Clothing Issues

I’m nearly 40 and still have meltdowns caused by clothing issues. any weight fluctuations will make my clothes fit differently and that alone has the potential to derail my day. When the temp is rising it’s even worse. idk what the answer is. 

I’m almost 40 and still have meltdowns caused by clothing. Particularly when the temp get warmer outside. it’s unbearable. 

always post

• Hi! At 44 I still have problems with many clothing textures and I also cut the labels out of any clothing I buy. My preference (or requirement) is the cotton/jersey material that most t-shirts are made from, I also like things to be baggy otherwise I feel very constricted. I also don’t wear watches, bracelets etc. although on the few occasions I’ve been to festivals I’ve had real issues with the material wristbands. This may sound like a negative post but I just wanted to let you know that your not the only one. Try out a variety materials, styles, sizes and when you find something you like buy multiples of it. I generally buy 3 of each item...

cloudfire said:

I notice in alot of posts where kids are having meltdowns clothing often comes up as a problem - so I was wondering if it continued to adulthood as it seems to have done with me?

Perhaps you have or will come to notice that most parents who have problems with their children ~ tend not to post again once their questions have been answered, and the only sense in which hypersensitivity to clothing textures ever really seems to end is when appropriate clothing fabrics or brands that do not irritate the skin have been found.

Several months back as a for instance, their was a thread on one autistic website where several members were getting a bit stressed about one suit manufacturer in the United States or Canada that had gone out of business, as made business wear for the sensitive of skin, but fortunately another member knew of another business in the same trade who took on the other's clientele ~ so details were exchanged. 

Clothing issues with sensitive skin is a common subject matter raised by parents of autistic children and autistic people of all ages, so much so that when I typed 'clothing issues with sensitive skin' into this site's search menu; I got 8,261 results.

I am about a month off from being 50 myself at the moment and all my clothing has for decades been brought with comfort being paramount in my mind involving soft smooth fabrics, and baggy / loose fit sizing.

I used to come out in rashes and sores due to itchy seams and rough textured clothing like denim and canvas, so everything I buy gets the touch test first to make sure it is smooth and soft textured. I cannot do silk though like some can as it feels like it clings to my skin and increasingly gives me the heebie jeebies. In a sense silk is a bit 'too' smooth for comfort. 

Regarding the following statement:

cloudfire said:

Not being able to just get on with work has put me in a vicious cycle of despair. I've gone from seeing my autism diagnosis as a relief to it just being another label for failure....and I'm doubting pretty much everything I thought I'd learned about it.

Hopefully it will be wholly reassuring to know that you are not an exception when it comes to being sensitive to specific clothing textures and fits; and just like quite a few others on the spectrum you really do need particularly comfortable clothing as a basic necessity.

Maybe your only failure in any of this is not to have recognised your limits with your workload management, and as such you can make some adjustments or even get some Reasonable Adjustments sorted out with your employer maybe?

It would though be well worth discussing this issue with you General Practitioner if you have not already?

i'm only now coming to terms with the multitude of sensitivies that may come with asd... one of which is textures, etc., as you are having problems with. aren't there clothes you have that you are comfortable in? maybe you can start from there - like, maybe, no wrist band clothes? or altering the wrist bands... if you're asking if you'll out grow it ---- i don't no if anyone really knows. aspects of my asd are much more pronounced for me, more so than when i was young (and totally oblivious to my sensitivities, btw). i think if you listen to and accept your sensitivities, you can decrease the stress in your life...

As far as I'm aware, this kind of thing persisting into adulthood is pretty common (?) in some of us.

I know adults who cut off the labels from clothing. I struggle with suits (really don't have much fun in shirts and thin material).

I gather from other adults with ASCs, that having certain clothing materials and softnesses is quite important for them.

I hope your work would be open to you wearing clothing that is comfortable and allows you to essentially work at your best.