Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi, I'm Sophie.
I'm in my 30s and was diagnosed a few months ago. Like many people who were late diagnosed I've finally come to terms with the fact that I'm not a broken neurotypical, but a perfectly functioning autistic. I have gradually stopped masking too and now I have fewer but better friends.
I have pretty bad sensory difficulties (airports and public transport are awful) and find humans very complicated (unlike dogs, who are probably better than us).
I am happiest in nature, preferably running. I run very long distances (96 miles in one go is the longest) usually on trails. This coming year I hope to run 100km in less than 8hrs. I am obsessed with everything to do with ultra running, which is extremely useful as I enjoy planning and analysing my training and reading about new and better ways to train. I can't really conceive variations of "a long way", races are either short (I don't need a back pack to carry water etc) or they are long (carrying water, food, jacket etc). So 96 miles doesn't seem any farther than 50.
Keen to learn more about coping with sensory difficulties.
we have some runners in here eg Original Prankster.
what sensory difficulties do you experience ?
oh yea, welcome to the forum :
Cool. Running is the best.
I have problems with sounds (small irritating ones like people tapping, sniffing, or clocks ticking (I've taken the batteries out of so many clocks...), loud unexpected ones, people talking at once; loud televisions or TV shows/films where the volume suddenly changes (I watch Star Trek and the BBC Merlin over and over because I know when the volume changes and can prepare for it); and with lights - too bright usually; and with textures: I can only wear very soft clothes and either very loose or precisely tight (only my running tights) but not in between, I won't eat glutinous foods or ones where there are too many different textures (I have never eaten a doughnut after biting into one as a child - wet, dry, doughy and granulated [inserts vomit emoji]). I was diagnosed with anorexia at 13 but think it was probably more an autism thing (I was at boarding school so had limited choice and if the things I was expecting/could eat weren't available I didn't eat something else).
sounds : have about 7 pairs of headphones + numerous sets of earbud phone + sets of earplugs that i use in combination within headphones playing music.
I recommend these
- set of headphones (proTear) are ear defenders that have a built in radio. used by chainsaw workers
eardefenders protear
and these
to cut out noise even more wear ear plugs or earbud headphones ( plugged in as well to same music) under these headphones
light: I generally wear wrap around sunglasses as in link below, over my glasses, quite a bit especially when driving/cycling/in the office. They help reduce the stress received in a typical day.
tinted wrap around
there are darker versions i use as well. i use these because they are cheap so am not afraid to use them working in gardening and cycling. i break them regularly.
:)
Thanks for this! I have Bose on ear for work and the Flare earplugs that sort of muffle things. Will look into the sunglasses too.