Temperature Sensitivity

I'm the opposite - always hot. I thrive in the cooler weather  

Let's not get all the autistic people in a sudden health panic!  Remember that we do tend to take things literally and stress about making appointments.  

While discovering a new sensitivity to temperature may be a symptom of something else, sensory sensitivity is something that most of us have lived with all our lives.  Sensory sensitivity in general is, in fact, a defining characteristic in the diagnostic criteria, and can manifest in many ways through the 8 senses.  (Usual 5 + the ways in which we sense our body and what's going on inside it.) 

People can be both hypo and hyper sensitive.  Not noticing the cold or feeling it extra keenly.

Yes! I’m always cold. Today is mild apparently, and I’m here with 3 layers.

Even in summer I don’t like to go without socks as my feet are always freezing.

I'm horribly sensitive to temperature in both directions- too cold and I feel like it's sinking into my bones never to escape, too hot and I'm permanently furious until it eases off. I think it probably is autism-related, at least for some of us; I tend to be on the hypersensitive end of sensory issues more generally so having the same problem with more extreme temperatures would make sense.

Yeah this is totally me... first warm day of the year I'm very happy!

I'm definitely sensitive to cold.  Sometimes it hurts my hands just taking something out of the fridge.  I'm always the last person to take off my jumper, and when others are complaining it's too hot I'm happy and cosy.

Definitely a sensory thing!

Yes I'm sensitive to temperature but to the heat. I'm absolutely fine with the cold, I wish it was cold all year round personally. The last couple of years the summers have been very hot and each time 3 years in a row I've been hospitalised because of the heat. Thin layers and drinking water aren't enough to cool me and I overheat and get sick.

I'm the reverse, very sensitive to heat. I often get ill in the summer with headaches. I think it might be an autistic sensory sensitivity issue (temperature sensing counts as a sense),  but it's hard to be sure.

I am a bit sensitive to the cold, but I can handle it much better than the heat. I often get way too hot when everyone around me is just pleasantly warm. And being overheated is sure to send me into a meltdown, I just can't deal with it which is why I hate summer and exercising.

I am glad you mention both extremes as that is the same with me. I will need heating on, be wearing layers and slipper boots whilst the rest of my family are in T shirts. If my feet are cold but the rest of me is warm I can't get to sleep at night.

I can't stand being overheated either and likewise struggle to get to sleep if too warm. Maybe we are hyper sensitive to temperature in the same way we are to noise or smell.

The other problem I find in this milder weather is it is too warm for the heating to come on but not warm enough to be comfortable.

So glad I'm not alone! I'm the opposite as I love warm weather (apart from last summer which was Hell) because I hate layering and would live in vests and t-shirts if it was acceptable to do so as I hate wearing things below the elbow and I hate wearing socks but have to if I want to be warm. My partner wears socks to bed and it blows my mind.

Definitely could be autism related. I'm really sensitive to the cold too, however i prefer it to the heat. I really hate summer. At least when you are cold you can put on extra clothes and go somewhere warm. When I'm too hot I really struggle to cool down.

No need to apologise. We are always happy to chat about stuff like this. 

Alisha xx

P.S. I am aware that I was no help but at least you aren't on your own with feeling super sensitive to different temperatures. Hopefully someone a little more helpful replies soon