Sensory: Comfort vs Insanity

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My primary sensory problems are with paper and metal. With paper, if I touch it, I must replace the feeling my rubbing my fingers (or whatever touched the paper) on something "safe". Checking the mail is hell, and I ask my husband to open almost all of my mail. Paper placemats and coasters in restauants are torture, and I always have these items removed. I can SMELL the paper and even than freaks me out and makes me have to rub my hands repeatedly on something. It makes me shiver and get goosebumps and I get pains in my teeth. Yeah, seriously. Metal has the same effect, and people seem to have no issue with letting their teeth hit their spoons and forks. I use plastic spoons and forks and so do my kids, or I wouldn't be able to function through a day.

I'd like to remove all the silverware from my home. Occasionally the kids get it and it sends me into sensory hell for hours. I'd like to take plasticware to restaurants with me so I could thoroughly enjoy my meal without having to touch the metal. I'd like to ask for the paper to all be removed from the table BEFORE I sit down at it, so I don't get the pain in my teeth and the smell of it stuck in my brain. But I don't. My whole life I just believed that I needed to adapt, accept and get over it. I've never accomplished this.

My question is...how? I can't expect the word to bend to my whims, but I can't stand the sensory torture. What can I do about this? And gloves don't work, not enough to do anything but slightly blunt the effect...which isn't enough to make it tolerable. How do people handle such major tactile defensiveness?

Why can't you just bring plasticware with you into restaurants? Stranger things have been done, trust me.

no...can't say I have, actually. I don't like to touch messy things, but that's about as close as I get. If I couldn't touch paper (I fix printers all day), I'd be in trouble..

I suppose it could be different for different people.

I am compelled to touch certain things, like candlelight (it's ok, just don't leave your finger in the finger over time), glue, running water, etc. But I have certain sounds that are painful, plus light (esp. fluorescent). For unknown reason(s), certain elements, metal mostly (!) illicit a sexual response for me. Anything metal and I feel....sex. I also like coat hangers - sexual rush. Please don't ask because I have no explanation, it just IS.

I hate chalk. I don't like the texture of silk/satin on my skin. I won't go into too much detail on this list of sensory stimuli.....

As for personal preferences, I can stand things that have lots of holes in them. Creeps me out. Anthills too. Pictures of hives wig me out. And certain textures, like the ones used for soft 3 ring binder covers; the ones that make that "zzzt" sound when you rub anything over them." *shudders*

Sudden loud noises also make my heart rate double.

I am that way,also. I hate the feel of chalk, and the feel, performance, and smell of crayons. I like scented markers, if the scent is pleasant. The sound of silver; forks, spoons, knives rattling together sets my teeth on edge. Or plates clattering. I also don't like the feel of silk against my skin, nor polyester.

I have the chalk problem too. I like to keep my hands from feeling dry, and chalk feels awful! Though sidewalk chalk with my kids sure beats paper, lol I'm having a particularly rough time because my daughter is INCREDIBLY artistic. She loves to color, draw, paint, etc. and has no sensory issues with any of it. I keep a pile of books, drawing pads and various writing and painting utensils in a cabinet where she can access them without my having to touch the paper. I want very much to encourage her, and I do, but sometimes being around all the paper and smelling it is torture. So on days when I'm particularly nutso, I encourage her to give the Aqua Doodle or the Doodle Pro (magnetic thingy) a try. She loves those too.

I would just like to know how to handle this with less cringe factor. Paper is everywhere. Mail, shopping lists, receipts (though usually they are shiny and small enough it's not a problem), bags with (OMFG) paper-ish handles...the worst! Cardboard boxes are also uncomfortable, but I can deal with them as long as no one scrapes their sides together.

I am this way. I cannot stand the look of serene/metallic wrap. One of my classmates has a folder that is metallic/reflective and it drove me nuts.

I remember going to a Steve Vai concert and I just couldn't stand being there in person. So much feedback that I had to close my ears. I'm called dramatic for my sensitivity of touch, smell, and hearing. I can smell fragrances rooms away. I cannot stand the smell of pork cooking. Liquid in a bag drives me nuts. The way certain foods appear or feel utterly disgust me and I get complaints for being a way too picky eater. I can even taste the silverware.


I do have to touch or think of other things just to be on the safe side. It's like sensory overload.




Isn't this a form of OCD?

siuan - for your daughter, maybe for you too: I have a trick and it works!

Latex gloves.

I'm in the laboratory often (chem) so latex gloves are a way of life. I prefer true touch latex, not nitrile. Anyway, maybe your daughter could wear the gloves and then be able to draw with chalk, etc. Works for me! When I was a TA for Chem session I always had latex on anyway so writing on the chalkboard felt safe. Couldn't do it without. For me, latex feels good on my hands and I still have dexterity. Just a suggestion.

I hate my hands being dirty, like say touching garden dirt. I just need to wash it off. I dont like it if they are wet, but I dont mind them in water, just having water on my hands it annoying. I also hate em feeling dry, like if you wash em too much and the skin feels dry and stretchy, really annoying. The feeling of chalk too, its dry

I happen to love when my hands are dirty...