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Sensory Issues being an autistic female who recently unmasked

AmeliaM14

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. 

Parents

  • 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.

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  • 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.

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