Ok I think we need an adult sensory thread - Page 5

[ShaggyDaddy]

Originally Posted by Individuation

I used to do aikido, and loved falling.

Ah yes being the Uke is lovely when Nage counters with a throw

[BellinghamCrunchie]

Originally Posted by Justthatgirl

Explain?

Its hard to explain. Something about a certain sound of click feels really good to me. There is an episode of Star Trek, The Next Generation in which Riker and a couple other crew members are being abducted by aliens and taken to a room where medical experiments are performed on them. The aliens in the room move around clicking instruments together or something. Anyway, I recorded the audio for that small segment and looped it together and would listen to it for hours. It makes tingles down my spine. There's some way that SOME people sometimes talk, particularly when they are reading slowly, that has the same effect, especially if there are a lot of "p" sounds in the words or the person has a kind of click with their tongue. When I was a child in school, during reading time, I would always fall asleep in my chair when a certain child would read because it was SO soothing and mesmerizing the way she clicked and pronounced her P's.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by jauncourt

(re people that click)

I don't know if this is what she meant, but my older sister softly "clicks" her tongue CONSTANTLY. As in all the time. It's about the only thing about her I can't stand, and it is completely unconscious. She had no idea she even did it until I played back a recording. I think it's a stim for her.

She genuinely cannot help it, so I deal with it by wearing earplugs or asking her to play music when we around each other.

maura

OH! Like my making my little t-t-t-t noises! Ok. Sorry.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by BellinghamCrunchie

There's some way that SOME people sometimes talk, particularly when they are reading slowly, that has the same effect, especially if there are a lot of "p" sounds in the words or the person has a kind of click with their tongue.

That is interesting.

I've been more aware of other ppl's sensory stuff lately. A friend of ours doesn't like eating out because it's too crowded and he isn't into seeing other ppl eat. (I guess similar to Individuation's aversion.) It's very interesting to realize the different likes and dislikes.

[jauncourt]

Originally Posted by Justthatgirl

OH! Like my making my little t-t-t-t noises! Ok. Sorry.

It's okay. I know it's a stim for her (even if she doesn't!) and I can deal with it. I also have that lovely aversion to repetitive motions in the periphery of my visual field (I feel like I'm being visually tickled, if that makes any sense?), and DH is a knee-jiggler and a rocker (and he DOES know it's stimming - he says it keeps him from freaking out when he has to sit still. He's ADHD, never medicated, as well as dyslexic, and figured out coping strategies on his own. Hmmm.). I deal with it by turning away or looking directly at it. He knows this and doesn't get offended.

I figure if it's between something I can't control and something (figurative you) can't control, we need to work out a middle gorund - like music in the background or allowing me to turn away.

Maura

[HarperRose]

MY dad jiggles his leg constantly. I can't take the constant motion so I move.

[acannon]

I'm also a picker, and I pull out eyebrow hair sometimes (apparently, that's a form of self-mutilation, or, at least, that's what my mom told me.) I can't wear turtleneck sweaters, or most other types of sweaters, either. I'm a very picky eater, which I am honestly trying to work on. I chew my nails a lot. There's quite a few more, but I'm actually trying to ignore the whole AS thing, because the more I focus on it, the more symptoms I seem to acquire, oddly enough.

[Irishmommy]

I found my family!!!!! So many of these are things I do/feel, some without even realizing it.

[wonderwahine]

welcome to our safe place

[Nature]

I get overloaded by noises easily. If the tv is on, someone is talking to me, and I can hear dd on the phone talking.. I start to feel panicky. Noise levels escalate quickly in my head and I can't even think at all. I kinda get a frantic look on my face, until dh realizes and turns something off or down so that I can return to normal.

Cotton balls. I cannot stand cotton balls. I can't touch them. They sound horrible to me and send me into tears, literally.

I don't like playing with playdough, or finger paints, or making meatloaf. Anything with those textures that are messy, that I have to put my hands into I can't stand. I used to love gardening, and I still do... but I can't let my hands touch the dirt because of how it feels on my hands. It coats my hands. I feel covered. Claustrophobic.

I can't stand touching coins. The smell of them, and the feel of them give me shivers up my spine.

I really really have a hard time tolerating my 4 yo dd who wants to wrap her arms around my neck to fall asleep at night. OMG DOES THIS DRIVE ME BATTY! I really have to go into my happy place just to put up with it. The touching me is just too much.

