Help with sensory issues

Hi, Louise. Welcome to the group. I'm 25 and currently pursuing diagnosis. 

I find noisy places very difficult too. Have you ever tried noise cancelling headphones? I find mine really helpful. I sometimes play relaxing music through them to give me something else to focus on (I'd just encourage caution if she's using them on her own - I sometimes worry that they make me a little vulnerable if I'm out alone, as I don't have the best road sense, and I'm conscious that someone could approach from behind without me hearing).

You could also try fidget toys - I sometimes carry one in my pocket and use it when I'm struggling to focus. 

In terms of having some time by herself when she gets back, I'd recommend letting her have that time. Sensory issues make everyday activities really tiring, so taking that time out to relax when she gets home could help her conserve energy for later in the day.

I think this is very good advice from duckbread. I have recently been diagnosed/identified as being autistic. Growing up I had no idea of some of the sensory issues that were causing me to live in an almost constant state of anxiety. Having reflected on them my awareness is now much better and enables me to manage my anxiety levels much more effectively. These are the things that have helped me. I hope you find them useful.

• Worked out my sensory profile... The sensory input that calms me and the input that stresses me. It may be useful to discuss these with your daughter. Considering, movements/activities, foods, things to touch/fiddle with visual things (drawing, colouring for example), music and sounds, and smells..... work out and place them into two columns... Stressing or calming. If you Google sensory preferences checklist there are lots out there that you can use. 
• Use the calming ones before and after stressful experiences. 
• Use those (that are practical) during experiences that might be stressful for example... Sucking/chewing on a favourite sweet whilst in a supermarket, fiddling with blu tac whilst sat on a bus, playing a game on my phone when in a cafe or ordering a milkshake and sucking it through a straw. Having a lip salve that smells good and applying it when shopping.
• Also establishing a 'plan B' if the sensory experience becomes too much for example... If going shopping in town and it is too busy to go to a cafe for lunch buying a sandwich and eating it in the park or quiet place.

For me it has been important to not totally avoid the sensory stuff that stresses me because it would have really limited my life and also avoiding can actually make the sensitivity worse as I am not developing the ability to 'modulate' manage the experience.

I hope you and your daughter may find this helpful. I would also strongly recommend asking for an Occupational Therapy referral for a comprehensive sensory processing assessment. 

I think this is very good advice from duckbread. I have recently been diagnosed/identified as being autistic. Growing up I had no idea of some of the sensory issues that were causing me to live in an almost constant state of anxiety. Having reflected on them my awareness is now much better and enables me to manage my anxiety levels much more effectively. These are the things that have helped me. I hope you find them useful.

• Worked out my sensory profile... The sensory input that calms me and the input that stresses me. It may be useful to discuss these with your daughter. Considering, movements/activities, foods, things to touch/fiddle with visual things (drawing, colouring for example), music and sounds, and smells..... work out and place them into two columns... Stressing or calming. If you Google sensory preferences checklist there are lots out there that you can use. 
• Use the calming ones before and after stressful experiences. 
• Use those (that are practical) during experiences that might be stressful for example... Sucking/chewing on a favourite sweet whilst in a supermarket, fiddling with blu tac whilst sat on a bus, playing a game on my phone when in a cafe or ordering a milkshake and sucking it through a straw. Having a lip salve that smells good and applying it when shopping.
• Also establishing a 'plan B' if the sensory experience becomes too much for example... If going shopping in town and it is too busy to go to a cafe for lunch buying a sandwich and eating it in the park or quiet place.

For me it has been important to not totally avoid the sensory stuff that stresses me because it would have really limited my life and also avoiding can actually make the sensitivity worse as I am not developing the ability to 'modulate' manage the experience.

I hope you and your daughter may find this helpful. I would also strongly recommend asking for an Occupational Therapy referral for a comprehensive sensory processing assessment. 

Thanks, Beefree. I love the idea of a sensory profile - might have a go at that myself