Yeah, I am very much a sensory seeker. Always have been, most likely always will be.

I also have intense oral fixations - I just don't feel comfortable without anything in my mouth (hence all of my pens are chewed up).

I don't like hot environments, hot drinks, hot food - warm is fine, though, and I do like hot peppers (as long as they are not hot temperature-wise). That makes my hair stand on end, to be completely frank. I love cold foods, though. That's odd, because I do like my showers to be piping hot. Heh.

There are only a few consistent things in my sensory diet these days. A daily workout at the Y, followed with a hot shower. My iPod is always playing for the most part. When I am sitting down in front of the television, I hug a pillow against my chest. I also do the same when I am in bed. I get very nervous without that pillow. And, of course, I chew on my pens. I used to smoke cigars, but the prohibitive costs have cut that out of my sensory diet. I am not a fan of most forms of clothing - I wear it when I go out, or when it gets too cold in my apartment, or when I otherwise absolutely have to..... Oddly enough, the only part of clothing that I do get some enjoyment out of is the tags scraping against my skin. And now that I have stopped drinking alcohol, I am feeling more out of place with my surroundings. My current sensory diet is not nearly enough to keep me from feeling utterly nervous and jumpy. Medication helps take the edge off, but I am exploring every avenue that is available since it does little else than take the edge off.

Yeah, this is the odd inner world of Kaworu. This is how I deal with my sensory issues. Heh.

So, based on what I just said here, what can be tried? Can anything be tried?..... Well, that's the question. Thanks in advance to anybody who has a decent answer.

Have you gotten a therapy ball? I know a lot of times when I'm feeling really jumpy, if I bounce and/or roll on my therapy ball, it gives me enough pressure to help take the edge off. And if bouncing helps, I'll bet a little trampoline action would help, too. The trampoline makes me nervous because I have balance issues, but I'll bet you'd find it helpful. I know Sila was talking about a weighted stuffed animal somewhere else; if that doesn't appeal to you, I know that, when I have done it, I have found a plain old sock filled with rice, heated or chilled, to be relaxing. I like it on my neck, but you might find it helpful draped over just about any part of your body.

Heh, I think I am too big of a person for most in-home trampoline products (I'm 6'3" and 235 lbs). I'm afraid that if I tried jumping on one of those trampolines, it would fall apart within seconds.

They have therapy balls at the Y, I think I'll try one tomorrow morning. :-)

Well Ive tried deep pressure massage which works wonders,, bean bag chairs, bong (ikea) chairs,,, they are fast rocking chairs lol, sleeping with alot of covers,, sleep better, chilling out in the dark with some music and some kind of cool light toy (right now my led xmas tree does the trick).

I find that if i do alot of sensory input at night it helps me get thru the days, ie: heavy blankets, cool sleeping environ, fans for white noise, lots of pillows.. etc.

I'm sorry, Kaw, that I never got back to you on this one. How did the therapy ball work out for you?

I've started doing more low impact exercises like marching and bouncing that stimulates my joints, as well as wall push-ups, for warm-ups. It is really a great way for me to get out of the "fog" when I've been sitting still for too long. I have a tendency to get away from my "jitters" by sitting very, very still, which ends up making my body kind of "blank" out. Not good. And when I do a good bit of chasing my son outside, enough to get tired, that helps a lot. But I'm sure that's why you go to the gym in the first place.

I like Karen's comment on light. I used to do that with candles (unsafe and impractical with my son now, however). But I'm sure some kind of calming lighting would be good when you're trying to sleep. I like light that flickers (obviously, with candles. lol). I also like white noise and sleeping very cool. I'm starting to think about trying a weighted blanket, too, if I can find something that isn't too warm.

Ikea=Lights of varying loveliness.....

(12-07-2010, 02:06 PM)mawkinberd Wrote: I'm sorry, Kaw, that I never got back to you on this one. How did the therapy ball work out for you?

I've started doing more low impact exercises like marching and bouncing that stimulates my joints, as well as wall push-ups, for warm-ups. It is really a great way for me to get out of the "fog" when I've been sitting still for too long. I have a tendency to get away from my "jitters" by sitting very, very still, which ends up making my body kind of "blank" out. Not good. And when I do a good bit of chasing my son outside, enough to get tired, that helps a lot. But I'm sure that's why you go to the gym in the first place.

I like Karen's comment on light. I used to do that with candles (unsafe and impractical with my son now, however). But I'm sure some kind of calming lighting would be good when you're trying to sleep. I like light that flickers (obviously, with candles. lol). I also like white noise and sleeping very cool. I'm starting to think about trying a weighted blanket, too, if I can find something that isn't too warm.

Ah, if only I had an Ikea in my area... (sigh) But the nice thing about the holiday season is that there are all kinds of weird and wonderful lights for sale. I just need to get off my butt and get some flicker bulbs.

I love my therapy/yoga ball for bouncing. I also use a rebounder -- I wonder if a trampoline would be any easier for you to find.

Oh, and I like my weighted blanket... taking my dog for walks helps, too, because she tugs at the leash really hard and it pulls my arm! I also try to get bear hugs (they have to be SUPER bear hugs, nothing light because that will make me crazy!) from family and close friends whenever possible.

My OT suggested karate or horseback-riding for me, but I can't see myself doing any of that. Maybe you would like it, though.

Good luck!

My sensory issues are mild but I love love love weight. I have a large heating pad (about 2.5 feet long) that I lay on myself at night. I don't turn it on (unless my bad hurts) but I love the weight of it. Either that or I have my cat lay on me.

You can try a weighted blanket for that effect as well. I have made my son (who is a big time seeker) a weighted pillow for the car to use prior to therapy and when he needs it. It's quite simple. Sew 2 pieces of material together like a pillow - leave an opening to fill and fill with poly pellets (the same thing used for beanie babies) and sew closed.

Lydia,

Horseback riding is phenomenal! It is one of very times that my brain is pretty close to quiet. GREAT proprioceptive input


Jaimie