SPD Support Forum

Hi, just thought I'd write an introduction!

I joined this group about two days ago, but haven't gotten around to saying hi!
My name is Meg, 25 and from Australia. I have studied photography (..which there's really no work for), and have just started a Certificate IV in companion animal services! which is the best thing I have ever done! - suits me to a T - since I have always been obsessed with animals (and reading about them too)!

I haven't been officially diagnosed with SPD (not even sure you can receive a diagnosis since it isnt in DSM-V??) but have an appointment with an OT in 3 weeks! (which is both exciting and nerve-wracking!

I have always thought I was just "different" , an odd-ball and too sensitive...

As a toddler i used to cry all time because i hated the seams in clothing and socks, tags and labels, and turtle necks or anything too tight around my neck. I apparently used to eat a few types of vegetable to begin with but at about 18 months - 2 years refused to eat any fruit or vegetables, and would end up gagging or vomiting if I did. food got more restrictive as I got older - in primary school would only eat bland or sweet things (pasta, bread, chips, cereal (dry/no milk) and chocolate (but not lollies/soft drinks, because..well, they are fruit flavoured ) anything else would get the same re-action gagging and feeling nautious.

I disliked being hugged or touched by anyone as it was very uncomfortable and i'd freak out (unless I was the one initiating the touch).
There would be times I'd end up screaming and crying flinging my self around on the floor because I was just couldn't get comfortable no matter what I did.
I loved spinning around till I fell over, swivel chairs, rocking on chairs legs, rubbing my hands on carpet, and hanging upside down (mostly the opposite now), but hated walking barefoot, or getting wet from water or rain - especially with clothes on etc. I was always the one to tell my mum to turn music down cos it hurt my ears and was too loud (and certain noises such as accidentally scratching certain things like: seat-belts, some types of material, zips, and the high-pitched sound that used to come at the end of VHS tapes with the coloured barcode. These sounds all me feel like my ears had/have been stabbed - it hurts!!).

Now-days I still have trouble with food issues, but have broadened my diet a bit - now eating 5 types of veggies (starchy types mainly) but no fruit... which makes things a little difficult, since I became vegetarian last year (for moral reasons).

In the past l had Anorexia and bulimia (for 10 years, but have been recovered for about 4 years). As well as self injuring (past) - (bizarre considering that I'm so very sensitive to touch, pain etc. )
I am diagnosed with some dissociative problems as well as Dissociative identity disorder.. which hasn't really been an issue over the past few years and am mainly living normally...except for anxiety, some mild depression. (Frustrating sensory issues are my biggest pain in the....)

Currently:

- I'm too sensitive to bright lights, sound (lots of people talking, trucks or traffic - also trains or trucks that blare their horns when passing almost give me a heart attack! I scream and jump.. everyone else looks at me like...what the...?? ) I usually wear loose headphones when i go out, even without music playing - just to dampen sound.

- I have problems with some household tasks - such as doing dishes (the feeling of the water, detergent, food bits sticking to hands - it makes me freak out - also i have tried rubber gloves...dislike the powder and without power.

- I cant stand touching newspaper, cotton buds, micro-fibre etc.

- I am amazingly clumsy - always have been, even trip over my own feet!
have trouble with using/maneuvering cutlery, tend to knock over cups, drop plates (even dropped very expensive digital cameras that belonged to old employers ...twice, in a 4 month period), walk into objects... I seem unaware of objects till i knock or hit them even if I know that they are right e.g next to me...but at the same time I'm very aware of being touched, or if people are too close.

- Lastly, Memory (especially short-term) is.. well, pretty terrible! I especially tend to loose anything small and easily put down - I loose my phone on average 2 - 3 times a day, as well as train ticket card, keys etc. with no idea where i might have left them last. My friends used to call me (Dori - that forgetful fish in 'finding Nemo') I tend to think wayyyy to much, pretty much constantly, unless i'm doing something (I like). The best relief from thinking (for me) is to watch "trashy" tv shows (biggest loser, embarrassing bodies, my strange addiction, hoarders, customs, Australia's got talent etc), that usually have very simple plots and high entertainment value - I can sort of veg out, be distracted/entertained and not have to work my brain (I do still love my more in-depth series too though e.g vikings, ergo proxy(anime), and my favourite - Game of Thrones!)

Ok.. well this turned out to be sort of a tome/encyclopedia length entry... sorry about that - if anyone made it to the end - congratulations! you win 100 dollars (of invisible money)

Look forward to talking with you all!

Heya, welcome to the board, fellow Aussie!

Hope OT can be very helpful for you - that first step is a bit difficult to deal with (I got 'diagnosed' at the start of the year). Oh, a tip - for me, the first appointment looked like a scary amount of money, but because I didn't actually want the typed up report from the OT saying, "yes, you have SPD, and here's the areas effecting you, etc." as I couldn't see a use for it particularly as an adult (maybe of use for you in regards to work? I don't know there...), I said I didn't need it and then the first appointment dropped back to the standard cost.

Hi Rinne, thanks for the welcome

I have been sent some forms and questionnaires to fill out by OT - which I will bring in when I see her (in 21 days... yes..I am counting down...bit sad really)

I'm not sure what form the initial assessment will take - or what documentation will be done, maybe at some point down the track, if I need documentation for..e.g TAFE / study, I can ask for it... or perhaps might be better off getting a typed report after initial assessment (if she thinks I do have Sensory processing issues) that way I have a general idea which area i need to focus on most.

She said we will see 'how you go after the initial assessment, and then we can work out if you want to continue, how often we need to see each other - two weekly or even 6 monthly - just depends how much you are struggling.'

I don't really have much in the way of income... so I am hoping to see if I can get a care plan from G.P for the O.T for a few sessions... and if it is helping see what I can afford after that

Very similar to what I did. She'll base a lot of the assessment off the questionnaires and then talking to you, seeing from your perspective how it effects your life. For me, I found that very confronting to answer (ended up in tears).

I think you can probably get documentation down the track if needed - the report that the OT types up (because it's a lot of work) was going to add about $300 extra on to my session if I got it.

And yep, that's the same with me with the OT. I saw her for a few sessions initially to set up brushing, etc. and then after that as needed to discuss things/figure out how to do with things.

*fingers crossed for that* May come under an area that they can do a plan for you through medicare. If you've got private health insurance, you should get some back on that (not a lot, but some), too.

Yeah I have checked with my private health. They said 50 dollars back from the initial appointment and the 30 for following sessions