Touch sensitivity getting out of hand, need advice.

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r84shi37
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26 Oct 2013, 2:05 am

I've made a few posts regarding this, but it's getting worse. Twice today, I just bumped into someone while walking through a crowd and I freaked out. I mean, I felt my heart immediately start pumping rapidly, I gasped, and felt very anxious/nervous. It started with me just being ticklish 0-11ish. Then, I started jumping at unexpected 'jabbing' touches 12-14ish. Now, even with warning, touch can make me jolt and feel anxious 15-now. This, jump at bumping into someone in a crowd things is somewhat new though- a couple months ago it started. It's disturbing that it's gotten worse in the past few years. I'm worried that it will keep getting worse without stopping as I age, but I'm only 16 (17 in two months). Do you guys expect that it will ease off in a few years, or just keep going? How can I help myself with it? Any... touch sensitivity reduction techniques? Thanks.


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LabPet
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26 Oct 2013, 6:45 am

Swinging can really help develop proprioception (sense of inner balance). Maybe you could try such gentle motion exercise to build-up your tolerance. Swinging is the best, really.

Anyhow, sorry about your difficulties.....sensory overwhelm can be painful.


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r84shi37
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27 Oct 2013, 11:06 am

LabPet wrote:
Swinging can really help develop proprioception (sense of inner balance). Maybe you could try such gentle motion exercise to build-up your tolerance. Swinging is the best, really.

Anyhow, sorry about your difficulties.....sensory overwhelm can be painful.


So, I should go to a public park and swing on the swings for... 15 or so minutes every day? I think I'll try that when I get the chance. Thanks! :)


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lostinlove
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28 Oct 2013, 6:37 pm

swinging helps? really??
as a child I was really touch sensitive, my brother and cousins would try and tickle me as I hated it so much and they found this really funny. It got so bad that I could be floored by invisible tickles (this is what people said it looked like) if anyone came near me and it looked like they were going to tickle me then I would fall down. When I was about 5 my parents got a swing for me, I used to swing for hours on it, I still like to go on the swings at the park when I take my kids (I'm 33 now) I can't say if the swing helped, but I did grow out of my touch sensitivity, though I still have it in some situations, when I'm really anxious, when I'm in pain and when I am intimate with people, (which has been quite an issue over the years especially as I only just realised that I have aspergers, so I had no way to explain to a boyfriend why they couldn't touch me, though they always just thought I was just really really ticklish)



r84shi37
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28 Oct 2013, 8:27 pm

lostinlove wrote:
swinging helps? really??
as a child I was really touch sensitive, my brother and cousins would try and tickle me as I hated it so much and they found this really funny. It got so bad that I could be floored by invisible tickles (this is what people said it looked like) if anyone came near me and it looked like they were going to tickle me then I would fall down. When I was about 5 my parents got a swing for me, I used to swing for hours on it, I still like to go on the swings at the park when I take my kids (I'm 33 now) I can't say if the swing helped, but I did grow out of my touch sensitivity, though I still have it in some situations, when I'm really anxious, when I'm in pain and when I am intimate with people, (which has been quite an issue over the years especially as I only just realised that I have aspergers, so I had no way to explain to a boyfriend why they couldn't touch me, though they always just thought I was just really really ticklish)


You mean that you were literally brought to the ground when you were tickled? That more happened to me when loud noises startled me, however in recent years I've fallen on my back due to touching. It's so weird yet reflexive. Why would someone fall to the ground as a reflex to surprise?


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29 Oct 2013, 4:21 am

Along with vestibular motion (ie swinging, spinning, rocking, etc) you might find proprioceptive input (weighted blankets, firm hugs etc) to be helpful. I really hate light brushing touch, or even people standing too close to me, but I find that being secured under a lot of weight, even another human squeezing me, definitely helps. It's supposed to ground your tactile sensory system and help your neurons reorganise themselves appropriately temporarily. It's essential for me after a meltdown. When did you notice the increase in sensitivity? DId you recently change your routine or start something stressful, school, job, move house? Are you getting enough sleep? My auditory hypersensitivity gets really bad when I'm sleep deprived. Were you sick recently? That can make sensory problems worse. If there's nothing specific, or it's been getting worse gradually for a long time, it may just be because you're body's changing as you go through adolescence. If it gets too intolerable, maybe your doctor will have some suggestions.


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lostinlove
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03 Nov 2013, 1:45 pm

r84shi37 wrote:
You mean that you were literally brought to the ground when you were tickled? That more happened to me when loud noises startled me, however in recent years I've fallen on my back due to touching. It's so weird yet reflexive. Why would someone fall to the ground as a reflex to surprise?


it wasn't to being surprised, it was the anticipation of being touched without my consent.

StarTrekker - I am the same, light touch stresses me I need hugs to be firm, I need to be covered with a duvet at night and in summer the light duvet is too light for me to get to sleep sometimes. Conversely since I have been with my latest boyfriend I have been able to stand light touch, but only from him, I enjoy him stroking me, something I have never felt comfortable letting anyone else do. Maybe it's because I trust him totally.