I can't eat pears or mushrooms, though I love the taste of both. The textures I CANNOT stand. Not even a little bit.

I can't wear shirts that have any amount of spandex in them, or shirts that feel smooth to the touch like button down shirts. Stretchy shirts feel horrible to me. And cotton dress shirts make my skin crawl. I can't stand things that are close to my neck, my wrists, or my under arms.

I can't wear watches or bracelets because they rub against my wrist bone and I hate that. I don't like to wear necklaces because they rub my collar bone. I don't like rings because they make me feel trapped. I do however wear my wedding band, but it took a LONG time getting used to.

I hate underwear and I avoid them when I can. Too restrictive.

Leggings are a big NO. They are too tight against my ankles.

Lumpy socks. UGH Socks in general.

Can't wear hats because they block my view and that bothers me. Same with sunglasses.

I chew cuticles, and pick out stray hairs here and there, and eyebrow hair. I am an ex cutter, so these lesser forms are much better for me to engage in.

I rock when I'm sitting. I rock A LOT when I'm upset. As a child I rocked myself to sleep in my bed every night until I was about 12. I used to do it on my knees with my head against the bed. I also jiggle my legs, or wiggle my feet. I alternate patterns or count with the rhythm. I do this with my fingers too.

When I'm thinking, or nervous, or spacing off.. I flick my fingers against each other.

When I'm frustrated, or starting to get upset.. I rub my knuckles against my forehead repeatedly and blink tightly.

The only way I can drive is if I tune out. I pay attention, but part of me dissociates just enough so that I'm not overwhelmed with traffic and people and lights.

Sudden loud noises scare me. Even regular city noises like a truck driving by will startle me, and cause me to walk a bit faster, breathe a bit heavier, and feel scared inside.

People touching me while I'm walking up the stairs. This bothers me a lot. Dh never does it.

Being chased, even playfully. I hate it. It causes panicky feelings. The same feeling I get when I'm tickled. Loss of control.

I hate snuggling while sleeping. And I cosleep too.

I can't stand to snuggle. Not even after sex with dh. Nope. When I'm done I want to get up, get dressed, and go to sleep. LOL

I hate it when someone says, "Let me read you something." ARRRGHHHH! I can't stand people reading to me. It sounds like "blah blah blah blah" no matter how hard I try to listen, I can't process it. I have to read it myself.

I can't keep long fingernails it drives me nuts.

I can't stand the hum of things being on. The monitor, the computer, the fan, the tv. I can hear them!

I don't like water. Swimming is fine. Its bathing I hate. I seriously hate showers.

I hate sleeping bags, or anything made out of sleeping bag material!

I hate balloons.

I don't have perfect vision, but I can't wear my glasses at all because I could never get used to them.

Swallowing bothers me. Sometimes I swallow too much or too many times in a row until my brain "forgets" how to swallow.

I hate wearing my hair down. It falls over my ears and I feel trapped. Same deal with bras. I wear them when I'm out, but I feel so claustrophobic in them.

I don't like making eye contact with people. I talk to myself in order to force myself to do it, but I really really hate it. I try to get around it by looking at their mouth, or their cheek.. or anything but their eyes.

People and public make me nervous in general. I'm uncomfortable outside of my home. I feel.. raw. Exposed. Inadequate.

You know... there are probably so many more that i can't even think of right now. Wow. Its no wonder that Ivy has issues with a lot of these things!

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by Irishmommy

I found my family!!!!! So many of these are things I do/feel, some without even realizing it.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by Nature

I rock when I'm sitting. I rock A LOT when I'm upset. As a child I rocked myself to sleep in my bed every night until I was about 12.

I do this, too, but dh got really weirded out by it a few years ago and I haven't done it as much since. I used to rock myself to sleep. Now I have a rocking chair and I sit in the rocking chair at a friend's home. And having a new baby is a PERFECT way to hide my need to rock. Nobody thinks I'm strange when I rock him.

I hate it when someone says, "Let me read you something." ARRRGHHHH! I can't stand people reading to me. It sounds like "blah blah blah blah" no matter how hard I try to listen, I can't process it. I have to read it myself.

Oh my goodness, I thought it was just me! DH gets irritated but I just can not grasp it.

I can't stand the hum of things being on. The monitor, the computer, the fan, the tv. I can hear them!

The hum of the tv, the fridge, the computer, the cd player...

I don't like making eye contact with people. I talk to myself in order to force myself to do it, but I really really hate it. I try to get around it by looking at their mouth, or their cheek.. or anything but their eyes.

