Sensory disorders?!?

Post Reply New Topic

I was diagnosed as an adult and have always had sensory disorders. I start tomorrow with a specialist but my psychologist told me it may be helpful to seek help in other ways as well. Does anyone have any tips that help with their sensory disorders?
I have sensitivity to certain noises, being touched lightly, being hugged or touched from behind, being hugged or touched without me initiating, certain foods and my food can not touch. I also hate the cold. These things hurt me and make me very irritated and i either shut down or lash out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated:)

There are so many things I grew up not ever knowing that they were part of my sensory overloads. It's difficult assessing them because there are so many of them, and we don't have a strong reference point of what an NT experiences from what we experience, that we don't often know that stimuli that overloads us, does not overload NTs. I always wondered why balloons about to be popped and firecrackers were intensely disturbing to just me, and how could anyone else not be so bothered by them? It takes a lot of work to tease apart what is your normal versus everyone else's.

I've had to write them out on paper and present them altogether to a psychologist before. Even then, they've downplayed/minimalized my experience of the sensation and truly how bothersome it is for me. Motorcycle engines, cars honking, emergency vehicles, doors slamming in my apartment, unnatural sounds in general. It's not an easy exercise and I wish you the best of luck being able to communicate the sensory stimuli that cause you to shut down or lash out.

Honestly, I've not found any good solutions. If I'm very relaxed, I'm less bothered by them, but the problem is still there. It's been that way my whole life.

Your doctor will likely use exposure therapy. The idea is that the more you are exposed to the things that cause you distress, the less you will be bothered by them. It's total bollocks I suggest marijuana, seroquel, gabapentin or a combination thereof.

I have the same sensory issues, minus issues with food. I used to be a very very picky eater because of the textures of foods that I couldn't stand, but I gradually outgrew that. Never really found an answer or a solution to the rest of them. I try to catch myself before I lash out if someone touches me without me initiating it.

I have similar issues, I was diagnosed as an adult and sensory processing problems are probably the biggest cause of problems like anxiety and getting overwhelmed.

For me noise is a big one, like barking dogs. Also bright lights, uncomfortable clothes, certain textures and being too close or touched by other people. I don't have the same issues with food as you describe although I am a picky eater. I completely understand feeling like you can be hurt by these sensations, it is like physical pain for me sometimes and really distressing.

The most helpful thing I've found is have practical tools to help deal with the problems. For example, noise cancelling headphones, earplugs, a white noise machine, tinted glasses and only wearing soft comfortable clothes. I try to carry a sort of sensory first aid kit with me that has something to fidget with, an aromatherapy roll on, dark glasses and an emergency pair of earplugs. I probably get odd looks sometimes but its better that being totally frazzled! I'm trying to let myself use things that make me feel better (like ordering something off menu in a restaurant) without worrying so much what people think, but easier said than done in a lot of circumstances.

I also hate when people try to touch me unexpectedly or stand too close in public. One tactic I've tried in public places is trying to create more personal space by placing my bag on the floor or the seat next to me or swinging it a bit around my legs if I'm in a queue so people can't get too close.

Also, I am trying to identify what it is that is causing me stress so I can be more accepting of it. For example, if I am somewhere really loud I try accept that it is going to make me feel upset and tired but at least I know what is causing the problem. Then I expect to feel like that, and allow myself to acknowledge my distresss rather than just getting mad and not being sure exactly why or being hard on myself because no one else seems to be bothered. It is also easier to remove myself from a situation if I can identify and explain what sensory things in the environment are causing the problems too.

I'm beginning to try to explain to other people when I need to leave a room or why I don't want them to touch me but it is really hard to express just how painful it can feel to someone who doesn't understand. I try to make sure I get enough down time during the day where I can relax somewhere comfortable, quiet and dark so that I can cope better when I do have to deal with the unpleasant stuff.

I hope you can find some practical solutions. I agree with androbot01 that exposure therapy is a terrible idea for us. I'm thinking of looking into medications that might help with some of my sensory sensitivity but no real luck so far.

I have hypersensitivity. I've learned to manage it a lot, but that consists of recognizing triggers, avoiding them when possible, and mitigating the damage from overload. I haven't actually been able to reduce sensitivity. Still, here's everything I've figured out.

I also became much less picky as I got older. I was a very picky eater for a long time. I continue to become less particular about food as I age, even though I've been an adult for quite some time.

I'm still much more picky than most adults I know.

