SENSORY PROBLEMS- Do share yours

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i think a lot of it was worse when i was younger, and so much of it has changed over time.

i used to be really sensitive to certain smells--chemical cleaning agents, bathroom smells, the slightest mildew smell--like a washrag--dye smells (fabric and clothing stores.) all those things tended to make me retch, cry or (in the case of dye smells) make my eyes tear up. for some reason, i didn't like certain people's smells.

still don't like chemical smells. hate perfume.

tactile: not so much noticed now, but anything slightly prickly--especially leg stubble--used to bring on a crying meltdown.

currently: voices over cell phones tend to hurt my ears. certain electronic noises are difficult. also have a hard time with concentration when any kind of background noise is present. (ex: if more than one person is talking, it sounds like nonsense.)

feel drained easily when there are a lot of things going on in general. can only spend a certain amount of time in town before i get irritable, tired.

I hate it when people talk loudly when I'm on the phone to them. I have to hold the receiver slightly away from my ear because it's like copping a sharp stick in my eardrum.

Today I was walking to the bus, as usual, with my headphones on and my music turned up loud. It helps me ignore everything around me so I can just get to the bus and not notice people looking at me or anything else I don't like. Apparently there was a lady that takes the same bus, who lives near me. She had been trying to get my attention to tell me about a short cut (which I don't like.. walking through damp grass gets my pants wet and I can't stand it), but I didn't see her until I actually got to the bus stop. She got there later than I did, so the short cut wasn't really that short!

When she finally got my attention she held my hand. I have no idea why. She held my right hand and was talking to me from maybe 6 inches away. It was awful. My hand still feels gross.

Also - I have the same hearing problem, if there is background noise I have problems concentrating. I can't talk on the phone if I'm in a crowded place, on the bus, or if the TV is on.

Oooh! Another thing I just thought of is my sensitivity to heat. I don't do well at all when it gets really hot during the summer. Thankfully, we have a pretty mild climate where I live, but it definitely limits where I could live. I doubt I could ever live in south California, Texas, Florida or anyplace in between. Once it gets over 80 degrees, I'm done.

is it common to be drawn to very bright, clear colors? is that a sensory integration issue? or just a personal thing?

This appears to be a huge issue for ASD. My family doesn't understand the extent to which I feel overstimulated by sensory issues. I'm particularly sensitive to sound. Many people can listen to the radio all day, but I can only listen to the shows that interest me (same for TV). I blog about this issue (if you look up "nldthoughtsandfeelings" it'll show up).

Being able to even just barely hear television or radio from adjacent apartment, even one above or below, really gets me really tense - it's like hearing something approaching behind you and it keeps getting closer; and keeps getting closer; and keeps getting closer; and keeps getting closer; and keeps getting closer; and keeps getting closer; and NEVER gets there.
Really disturbing

And sometimes I can feel the apartment building vibrating, probably from all the furnaces/air conditioners, can't relax, keeps me tense.
Used to live in larger brick and steel building, now live in rather smaller wooden one and that helps: but this one still does vibrate at times.
Same with shopping malls, especially upper floor if it has one.

Can't deal with the feel of raw meat, have to handle it with plastic gloves while cooking.

Colognes, perfumes, air fresheners, can cause sinus swelling to the point where wind up sneezing blood (eewwww, icky)

Sometimes have to wear sunglasses to use this thing.

Television - too much noise and commotion.
It's like somebody getting in my face and pushing me back.
Can even feel disturbing "vibes" from that box even when it is off.
Don't have one. Don't want one.

Driving in the city (we live in rural area) or on interstate highway, it's only moments before my hands and feet are soaked with sweat. Often have to take down inside mirror in the car because seeing cars coming up behind at stoplights gives anxiety attacks.

Sadly for my wife because of sensory overlaod and stress problems, can't even live with her right now, had to get my own place in November.

There are times when being touched by another person is almost painful to me. Hate when that happens to me - so hard on her.

Sight
Only when the sun's bright, I don't wear sunglasses though because when I take them off it seems even brighter than before I put them on so I just look down, works well enough for me. With things like fluorescent lights or strobes, I'm not bothered infact I really like strobe lights.
Sound I don't mind loud noises at all like music or parties, it's fun. BUT BUT BUT, if I want to concentrate on a conversation or watching telly it's really hard when there's noise and comotion in the background, and it's got to be quiet if I want to hear something on telly, I don't put the subs on though because they're distracting, either way I can't win *plays violin sadly*. I for some reason hate it when people sing arund the house, it makes me go angry, don't know why though
Taste
I'm mostly average when it comes to taste, but there are some things which I hate and are really digusting. For example icing, or anything sickly, bleh. And I don't like black pepper unless it's on seafood.
Smell I do have quite a strong sense of smell. I don't like alot of body sprays (unless it's mens, it smells way nicer). Oh and air fresheners I don't like, they make things all stuffy.
Touch
This one is really annoying, the other senses, whatever, trivial, don't mind at all. This is probably the one that's given me the most aggro. I can be picky with clothes, nothing tight, too stiff, digging in my neck or arms. There have been clothes where I can feel all the stitching on the neck and everything. Itchy stuff I'm not too keen on like wool. Being sticky is horrid, I hate having sticky hands with a passion, especially hair gels and stuff like that and it's very annoying when there's no way to wash it off Getting wet when I've got clothes on is another one (everyone hates that though don't they). I don't like sitting really close to people so I'm like leaning on them and our legs accidently brush loads of times. People being touchy feely with me, I don't mind hugs if I'm warned but I rarely initiate them myself. Some food textures are minging, I'm OK with taste but texture, nah. Last night I ate a roll mop out of a jar, the marinade had made the fish go all mushy and soft and even though it tasted OK, the texture was just really really weird.
I hate hate hate it when it's really hot or stuffy, I almost don't know what to do with my self some hot days. Being sweaty I don't like either.

I hate showers. I must keep them as clean as I can but they're hard to get truly clean so I wear uncomfortable flip flops in. Ew.

The sensory experience is awful. The water is uncomfortably hot or cold, never balanced, and I also get cold standing there. I have trouble getting rid of the soap so my skin and scalp itches, and it wastes water because I have to rinse and rinse and rinse. I also hate having to hold the handheld shower spray and open the shampoo bottle with the other hand.

The new flat I'm in has only a shower and a dodgy clip for holding up the handheld sprayer so I must hold it. By the time I'm washed I'm not relaxed, but so angry I want to smash the tiles with a hammer from sheer frustration and overload.

I hate showers! They're a sensory torment.

I hate showers too.

It's a real pet hate of mine because of all the rapidly changing temperatures and itching skin from not being able to rinse soap off well. I'm glad someone else knows what I mean.