(02-18-2012, 05:52 AM)Tuttleturtle Wrote: I've read so much that talks about how people are either hypersensitive and avoiding or hyposensitive and seeking, but can't relate to much of it. It feels like they're trying to force people into those two categories which don't actually fit at all.


Am I the only person who identifies as hypersensitive and seeking? I also do a lot of avoidance things, but seeking is a big thing for me.

For example, my sense of taste is very strong. I taste soap in cups after they've been very well washed (and can't drink straight water because I taste the soap). I've never been able to find something alcoholic I don't taste alcohol in, even the things people describe as the things like like because they can't taste the alcohol (its become somewhat of a challenge, though I barely drink anything). People talk about how they can't taste spices and I can taste them. People talk about how the flavors aren't there because of the lack of salt and I don't understand.

However, I'm also definitely strongly seeking in taste. My favorite foods are Indian foods (and not mild). I enjoy things with habeneros in them. Peppermint is great. I've spent quite a while in the state where I'll chew up and eat quickly all the altoids in an altoid tin in a short period of time and still not have satisfied any of my craving for peppermint, they're just not tasting strong enough to me. (Luckily my peppermint oil doesn't have that issue. It's more getting the right ratio of peppermint oil to non-peppermint oil that's the issue, 5 drops per 8 ozs of liquid is good)


But so much of what I've read by professionals suggests that people like my don't exist, either your hyposensitive and seeking or hypersensitive and avoiding.

Am I the only one?

You are not the only one. I am both hyper- and hypo- sensitive in almost all my senses. And though I am usually easily overwhelmed by the strong stimuli, in certain cases, it is actually comforting. My favorite foods are usually pretty strong, by anyone's standard: jalapenos, spicy dijon mustard, certain brands of hot sauce. And it is not because I can't taste it.

I am also sure there are plenty of other people who feel the same way you do. People just like to compartmentalize everything as this OR that, when it is never that simple.