The other sensitivities did not get any better with age. In fact, it's possible that some became worse, like my sensitivity to smell. I don't remember being so sensitive to smells as a child.

Has anyone gone through any therapies that did work?

I can't imagine exposure therapy working either. My understanding is that exposure therapy is for phobias, and the repeated exposures show you that you are not going to drop dead if you are exposed to the thing you're afraid of (heights, cats, etc.). Phobic people avoid their triggers by staying off step ladders or avoiding kitties, but I am unable to--my whole world is full of triggers. If I want to leave the house, I will have to endure things that cause me pain. My sensory issues are not simply an irrational emotional reaction--certain things really do cause pain, make me dizzy or disoriented, or make me want to throw up.

Marijuana doesn't work for me though--every time I've tried it, I had a meltdown.

Yes, exposure therapy was used for certain fears I had. Sensory sensitivities do not have the same cause. I don't get used to sensations like others do. They will continue to bother me all day long. I develop very little tolerance over time.

Apparently Sensory Integration Therapy is helpful. There's been anecdotes about it for a long time, but recently there have finally been some decent studies. (Allegedly it even changes the way your nervous system processes information, so it even keeps helping after you stop doing it.) However, I can't find much information on what this therapy entails, and of course what little info exists is all about children. It's something done by an occupational therapist.

I wonder if it's the same thing as a sensory diet.

I feel like my ADHD meds help (amphetamine salts, 10 mg daily, extended release).

I went to Occupational Therapy. Some of it did seem like exposure therapy. But, there is also listening therapy, which uses specific sound frequencies and patterns played behind music to retrain the brain. There is also brushing protocol, which uses skin brushing and joint pressure to calm and focus hypersensitivity to touch. They also help with creating a sensory diet at home.

Forgive me if I say something off as I'm completely new to this. I've never been diagnosed but I'm more and more convinced that I fall somewhere on the spectrum. I've always been extremely over sensitive to the cold. To the point that it actually physically hurts when cold air hits my skin. By cold, probably temperatures under 75 degrees. Even right now, sitting in my cubicle at work, wearing a t-shirt and sweater I'm freezing and my fingertips actually hurt. Some days it's not as bad as others.

I also prefer not to be touched but I feel more comfortable being the one who initiates the touching. What's funny is, I have kids and have no reservations with them touching me. They are the only ones though. I've always wondered if that means that it's not autism related, and maybe it's related to other past trauma.

This is something that other people with Aspurgers and/or autism also live with?

I have a very sensitive sense of smell. Anything that I would consider to smell bad really bothers me to the point where I have to leave. And it usually doesn't bother other people as much.

I'm dealing with a major loud noise vibration thing right now. Car engines accelerating or loud deep rumbling engines in idle, like big trucks. Dog barking sucks, bird chirping. They really rattle my nerves something horrid. And the touching thing. If someone suddenly touches me unexpectedly it produces a jump scare reaction and ruins my whole day, I'm literally foggy headed and disoriented/annoyed all...day...long. Eating helps, deep breathing, and other things I have learned to do in response to these occurrences, which I now know is my stimming behavior. Yay learning stuff.

As far as advice I don't really know, I wear noise cancelling head phones all the time and try my best to avoid dogs
and I found having sunglasses on just makes me feel more secure...I think it's the eye contact thing.

I have fairly significant tactile sensitivity along with moderate auditory and sensitivity to strobe. To reduce my tactile triggers I wear oversized clothing and don't wear shoes (the confinement feeling when I wear shoes is felt throughout my whole body and manifests as significant anxiety trigger). Also, I try not to get rained on and have to work myself up to take a shower... I especially don't like someone putting their hands near my ears or to touch my face a lot of the time and when someone tries to physically move me in any sort of way it typically results in aggressive response. Today, on this site, I have been exposed to "PDA" - pathological demand avoidance, and with the little that I was able to find quickly on it, it seems to be something worth having my treatment team consider. Trouble? I am 31 with substantial abuse history caused by "authority", so coupled with some ptsd issues, perhaps my ASD with PDA tendencies is significantly compounded by my past experiences.

nonetheless, I have been known to get caught in the rain and have a meltdown in the middle of the sidewalk, a full grown man, standing out like a sore thumb, target for every bully in town and then poof, rain starts falling and I have a meltdown, or I step on something and meltdown, or there was a noise, or I can't fend of the reaction to it anymore or something...

It's a sheer miracle I haven't been killed by cops or other thugs yet, honestly.