SPD Support Forum

As a person pretty new to all of this (diagnosed in January), I thought maybe what I've found from how OT has helped me might help some others in deciding whether to try OT.

I'm 30 and hypersensitive on my senses (all except visual, although that can be pushed if I'm not careful) and have reasonably poor proprioception. I'm probably on the mild side of things, although sometimes it doesn't feel mild.

My OT has actually kept it minimal as to how much she's intervened - I've had 30 years to find what works for me/doesn't in a lot of ways with managing my SPD.

Brushing has ended up being incredibly important/useful for me. At times with my work I have to work at heights, which strains my vestibular system a lot. Twice I've had the reaction of extreme tiredness (like I need to have a nap right now) after doing the work at heights. The third time I've done it (which was actually worse with the fear side - it was a different place working at heights) I had the advice from the OT: brush beforehand, joint compressions while at the height, brush afterwards. I couldn't brush immediately afterwards, but I did do the joint compressions before I had the chance to brush.

And this time - there was no extreme exhaustion. I was a little bit more easily tweaked for the rest of the day, but I didn't crash out.

OT has made me more aware of the fact that I was overloading without realising it. My job involves a lot of teaching of school groups (up to around 100 over a 1.5 hour period usually) and if I do two of those in the morning and then drive 3.5 hours, mostly in the rain, I reach the point where visual can trigger me. Brushing mitigates that a fair bit.

Weight has ended up being very useful. Weighted blanket for home and wheat bags for the car. I found with a fish tank that I was setting up that running my fingers through the pebbles felt very nice, so now I have a box filled with marbles and different size pebbles/glass to run my hands through. For shopping centres, etc. I have a squeezy ball to carry around to distract me. I've also started shopping a lot at a smaller shopping centre (just the grocery shop, rather than a mall), which helps, but I can't do all the time.

I know that certain classical pieces of music will calm me down, now. Probably explains why I've loooooooved for years instrumental soundtracks from movies/tv shows.

I've started yoga, which I'm finding nice (and good for my dodgy back as well), although easier on the whole from home from dvds (smelly people, too loud music, etc. at yoga classes). A miracle for me, I've survived being around a kid who farted at work - while my brain was still working on its extraction plan, I couldn't get out of the situation, and managed to stay there without heaving. First for me.

I've also learned how to put some barriers in place with the kids that we have at work - personal space and also to stop them shouting in my ear when I try to get them to find an answer for a prize.

Still learning - am going to go back to the OT to get some strategies to help with touch sensitivity on my face in the morning (gag from washing face/eating/teeth cleaning/talking in the very early morning).

I recently found this booklet while researching some of daughter's "problems." I thought you may find it useful after I read this post.
Ten Gems for the Brain.
http://www.movetolearn.com.au/ten-gems-brain.html

Thanks for the suggestion - I'll look into it.

Hey there Rinne.

I am finding that a lot of people are hypersensitive on here, and I was hoping to find out exactly what kind of things they experience. Do you feel as if you have a super high sense of everything that is going on in your body that is more than just anxiety? In your stomach, ears (head in general) and other parts of your body? I feel depersonalized and can't take much stress.

I'm glad to hear the OT is working for you, I'm currently seeking out the same thing.

Hi Dave,

For me the hypersensitivity can present in a lot of different ways - I'm very very good at avoidance of things that might be an issue when I can (it is one of the strategies that people with hypersensitivities develop without really realising it).

For touch - very very aware of any touch on my skin, particularly unexpected. Just don't like it, if it's unexpected. The feel of certain things can make me almost shudder, but the main thing is feeling like "I need to wash my hands right now!!".

For sound - cannot block out certain sounds, usually little sounds such as someone scratching their leg through pants. Gets on my nerves no end. When sound has thrown me into overload (that I know of - I think I'm often unaware that I'm heading towards/overloading) it's felt like I can't focus on anything else, there's fear, and I can't verbally respond to what someone is saying to me (I'm finding mostly really quiet sounds are what tend to do this to me). Too loud just hurts. Noisy shopping centres I now feel that my anxiety level rises.

For smell - bad smells make me gag. On the whole I cannot adjust to them at all. Other strong smells can be a problem in making me feel a bit sick.

Taste - tastes I do not like make me gag. I don't think textures bother me too much, but there are a lot of tastes I do not like. At all.

Sometimes I just end up really jittery, feel like nothing can calm me down. Sometimes I just end up in a really really bad mood (often for days - I'm figuring now that that is probably a meltdown more than anything). Sometimes a situation will just build me up into tears (and before I had the diagnosis I had no idea why. I knew that crowded noisy restaurants were a problem, but had no idea why).

I have IBS, which is probably just another symptom of all of this, which is worse when I'm stressed (in any way). Since starting OT/brushing etc. my IBS has been quite a bit better.

Hope that OT will help you!

I was diagnosed a ways back for SPD but got no help or direction just told I had it. (they are now looking at a possible diagnosis of Autism/Aspergers for me) I'm beginning to realize just how much it actually affects me. I was always aware I was "sensitive" to put it simply. I easily overreact which like you said Im learning is basically a meltdown. which is embarrassing at times when you're a grown adult. I have a 4yr old son with significant SPD. And people can have a hard time understanding his meltdowns. But they accept it easier cuz he's a kid. An adult in the same state is apparently highly frowned upon in most establishments lol. The last few days Ive been looking into OT for myself. With two small children and a huge sensitivity to sound and touch it can be difficult if not sometimes impossible to make it through a day. I also have proprioceptive issues. At least now knowing what that means I know what it is. I have a problem with needing to throw or punch when Im in a meltdown. Im a self injurer not outwardly violent, so Ive never hit a person. My hand did just heal after I broke it during a meltdown punching a chair. The first punch spiral fractured it, and the second snapped the whole bone in half. Im so new to my diagnosis I didnt explain it well at the ER. I just said that I punch things when I get mad. Luckily the nurse said her and her sister also do it and its most common than one would think. But I know in the future to let them know its a sensory processing issue. Im looking into purchasing a punching bag. But Im hoping that if I can learn some OT strategies I wont have as many meltdowns and it wont get so bad when they do occur that Im breaking bones. If your not too busy and your able, would you be willing to share a link or create a list of some of the things you've found for OT strategies. Im scared Ill never get insurance or doctor approval. My therapist is working on my diagnosis for Autism and said she will help figure out the SPD part too and get me some services. She said just becuz Im an adult doesnt mean Im not entitled to the treatment I missed out on as a child due to being undiagnosed.

Would you please describe what joint compressions are? I've come across that term a couple times now. Thank you.

How do you get a referral for occupational therapy?

Yes always remmeber it is never late to make changes to your sensory system. One can rewire brain through OT. Find an OT that is experienced and trained in Sensory Integrative Therapy. It is not as easy as on may think but change will definitely be there. While the grief may remain, the issues which caused should be treated.