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+--- Thread: New Here (/thread-1117.html)
New Here - tragedybypain - 12-09-2013
Hello, Everyone. My name is Laura. I am twenty-four years old. I live in Minnesota with two roommates, their five year old daughter, six cats, a bird, and a bunny.
I am currently working at Dollar Tree and hope to start going to school to become a paramedic.
I am very creative. I like to read, write, draw, paint, take pictures, manipulate photos, sing, play piano, and play guitar.
I don't really like to go out much. Especially if it has to do with going to places that have a lot of people and bright lights.
I was just diagnosed with SPD several hours ago. So, I'm starting to do research on the disorder. That research brought me here. I'm hoping that I can learn how to better cope with my SPD. Because I really don't know where to start.
RE: New Here - Titan1977 - 12-12-2013
alright I would suggest going to http://www.wikipedia.org/ as well as asking questions here. I am in the process of getting diagnosed with SPD. it may be something else and I just don't know it. in all honesty I am not an expert but what I do know is that anyone with autism spectrum disorder(I have asperger's) is more likely to have at least some FORM of SPD but SPD can effect someone WITHOUT autism as well. just type in Sensory Processing disorder under wikipedia and see what that entails for you. chances are you have a mild case of it. as for more details I have no clue what your symptoms are but you will be able to figure that out based upon what your doctor has already told you and see for yourself on that wiki.
RE: New Here - Tuttleturtle - 12-12-2013
Where to start? Want to learn more about others with similar symptoms? We can do that! Want advice on how to cope? We can do that! Want to know what's normal and abnormal? We might be able to do that!
For places to start, I tend to recommend picking up at least one book on SPD and reading it. There's a few options; I personally loved Sensational Kids for this sort. The Out of Sync Child is a popular one too for this initial book. Dan might have recommendations for others you might want to look at. I get the autism and the SPD books confused so don't remember which is which, because I sort them together mentally and on my kindle.
If you want advice on coping in any particular area, then just go ahead and mention the area, and at least one person (probably including me, because I spend too much time on forums answering questions about sensory stuff
) will answer with ways to help deal probably. If you want people to talk to, there's a chatroom. There's generally at least a few of us adults with SPD in there, and we talk SPD and non-SPD things. And things that are both at the same time, like me obsessing about cats and dogs.
Oh, right, I read again and you say you don't know where to start with coping skills. I still say all I said, but then also have more to say.
You likely have realized what with being diagnosed, but there's occupational therapy. It is incredibly useful. That's definitely a place to look.
Another thing though, is looking at, what sorts of things sensory-wise help you feel better? Is it a hug? is it climbing in the cabinets? Is it looking at a fire? Figure those out. That's an important question.
What sorts of sensory issues do you have?
What sorts of things do you want coping skills for?
You say you have issues with bright lights, that's an area you can look into adaptions in, is lights and vision. I wear blue glasses, have known preferences for what types of lighting I prefer, and am not afraid of wearing blinders on my glasses (those are some of my ways to cope with vision problems).
RE: New Here - tragedybypain - 12-17-2013
I'm not sure what types of bright lights bother me.. But I've noticed that I mostly have issues with lights in places like Target or Walmart. And it's generally when the light is surrounding me on all sides. I can handle looking at bright lights when it's mostly dark besides that one bright spot.
I also have issues with loud noises and white noise. Somebody yelling or a lot of people talking at once is very difficult for me. As well as noises like a dripping faucet or something like that. My brain doesn't filter out the white noise like it should. I keep hearing it and it gets very annoying.
Also, when my hyper sensitivities are triggered, I have issues with being touched. Touching kind of makes my skin crawl and I start to itch really bad. Touching was even more of an issue when I was younger. It used to make me itch so bad that I would scratch until I bled. Not as bad now, but still an issue.
One more thing.. Hyper sensitivity to hot and cold.
RE: New Here - Tuttleturtle - 12-17-2013
Places like Target or Walmart might mean issues with florescent lights.
Light on all sides I'd guess means you have issues with peripheral vision sensitivity. (This one a lot of people overlook)
Not filtering noises is a thing that happens, yes. That one is frustrating because its so common and so hard to deal with.
For where to start, I'd probably start with vision from what you've said, because its what you keep starting listing. Which suggests its what bothers you most in some ways.
Does it help to wear sunglasses?
Does it help to wear sunglasses that are polarized?
Does it help to wear little blinders on the side of glasses? (I know someone who does this always, and keep meaning to make them for my tinted lenses, because its a coping skill I've used successfully in the past)
Are certain colors nicer or more painful? (Colors for backgrounds on computer screen might be a place to start here)
Are there things that make you feel better? If touch hurts, does being squeezed help? (Yes I'm repeating that question)?
RE: New Here - tragedybypain - 12-23-2013
(12-17-2013, 04:35 PM)Tuttleturtle Wrote: Places like Target or Walmart might mean issues with florescent lights.
Light on all sides I'd guess means you have issues with peripheral vision sensitivity. (This one a lot of people overlook)
Not filtering noises is a thing that happens, yes. That one is frustrating because its so common and so hard to deal with.
For where to start, I'd probably start with vision from what you've said, because its what you keep starting listing. Which suggests its what bothers you most in some ways.
Does it help to wear sunglasses?
Does it help to wear sunglasses that are polarized?
Does it help to wear little blinders on the side of glasses? (I know someone who does this always, and keep meaning to make them for my tinted lenses, because its a coping skill I've used successfully in the past)
Are certain colors nicer or more painful? (Colors for backgrounds on computer screen might be a place to start here)
Are there things that make you feel better? If touch hurts, does being squeezed help? (Yes I'm repeating that question)?
Sorry it's been so long. I've been having a really difficult time these past few weeks.
I don't know about wearing sunglasses. I never use them because I wear glasses and I haven't been able to find the sunglasses that go over your glasses. I haven't ever tried blinders. As I said.. I know very little about this disorder. The only reason I know anything is because I was diagnosed.
I absolutely adore bright colors, but I think they make me anxious. I like dark colors a lot.. My favorite color is purple because it's the easiest color to look at. Not a fan of yellow or orange or red at all.
I can tolerate some touching if it is by someone that I really trust. I let my therapist squeeze my hand the other day, which was kind of a huge deal. And I'll let my "sister" and her husband hug me or rub my back. Anyone else is kept at arms length. And yes, that includes my parents.
I'm not sure what kinds of things help me to feel better.. There are some things that I think might help, but I don't know for sure. I like drinking soda because the bubbles make my mouth tingle. And I have this one fuzzy blanket that I like to curl up in all the time. I also like to cocoon myself in blankets. Being warm makes me feel better. If I get cold, I get more anxious. Also, we have a light in the living room that's a dimmer. So, I turn it way down when everyone else has gone to bed.