obviously had my arm exposed (if I wasn't wearing long sleeves though, but then my hand was still out). When she was sitting beside me, I kept feeling small puffs of wind on my skin and it made me cringe so much from discomfort. In those situations I tried to cover my skin as best as I could, so I would pull my sleeves over my hands (if I wore long sleeves), put a blanket on top or one time I think I even put a pillow on top.... She probably thought it was a bit strange. This sensitivity (and the sound one) has made me really wonder how I would be able to have a romantic/sexual relationship in the future. I don't think I can deal with cuddling and stuff.
Now, the thing is I've never ever heard or read about anyone having this problem (the breath on skin thing), so I feel very lonely. I have noticed that this could also be triggered by a small fan blowing air on a small part of my skin and I can't sleep with a fan on if it's diracted at me, but I don't get this feeling when it's just windy outside or anything.
Is there anyone out there who have either of these issues, especially the last one???? I can't be the only one, can I?