I do, too. Eye contact freaks me out. DH tries to look into my eyes but I want to cry. It stresses me out.

I sort of relate to your discomfort outside your home, too. Sometimes I'll get somewhere and suddenly feel very open and exposed. I actually made dh drive me home from church one day as soon as we drove into the parking lot.

[FancyD]

I CANNOT stand people reading to me. I blank right out. Glad to know that I'm not alone.

[loitering]

My goodness, everyone. I knew I had some sensory issues because of my food issues but I also can relate to SO MANY OF THESE!!!

Until I was a teenager, I always walked on my tip-toes. I'm not sure why. I have to sleep with the blanket tucked around my feet, my feet can't be hanging off any edge. I don't like any bottled water except Dasani. I can't eat anything creamy or grainy. My mom used to stroke my head when I was laying in her lap, and she'd stroke over my ears. It felt horrible. I bite my nails constantly. I can hear a lot of things running. I can walk into my dad's house and hear if the tv is on but on a black screen.

The main issue is definitely my food issues, I've struggled with it my whole life. My parents served a LOT of junk food when I was a child, so those were the only foods I ever really discovered. Now I'm constantly afraid to try anything new because I know that most things make me gag immediately.

I'm going to read more now.


Edited to add more:
When I get home, if I take off any jewellry, my bra, my socks, and any tight clothes and put on pajamas I feel SO INCREDIBLE. Oooh like taking down your hair after it's been up and pulled tight for a long time. I honestly wear pajama/yoga pants 22 hrs/day. I'll put on jeans for trips to the store or dropping off/picking up at daycare.
I loved the feeling when I was a child of being washed by warm water and soap, sitting on the counter of our tent trailer. I've never felt so clean in my life.
Also, I just looked up "Supertaster" and I totally get it now! I am one!!! This is, I think, why people don't understand my addiction to chocolate. It's like my tastebuds exploding with the texture and deliciousness. And on the list of things Supertasters taste more strongly: alcoholic beverages. I got some Baileys for Xmas and tried to drink it with ice cubes. I could barely stand a few sips, I just thought it was WAY too strong. I tried it tonight in coffee and still didn't like it.

[wonderwahine]

Originally Posted by FancyD

I CANNOT stand people reading to me. I blank right out. Glad to know that I'm not alone.

ds hates being read to, we arnt allowed to read him books, only show him the pictures

[HarperRose]

I also can't stand reading out loud. My poor kids never get read to unless dh reads.

[spring978]

"I get overloaded by noises easily. If the tv is on, someone is talking to me, and I can hear dd on the phone talking.. I start to feel panicky. Noise levels escalate quickly in my head and I can't even think at all. I kinda get a frantic look on my face, until dh realizes and turns something off or down so that I can return to normal"

This is me to a T. Noise often sends me into a panic.

Thank you ladies for sharing for the first time in 36 years I feel like I am not alone with these issues ((hugs)) to you all.

[Kitsune6]

I'm another one that can't take too much stimulation at once. If I'm on the phone it drives me insane if someone else tries to talk to me at the same time. I also hate the reading out loud. I'm a very visual learner and I just can't concentrate when someone is talking for very long. I just disappear. I'm wanting to start school again in the spring (to eventually be a nurse) and I'm worried about having to listen to someone lecturing. Ugh.

I'm so glad I started this thread!!

[homemademomma]

wait. . . .
i dont have sensory issues.
except i do/think/experience the majority of the stuff you all are posting.

crazy. i guess i do have sensory issues. the only one that is a huge inconvenience for me is that i cannot have anything tight on my wrist, or touching my wrist, and i cannot look at my wrist veins. it is a PITA but i really really really cannot handle it.

most everything else is just "quirky" lol

[Nature]

Originally Posted by Kitsune6

I'm another one that can't take too much stimulation at once. If I'm on the phone it drives me insane if someone else tries to talk to me at the same time. I also hate the reading out loud. I'm a very visual learner and I just can't concentrate when someone is talking for very long. I just disappear. I'm wanting to start school again in the spring (to eventually be a nurse) and I'm worried about having to listen to someone lecturing. Ugh.

I'm so glad I started this thread!!

Ugh, college lectures were the worst! I had to record it, and even then when I'd listen later I'd STILL space off! Something about hearing someone elses voice, and needing to FOCUS on the words I just can't do if I'm not reading it myself..