My Hyperactive Senses Are Tingling

It’s a fairly common problem for Aspies, but in my opinion, it’s one of the most difficult challenges that I face. I’m talking about Sensory Processing Disorder. There are many different aspects of SPD because we have multiple senses, so I can’t fit all of them into one blog post. Today I want to talk about my difficulties with touch, especially when it comes to clothes. SPD basically effects how intense one experiences the 5 senses. Some people with SPD have amplified senses and others lack a response to different senses. I personally feel physical touch pretty intensely, and this makes finding comfortable clothes very difficult.

When I’m trying to buy clothes, there are a lot of factors at play. I don’t like light touch, so the fabric has to be heavy enough but not too tight. The seams have to blend in pretty well because if they don’t they will be so uncomfortable and distracting that it will more than likely lead to a meltdown. Many seams feel almost sharp to me, and if they’re too bulky, I feel like I’m covered in seams. Many clothes, especially women’s clothing, is fitted very oddly to me. The torso of a shirt may be just right but the sleeves end up being too tight, or a pair of pants may be tighter just around the knees or thighs. I like my clothes to feel the same pressure all the way around. I don’t like feeling a breeze on my chest, so I prefer a higher collar. It’s very hard to find clothes that live up to these expectations. Whenever I find clothes that are actually comfortable, I buy a bunch of them. I’ve been told many times that I look like a cartoon character because I wear the same thing pretty much every day, which I actually don’t mind because it’s the only way I can stay fairly comfortable, and also cartoons are the best.

To some people, this issue may come off as very nit-picky, but I experience a very physical and emotional reaction to certain clothing. When I wear something that is uncomfortable, I get irrationally angry. Most times, I get so angry and frustrated that I feel like I’m just going to burst into tears and usually that will spiral into a meltdown. In those moments, my discomfort is all I can focus on because it’s so prominent. A small insignificant thread can feel very sharp, as if it’s cutting me.

When I was younger my sensory issues would result in being late to school or appointments, or sleepless nights. If my parents washed my clothes or bed sheets they would feel like complete different clothes and bedding. Numerous nights, I would keep my parents up all night because I was so upset that my pillows felt too fluffy or too flat, or I could feel the seams on my pillow case.

I’ve had a few solutions of the years that helped at least for a little while. When I was younger I wore a lot of turtlenecks so that I couldn’t feel much of a breeze on my neck or chest. Unfortunately, as I got older, turtlenecks were not considered “cool,” so I stopped wearing them. Instead, I would wear more layers to limit any breeze on my skin. I would always fold back just the cuff of a long sleeve shirt so I couldn’t feel the seams, and I still do this every once and a while. It really helps that, nowadays, it’s much easier to find tag-less shirts and pants. I always used to cut out the tags right when I got new clothes, which only sometimes helps. Sometimes the part of the tags that are still left in my clothes are just as bothersome as if I had just left the whole tag in the clothes. My friend suggested that I take a sewing needle and completely unthread the tags out of my clothes. This is the best solution that I have found so far. Wearing rash guards under clothes can sometimes help, but sometimes I feel like they’re too staticky. You can find weighted clothes that are specifically made for clothing sensitivity. If you scroll to the top of this blog, and click on the little banner that says Fun and Function, it will take you right to their website where you can find a bunch of sensory items for kids, like weighted blankets, vests, and more. I also work on allowing myself to be uncomfortable in very short bursts. For instance, if I wash my bed sheets, I will lay in my bed for about five minutes while I read, or listen to music or white noise. Then I take a break, and in a few minutes, I’ll lay back down for ten minutes, and keep taking breaks and increasing the intervals every time. It’s definitely easier said than down, but it has helped. I find this to be very helpful when I have to dress up for an event and I may have to wear clothes that I’m not used to wearing. I’ll practice wearing my clothes weeks or days in advance, while I’m doing something that I enjoy, like walking on the beach or going for a car ride. Not all of these solutions will work for everyone. There’s a lot of trial and error, but exploring different solutions to get closer to a more comfortable life is half the battle.

-KAM