“That according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being.” – Ephesians 3:16
DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or trained mental health professional of any kind. Everything I write is based on my own personal experience with coming to terms with my differences and adjusting to how my brain works. Please do not take my word as gospel of any kind – these posts are only meant to help further open the dialogue around mental health and dispelling the stigma around mental illnesses and disabilities.
Sensory issues are generally what they sound like—a problem with processing or handling certain sensations or interactions with the surrounding world. Sensory issues are very common in children new to the world and all of the foreign stimuli it holds. For example, picky eaters won’t eat slimy things, and children burst into tears when they hear sudden loud noises. However, a portion of people never outgrow some of these issues.
I have found, in my personal experience, that a lot of people who are neuro-divergent also have sensory issues. A Healthline article explains that sensory issues aren’t usually singular issues. Sensory problems (in adults) or sensory processing disorder “commonly occurs in people who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)”.
Now that you know what sensory problems are and who they often affect, it’s time for me to share the habits and traits I notice in individuals with such issues. “People I know” also includes me, so I will include some of my advice in each section below.
Table of Contents:
You Are Picky About Clothing Fabric
Someone with sensory issues often wears many of the same kind of clothes because they know they already like the texture of these pieces. Their uniform is casual clothing like jeans, T-shirts, and hoodies, all with comfortable, non-constricting material and shaping. Additionally, those with sensory issues are much more picky when shopping for clothes. An item can be perfect almost every way, but if the fabric feels horrible, they won’t buy it. Additionally, if a piece of clothing feels too constrictive, it’s not getting bought either.
My Personal Advice: Don’t give up. There are professional-looking clothes out there that are comfortable. They are just harder to find. The higher the quality of a clothing item, the better it will feel on your body. I know that we can’t afford to go wild on expensive, designer clothes. However, if you limit the comfort pieces you buy, you’ll likely be able to afford some versatile items.
You Are Very Tender-headed
As a child, I loathed it whenever my mother did my hair. I quit ballet because I was expected to put my hair in a bun so tight it made my scalp numb. Anytime my mother’s brush caught a tangle or snare, I’d cringe and ask her how long until she was done. Repeated incidents of this led me to develop the label of “tender-headed.” After that, I often wear my hair down because I loathed the priming and crimping process. Additionally, I hated the “crunchy” feeling of hair-sprayed hair and the aftermath of the styling process.
My Personal Advice: Several haircuts make the hair easy to detangle and style. For example, bobs and layers help prevent tangles from forming in the first place and are easier to style. If you hate the feeling of crunchy hair, you can style your hair when wet instead of using hairspray all the time.
Increased Sensitivity to Bug Bites
There is one thing I absolutely, positively cannot stand. Bug bites, specifically MOSQUITO BITES. There are some things that I accept that I will never understand. One of the biggest questions is why God made mosquitos exactly and why he made their bites hurt so much. Once I had a bite, I would be obsessed with picking at it until it would eventually scab over and scar. The feeling of uneven skin and itchiness drove me wild. Because of this, I loathe being outside for too long, as I know a mosquito will find and bite me.
My Personal Advice: I recently discovered that pimple patches can reduce the urge to scratch. The patches do not necessarily make the bites better, but they make sure you can’t scratch at them when the urge arises. Also, pimple patches are usually translucent, so you can wear them publicly without feeling conspicuous.
You Don’t Like Sudden Touching
If you have sensory problems, it is more than likely that people think you are prickly and do not like physical contact but then get confused when you initiate contact, like with hugs and other affectionate displays. It’s not that you don’t like physical contact; you prefer to initiate it or be asked when someone wants to make physical contact with you. Sometimes, when you are overstimulated, the last thing you want is someone suddenly reaching out and touching you.
My Personal Advice: Be honest with people about initiating contact. Explain that you don’t dislike hugging or friendly contact, but your body is more sensitive to it. Request that your friends and family members ask before hugging you, and tell them you’ll say “yes” more often than no.
You Get Cold or Hot Easily
A wonderful thing about our modern technology is that it can be as cold as the North Pole in a Houston coffee shop, even if it is 103 degrees outside, and you could fry an egg on the pavement. It isn’t so great when you are sensitive to uncomfortable temperatures and end up with either goosebumps or a thin layer of sweat on your forehead or under your arms.
My Personal Advice: If you live in a hot state like Texas (as I do), wear short sleeves. That way, you will not be overly hot when outside. However, bring a sweater or jacket into places with you so you don’t have to shiver in silence if you get chilled.
You Pick At Your Acne and Irritated Skin
You hate it whenever you feel acne forming or when a part of your skin gets irritated because you know that you will be hyper-aware of the inflamed area of your skin and will probably try to pick at it. The self-consciousness that comes with acne is frustrating, especially when you feel like it’s affecting your confidence. This can make you feel anxious in social situations, constantly worrying about how your skin looks. The scars and scabs that have formed after picking at your acne remind you of the struggle, and it’s tough to break the cycle of picking, even though you know it only makes things worse.
My Personal Advice: Keep irritated areas moisturized, and use pimple patches when you can. Like mosquito bites, the patches can help resist the urge to scratch or pick. Additionally, ensure your face wash is correctly formulated for your skin type. Having the correct face wash can prevent many acne breakouts from forming.
I hope this post helped clarify whether you struggle with sensory issues. The first step to improving these issues is to figure out which ones you struggle with and take strategic steps to reduce your aversion or reactions to the situations where your sensory issues are most present.
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Until next time!
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