Published on 12, July, 2020
I wanted to start this discussion because I, (20 year old female) am really beginning to feel to strain and frustration that comes with sensory issues on a day to day bases. I was late diagnosed with autism and up until last year, was heavily masking for the majority of my life in order to fit in. I found when I was masking, I was able to grit my teeth and tolerate a lot more than I can now. Since unmasking I have found my autistic traits have become much more noticeable, particularly my sensory issues. It's a huge battle, as my brain is constantly working overtime, trying to push through the day despite finding the smallest of tasks a challenge when I can just feel everything.
For example, the way my makeup feels on my skin after I've done it or the way my hands feel greasy after using moisturiser, or the way my glasses feel on my face. Which is frustrating as these are all things I want/need to do to get ready or look presentable. On bad days, these little things can just build up until I'm unable to really function or leave the house. I find myself getting quite emotional as I type this as I don't want this to rule my life - I know it's part of who I am, it's just hard to accept or tell people when I didn't used to be like this (due to heavily masking for years). It's draining because I'm thinking and feeling so much more than a neurotypical person would be on a daily bases. I know I shouldn't compare but I often feel guilty and sometimes even lazy when I have unproductive days due to my sensory issues slowing me down.
If anybody has any advice on how to manage sensory issues or ways I can help myself to deal with it in the moment that would be really great, thank you.
I'm in a similar situation. I'm a 25-year-old woman, diagnosed just last year, trying to cope with chronic overstimulation.
Part of my trouble is that I don't even know what my sensory needs are. I know that I have sensory needs, because at the end of a long day at the learning center where I teach, I feel like I've had too much caffeine, or too much of another stimulant. I feel tense, anxious, and irritable, due to a sense that I have to block off this excess energy in my nerves, this energy I don't have energy for. But while I'm working with my students, I don't notice any particular sources of overstimulation. I'm just so absorbed in my interactions with them and in my masked "teacher" persona that I don't pay any attention to my body, and so it's only after I'm done that I become aware of how overstimulated and uncomfortable I am.
One thing that helps me when I'm overstimulated is getting hugs from my parents, and being squeezed. If I can't get a hug from one of them, I squeeze a large stuffed animal or a pillow.
I'm also planning to see an occupational therapist soon, who I'm hoping can help me figure out what my sensory needs are and how to meet them. Apparently, she'll have different tests to see what does or doesn't feel good to me, and then based on that, she'll have ideas about how to make the meaningful activities of daily life more comfortable. Maybe you'd want look into occupational therapy.
That's great, thank you!
Oh that might have been me. I think I posted it on your post haha. Yeh you get it from a doctor in this country. In most countries like America etc you can just buy it out health shops as a supplement. But for whatever reason you need a prescription for it here yeh. There’s a lot of evidence for it helping epileptic people to sleep and lowering seizure number and/or severity because it acts to increase GABA in the brain which causes relaxation etc. Plus it is non addictive. You can but it online but not sure how legal that is to be honest. Not recommending doing that. Best to go through GP as not a lot of people know it’s out there. Also valerian root helps a lot of people sleep and helps anxiety. Hope this helps.
Someone else suggested melatonin to me recently, do you get it from a doctor on prescription or can you buy it over the counter? Do you find it has any side effects?
Hi there I’m a 23 year old man who’s also been late diagnosed and I get what you mean about masking. I masked my whole life also and tried to fit in. It’s no good pretending to be someone else though it is draining. I get the sensory stuff to like sensitivity to audio and stuff like that. I find melatonin is good for that kind of thing. It improves my sleep and the next day I feel more able to face the day there is a lot of research for melatonin having a lot of benefits.
Hi AmeliaM14 I totally get what you mean, I'm exactly the same (but a bit older than you!). I feel like I am less able to tollerate sensory things now than I was before too. Sometimes my tolerance is related to how overwhelmed I am emotionally, if I am feeling happy, I can cope with a lot more than when I am sad, stressed or tired. When I'm tired even the sound of a zip on a coat can make me want to scream. A few things that have helped me or things you might want to consider:
Noise cancelling headphones - the best thing I've bought in ages! I never realised how much even general background noise like cars passing by, howling wind etc affected me until I got these.
Remove as much sensory stuff as possible and you will be better able to cope with the sensory things you can't control - it's accumulative.
Try to reduce sensory demands as soon as you get home - I get into my PJs, remove my uncomfortable bra etc as soon as I can, that way my body can rest and be more able to cope the next day.
Make up - can you have some makeup free days or be brave and reduce the amount you wear? I have stopped wearing makeup everyday now and I don't miss it any more. I enjoy wearing it for special occassions and will wear foundation if my skin is bad which is most of the time unfortunately! If not, try some different products, they all feel very different. I like to use a primer underneath my foundation because it feels so much nicer and it means I can use a lighter weight foundation and less of it. If you need to wear mascara, eyebrow pencil etc, have you considered getting them tinted at a salon instead?
Moisturiser - do you actually need to use it all over or could you just use it where you need it? I have dry skin on the back of my hands but avoid getting any on my palms because it feels horrible!
It's really good that you're trying to unmask, it might feel like you're taking a step back but you're not, you're just being your authentic self and protecting yourself against future burnout which could happen if you ignore your sensory needs and continue to mask them. I'm in a similar position, I was diagnosed a few months ago and started to unmask about a year ago. I still feel sad about it sometimes because I struggle to go shopping with friends and go out for coffee but on the other hand, I was always exhausted, jittery and had awful stomach problems for days after a shopping trip so my body clearly didn't appreciate it! Having written this, I think I need to take my own advice and stop feeling bad about it!
I went to an Autism workshop yesterday, and the topic of laziness came up.
It was said that they didn't think laziness existed. But what does exist is......
Executive functioning difficulties, Trauma, Chronic pain, depression, skill gaps, tiredness, overwhelm, lack of support, procrastination, perfectionism, differing priorities.
I hope this helps.
I struggle with sensory issues too. I think being kind to oneself, acceptance and sensory regulation helps. Grounding and centering techniques too. X