I have a lot of sensory issues

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Ever since I was really little I have had sensory issues.

I hate the sound of showers and the feeling of water just falling on me. I like to get my hands wet though. I used to almost get burnt a lot by holding my hands under water and not realizing how hot it was. My parents would pull my hands away in time. I really like going in water but I don't like putting my head underwater and I hate being splashed. My sister loves to splash me but it hurts my eyes and makes me upset.

I have issues with loud noise. I especially dislike it if it is unexpected. My reaction is sometimes to run. I don't like the sound of loud talking and lots of conversations happening all at once. I also dislike loud banging or drilling sounds. I also get really frightened if someone calls my name loudly from behind me and I cant see them. It makes me jump. I sometimes will run out of a room if I feel sensory overload from sounds. I also rock when I am overwhelmed. People don't understand that it is hard for me to filter out. I have head phones but I sometimes have sensory issues with putting things in or around my ears for some reason.

I am not a huge fan of touch. I don't like to be unexpectedly tapped on the back. I also don't like being bumped into. I know its an accident but it still causes me to feel a bit jumpy. I remember feeling really uncomfortable at a store because people kept touching me to get by. I wasn't even in the way. Sometimes relatives will surprise me with patting me on the back or touching my hair. I feel uncomfortable when that happens. I like hugs though.

I have difficulties with sitting still. I cant find a comfortable way to sit. I shake my legs most of the time or rock. I also fidget a lot and distract other people. I sign out of class sometimes just so I can walk around. I am allowed to do that. I also like to spin when I cannot sit still. That distracts people. I get distracted really easily too.

These are very common traits for Aspies. Have you learned techniques for controlling your sensory issues?

I'm fortunate not to have many sensory issues, except maybe for smells. Body odor, cigarette smoke and other yucky smells nauseate me.

I also have a lot of sensory issues.

For example, I have to have the shower temperature on what most people would consider too cold, because if it's too warm it feels like my whole body is encased in an overwhelming heat and it just freaks me out and makes me feel claustrophobic.

I have a lot of hypersensitivity to sounds, I have to plug my ears if a siren goes by or if a dog is barking. If there are multiple people talking at once I can't hear any of them because it all melds into a sound-blob. Even just the sound of cars on the road when I'm walking down the street is too loud for me and it puts me on edge.

I have to cut all the tags off of my clothes or it'll drive me crazy feeling them against my skin. I have to brush my bedsheets every night before getting in because I can feel every tiny bump or crumb.

There are loads more that I can't even remember right now, but the point is that sensory issues are (for the most part) part and parcel of being on the spectrum. They suck but with time you can learn ways of making it easier on yourself.

I'm what a lot of people call very high functioning but it's true that senses are a tricky thing. Lots of people talking causes trouble. That mention of a "sound blob" is about right.

Smells of raw meat such as cleaning game when hunting, dog smells, etc. are a problem.

Bass in modern recordings bugs me. V8 car engines, loud mufflers, tinny racket, electric blenders or hairdryers all cause problems.

Blue light--I wear filtering glasses constantly and my social skills actually improved a lot.

Smells of organic decay are a problem but a kerosene lamp or a recently oiled typewriter don't bother me. Gasoline is a different story though.

I'm hypersensitive to almost everything. I found this book:

too loud too bright too fast too tight
what to do if you are sensory defensive in an overstimulating world

https://www.amazon.ca/Loud-Bright-Fast- ... 299&sr=8-1

i used it to make an aspie paradise out of my apartment. best thing i ever did.