Martin
Administrator
Posts: 15
Joined: Apr 2010
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It sounds like someone who is very sensory defensive.
Quote:Tactile Defensiveness
If a person is an over-responder to tactile sensations, they are referred to as tactile defensive, and their brain will not accurately perceive touch sensations. Their brains may not gait touch sensations, so they may be sent into fight or flight over very small, everyday touch sensations. Being bumped, nudged, or poked unexpectedly, especially if the person or object that is touching them cannot be seen or otherwise anticipated, can send them into an uncontrollable and inappropriate fight or flight response. Without expecting the touch, their brain may interpret it incorrectly as a threat, which can cause them to startle easily, jump away, or even lash out at someone for touching them. Getting splashed by water or having an unexpected or unwanted change in temperature can also lead to a fight or flight response. Small changes in outside temperature and wind speed are often noticeable and can have a large effect. Their eyes might also be very sensitive and they will often need to blink at the slightest amount of cold wind.
Their brain will also have a hard time habituating certain touch sensations. A clothing tag can lead to constant agitation, and is often said to 'feel like an irremovable spider'. Stitching in seems may feel like thousands of needles poking into the skin, as every stitch can be felt as irritating, creating a burning sensation. People with tactile defensiveness have a hard time finding socks, underwear, and shirts as the seams are actually perceived as painful. Most clothes will feel too tight, and cause a sensation of being overheated, which becomes almost impossible not to focus on. They will often fidget with and adjust their clothing. While alone, they may prefer nudity, although even a slight breeze can also be perceived as agitating against the skin. Deep pressure against the skin can be helpful, but light touch is always perceived as burning, tickling, or scratching. This may cause a withdrawal from intimacy, or may lead to them only wanting it on their terms. Tactile defensives will often avoid gritty sensations, such as sand and dirt. It may also take a very long time to get used to water temperature when they go swimming and their face may feel as though it is burning when it is underwater. Poor hygiene, caused by aggravation during skin washing, bathing, hair washing, hair cutting and brushing, nail clipping, deodorant, and shaving, frequently occur.
Copied from SPDLife.org with permission.
Quote:Visual Defensiveness
Hypersensitivities in vision are numerous and can highly impair a person's functioning. One of the most commonly mentioned visual sensitivities is the sensitivity to light. Florescent lighting and any higher level of lighting can be distressing, causing a person need to blink or squint their eyes constantly. Many sufferers will have difficulty focusing on sunny days, and may even prefer dark, gloomy days, during which they have an easier time focusing. A sudden presence or changing of lighting, especially flashing lights, can cause a person with light sensory defensiveness to startle into fight or flight, or cause a generally high level of stress. A hypersensitivity to visual tracking and processing can cause a patient to become fearful, distressed, and anxious whenever there is a quick sudden movement, or if they try to track a slow moving object through their visual field. They may also be sensitive to colors, which can make everything appear incredibly vibrant, causing a potential overload. Their eyes will also have a hard time habituating movement and light. It may take longer, or be impossible, for the eyes to adjust to a change in lighting, or for them not to be distracted and irritated by background movement and flashing. They may need to often retreat to dark, unmoving places and sleep in a room without any light. Headaches are also common and sufferers will often rub their eyes, which may water frequently.
Copied from SPDLife.org with permission.
I hope those bits of info help.
"Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children that dragons can be killed." ~ G.K. Chesterton
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09-21-2010, 07:38 PM |
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