I tend to be a bit sensory defensive (as well as sensory seeking). And lately, I've noticed that my sensory issues have been extra crazy lately. I have theories on why; I've wondered if it's due to hormone changes from ending breastfeeding or slowly introducing gluten/dairy back into my diet to prepare for our trip.
Regardless, I've felt like my sensory system is completely whacked out as of late. I've always hated touching cotton balls and last night, after some dental work, I was whining to B about the fact that I had to bite!cotton!ew!! and it turned into a discussion about my sensory issues.
I told him that I recently have developed a hate of construction paper. I don't like even touching it but folding it or cutting it...ugh...just the thought of it gives me the heebie jeebies. B just couldn't understand it. He claims he has no sensory issues. When I asked him if there was really nothing that is like nails on a chalkboard to him, he replied, "Oh, yeah, I don't like nails on a chalkboard."
Sigh. Men. So I turned to my trusty Twitter and asked for empathy. And goodness, did I get it. Girls told me of their hate for chalk, brown paper towels, glass, cotton balls. In addition to the construction paper, I have all those too. Oh, and anything gritty... water chestnuts, watermelon, pears...blech. I'm also don't like many ball-point pens. *shudder*
The only things I didn't relate to was the sound of someone brushing their teeth, styrofoam, and elevator buttons.
However, this discussion was fascinating to me, although I got so shivery that I couldn't even keep track of who I replied to on Twitter. Just thinking about those things not only made my skin crawl, but clearly affected my mental capacity. Like I said, sensory issues. Big ones.
So tell me: what makes your skin crawl? I really want to know.
Namaste.
20 comments:
Gritting of the teeth, biting on cotton, the texture of bananas and beef (in any form).
I had a friend in high school who hated the metal on metal sound so much he couldn't listen to his mom unload the dishwasher.
Fascinating.
Cardboard... I hate it. I can't touch it and I especially don't like to fold in the corners of cardboard boxes...
ewwww I have to go hide under my bed now....
Bare feet on carpet. UGH UGH UGH. Especially if they are swooshing their feet back and forth on the carpet. *skin crawl* Generally I dislike having bare feet and always have socks on. I will consent in the summer to wearing sandals, but they have to be THE RIGHT SANDAL. Also? I hate when my hands are the least bit dry, so I am a moisturizer-aholic.
Chewing loudly...goodness I hate that
The feeling of chalk. I don't know why, and I haven't always been this way. I can deal with it, if I have to, but I don't enjoy it at all. And sometimes glass, if it's really gritty.
My mom has the styrofoam one. Not the touch, but the sound. lol. I have to set out her Christmas village every year, because she can't bear to hear the styrofoam squeak when you take it out of the box.
Seeing my parent's yard after it was aerated. I don't know what it was, but all those little holes with the cylinders popped out gave me the heeby jeebies!
I can't take the feeling or sound of filing nails etc. and it give me the chills when people bite and chew their ice cream, like instead of sucking on a popsicle they just bite a chunk off....EWWWWW
Biting down on the popsicle stick. EW EW EW EW EW.
Whistling. It totally creeps me out. I have the feeling of impending doom whenever I hear whistling.
Although I never made the comparison before, biting on cotton is pretty much the same as nails on the chalkboard to me.
Ground meat. The thought of it makes me gag. And I can't be in the same room when someone is clipping their nails. It drives me bonkers. Gross.
The sound of ice chewing. If you are chewing ice in my presence? I want to CUT YOU.
Wow. Violent much? :)
Since I often work closely with OT staff at school, sensory "stuff" is never far from my mind. I often get teased about my many sensory issues. Any clothes that I wear have to be super soft 100% cotton; I can't wear any of that weird stretchy fabric. I only drink water...if it tastes like it needs to be chewed I won't drink it, it will make me gag. I'm also super sensitive to foods like yogurt and applesauce; I chew it all and I basically have to lick it off a spoon or else I will gag. And those are just some of them...
I thought I was the only one who got all icky about brown paper towels and cardboard.
Well you heard all about Aliyah's sensory issues the other night :) Forks scrapping on a plate make me literally scream. I'm writhing in my chair just thinking about it. And I can't stand when my socks are falling off, like when you pull your feet out of boots and they are just "hanging" on...it makes me so irrationally angry and grossed out. I don't like soft or slippery food. I can stand it if I have something crunchy to eat with it - like scrambled eggs? Make me gag unless they are on a piece of toast.
Styrafoam makes me cringe. I cant even think about it without my skin crawling. It the noise it makes and the feel it has...ugh. Just typing this is making me have goosebumps!
~Laura
Scraping on ice. Like ice hockey or figure skating. I can barely think about it let alone watch in on TV.
Nails on a chalkboard and grinding teeth. Mia does it sometimes and I want to run away.
My bestie can't touch anything velvet. I always thought it was so weird :)
Mine are mostly food related. I can't eat a LOT of things because of the texture. Cheese, potatoes (even mushy french fries that taste like potatoes), cooked onions and peppers (love the taste, hate the texture). I can't handle people chewing ice or popsicles.
I don't like the feeling of raw egg on my hands. Or raw cookie dough. I can't handle the sound of things dripping or tapping or any repetitive sound.
*shudder*
R does this thing where he plays with the little strings on the blinds behind the sofa, and it makes this noise that makes me insane. Espcially if he does it right near my ear.
He has a problem with corduroy, which I'd never heard of before.
Oh, I can't STAND reading the comments and I could hardly stand reading your post. Aaargh!
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