SPD Support Forum

Hi - I discovered this site yesterday and am very interested in learning more about adult SPD. I have some knowledge of SPD, over the past few years one of my boys was diagnosed with autism and his older brother is awaiting assessment for ADHD. They have completely different sensory needs. I have struggled with chronic fatigue, food allergies, low level depression and anxiety for around 20 years. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a few years ago, the main symptoms being foggy thinking, major fatigue, inability to concentrate and inability to handle stress.

After feeling like the above challenges have been dealt with in the best way possible, I continue to deal with auditory sensitivity and overload, visual stimulus overload and have a need for deep pressure. I feel like as much as I get myself better with vits, meds, exercise, sleep, respite, etc, etc, my auditory and visual overload continue to daily cause me to be overwhelmed which makes it difficult for me to keep up with the house, meals, kids, work, etc.

I think SPD might be the answer for why life for me is continally overwhelming. Due to my auditory sensitivity, I find the only way to get recharged is to be in my bedroom when it is uncluttered and there isn't a noise in the house and I drink in the silence. I've tried wearing muffling headphones in the house and earplugs, but it's not making enough of a difference.

It affects my ability to work and desire to socialize. Any ideas, support is most appreciated!

Hi and welcome! It is very possible you have SPD or aspects of it. It seems to be related to the autism spectrum and ADHD/ADD, with some genetic components to it.

I first learned about SPD when my older son was diagnosed 4 years ago. The more I read, the more I learned about myself. I love borrowing my sons' weighted blankets now and then. Very calming to have that heavy weight. Being in large groups (more than 8-10 people) is very overwhelming and draining on me. For every 3 hours or so in a big group, i need an hour of alone time to recharge. I seem to have mostly auditory issues, have a big problem hearing conversations when there is background noise, I have trouble learning or remembering anything if I've only heard the information, I need to see it written down to understand and remember it. I can't take phone messages very well at all. Things are too loud for me. I speak very softly, everyone asks me to speak up but then I feel like I'm shouting.

I have to go for now, more later!

Thanks Lynn for your response. It was 4 years ago that I started learning about this too and I've always felt deeply for my son with autism as his sensory needs are similar to mine, ie., auditory sensitivity, needing more time on own to recharge and needing squeezes to calm his system. I've spent time figuring out how to help my other son who is a sensory seeker which really aggravates his brother as he likes loud singing and music, to bump into people, run around, be busy all the time.
I look forward to learning more about how as adults, we can adapt our environments, especially when you have a busy, noisy, often chaotic household!

Yes, it's hard when your kids sometimes have opposing sensory needs! Or when you yourself have opposing sensory needs with one of your children. Sometimes my younger one who is a seeker wants to sit in my lap or climb all over me, but I just need some personal space at that moment in time.

I'm glad you found us here!