Sensory Icks: The Tags, the Seams, the Itch—And Every thing in Between
Have you ever ever had a clothes tag itch on the again of your neck? Me too. For a lot of neurodivergent folks, a tag can really feel like a cactus or sandpaper rubbing in opposition to their pores and skin. Whereas different gadgets can set off an analogous sensation, tags are the final word “sensory icks” issue for me. I can’t imagine that most individuals aren’t irritated by tags! It’s estimated that as much as 90% of autistic folks have sensory processing dysfunction, so it isn’t stunning that so many various (and infrequently “trivial”) issues could make us really feel uncomfortable, irritated and even overwhelmed.
Identical to the notorious clothes tags, there are lots of “sensory icks” that neurodivergent folks expertise frequently. Right here is my model of a whole guidelines, categorised by the totally different senses.
Visible
- Vivid white lights
These hanging lights usually seem in workplace buildings, hospitals and faculties. For a lot of autistic and neurodivergent folks, these lights can set off sensory overwhelm and headache episodes. Every time I am going to the workplace, I go away with a headache, primarily as a result of the intense lights can set off a painful response. - Direct daylight
Even within the winter, I’ll all the time go away the home with sun shades. Strolling outdoors in direct daylight with out defending my eyes can turn into overwhelming. - Vivid Displays at midnight
Any vivid mild from computer systems, screens, and laptops within the darkness can result in sensory overwhelm because the mild will not be balanced with the remainder of the room, and might pressure your eyes. - Flashing photos
Though it’s nicely documented that flashing lights are triggering for these with epilepsy (and autistic persons are extra more likely to have seizures), many neurodivergent persons are additionally triggered by flashing lights or photos. I discover that flashing photos can begin a headache response. - Yellow meals
I had no concept this was common for a lot of autistic folks, however I can’t abdomen most yellow meals. It doesn’t look appetising and makes me really feel disgusted. An instance of that is that I like bananas, however I hate the peel!
Tactile/Contact
- CLOTHING TAGS.
It’s self-explanatory, however these are unbearably itchy and uncomfortable for many neurodivergent folks. - Socks
I can solely put on socks with my trainers [sneakers] as I don’t like how my toes really feel once I can instantly really feel the shoe—however in any respect different instances I might fairly my toes freeze than really feel the sensation of socks round my ankles. - Itchy or uncomfortable materials
100% polyester makes my pores and skin really feel itchy and triggers my eczema. Analysis means that pores and skin issues, together with eczema, are extra probably in these identified with autism. Which means these “tactile icks” don’t solely end in pores and skin irritation; they might set off an underlying pores and skin dysfunction. - Tight garments
I truthfully hate denims. I by no means really feel comfy in them, and it bewilders me that folks get pleasure from them. In the identical notion, many autistic folks really feel uncomfortable in tight garments, and also you’ll usually discover me in wide-leg pants and sweatshirts. I like joggers, however I hate cuffed joggers which are tight across the ankle… it’s one other large ick of mine. - Something moist
Moist fingers, moist toes, moist socks, moist wrists, moist surfaces, moist hair, and moist meals. I hate all of it! - Lengthy nails/nail polish
As a lot as I like the look of fairly nails, I hate how nail polish sits on my nails or when it chips simply, and I hate acrylic/lengthy nails. I’ve ripped them off each time I’ve had them achieved. - Mud
I’m not too keen on the sensation of mud, and I’ve to coach myself not to take a look at the mud round me. I can’t operate or give attention to the rest once I see mud in all of the crevices. - Dry pores and skin
I usually get plenty of dry pores and skin round my fingers and legs as a result of I’m susceptible to eczema and never too keen on the way it seems and feels. Additionally, I don’t like moisturising due to the way it initially feels (and sounds), however I like being moisturised… it’s a tough steadiness. - Crowds
The sensation of many individuals close to me, surrounding me, being so near others that I can odor everybody’s bodily odour, not seeing a means out. Crowds are very overwhelming for autistic folks, because it invades a number of senses.
Odor
- Sturdy fragrance
I don’t perceive why folks have to drown themselves in fragrance once they go away their home; it’s overpowering and infrequently makes me nauseated! - Meals with an overwhelming odor
If a meals merchandise smells intense, I discover consuming it fairly difficult. I battle with the acidic smells of vinegar and ketchup. - Farts
I don’t prefer it when folks fart round me, and I in all probability overreact, however the best way different folks fart overwhelms the scent of the entire room—it’s nauseating!
Style
- Over-fizzy/ flat soda drinks
There’s a candy steadiness between having a soda that’s too fizzy and one which doesn’t have the correct amount of fizz. Flat sodas style revolting, after which drinks with an excessive amount of fizz overpower the entire style… I quickly discover myself choking on the quantity of fizz when taking a small sip. The right Coke Zero is a incredible expertise, although; I are likely to expertise this with mini glass bottles fairly than cokes or litre bottles. - Toothbrushing
The minty toothpaste and the toothbrush sit in your mouth for 2 minutes. The entire expertise makes me gag profusely, and I’ve to energy by way of the method. The odor and feeling of soiled tooth are far worse, so I’ll all the time brush my tooth even when I hate doing so. - Swallowing tablets
Many autistic and neurodivergent folks battle with swallowing capsules and like liquid medicine. I’ve a robust gag reflex, and as a lot as I have to take my nutritional vitamins, I’m at my restrict after just a few tablets! I attempt to convey them in intervals fairly than unexpectedly, which helps. - Chilly meals
Chilly meals is an ick for a lot of neurodivergent folks, and that features sandwiches. My husband refuses to eat meals when it’s chilly. This implies he struggles when having lunch, and can as an alternative go hungry.
Auditory/Listening to
- Loud/sudden sounds
The noise of a drill, fireplace alarm, or faculty bell is so triggering that I really feel I can’t cope mentally. The sudden, loud noise makes me really feel scared and uncontrolled. - White noise
White noise appears to work for many individuals, however it’s unnecessarily loud and too noisy for me. I favor brown and pink noise, which is significantly extra calming and can assist me focus or put me to sleep. - Dishes
Placing dishes away, the sound of the plates clashing collectively, the noise of the dishes being emptied from the dishwasher. All of it simply hurts my ears! - Hardcore rock music
I do know many autistic folks love rock music, however rock music that’s excessively loud and stuffed with harsh noises and devices banging collectively, and it offers me a headache. - Whispers
I don’t like whispering; it all the time annoys me, and I usually ask folks to talk up as I battle to gauge what they are saying. - Balloons
The sound of balloons rubbing in opposition to one another, anticipating when the balloon might out of the blue pop. Yeah, balloons are a particular ick. - Water working on a faucet
If the faucet is working downstairs, I can hear it from upstairs. I can’t give attention to something apart from the faucet and should rise up to show it off. - Chalk on blackboard
Fortunately, this one doesn’t occur as usually because it used to earlier than the introduction of know-how, however as a baby in a classroom, the squeaks of the chalk in opposition to the blackboard could be so irritating to listen to. - Chewing
The sound of chewing could make me cringe and infrequently leaves me questioning, “Why do it’s worthwhile to chew so loudly?’”I don’t know why it annoys me, however I can’t hear the rest now.
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