What is your biggest sensory issue?

[BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation]

For me, it's sound. I struggle so much with noise, particularly unwanted music. I struggle in supermarkets and cafes.

In the house, it's usually quiet. We don't have a TV and we wear headphones if we're watching something on our devices so we don't disturb each other. My home is very peaceful.

I also struggle with feeling too hot and with my clothing feeling uncomfortable. Sometimes, I let myself get too cold because I can't face putting more clothing on then getting too hot. It's a constant struggle.

What do you all struggle with?

Cannot stand the sound of babies crying. Have walked out of shops, pubs, friends' houses for this reason more than any other

Same here.

I can not comprehend how on earth this is supposed to prompt a comfort/soothe response. It's like nails down a board to me, and I desperately, desperately need to be as far away from the source as quickly as possible.

The colour yellow. It makes me feel physically ill.

As a kid eating dinner next to my sister would give the rage, she would smack her lips and chew with her mouth open because she “can’t breathe when eating otherwise”. I developed a habit of reading when eating to try to block it out. Now if DH is biting his nails or tapping something it also drives me mad, but less ragey. I think I love him more!

Thumping music, or repetitive heavy beats, or very dance style music. It makes me want to claw my skin.

Sound, bright lights and microfiber towels

Out of tune singing. I never join in singing ´happy birthday’ at parties. There’s always multiple keys going on and then everyone fucks up the the big octave jump. How anyone can be expected to join in that disgusting cacophony is beyond me. Mercifully it’s quite short.

And anything that leaves powder on your skin.

Clapping. The noise of others clapping and the feel of it on my hands

And wet socks. If I step into the bathroom and someone was a bit splashy with handwashing and I step on the water (even just the tiniest bit!!). I actually cry

Heat - once the temperature reaches 18/20 Celsius I can't relax. I'm dreading April-October already.
Fish - alive, dead, as food, it makes no difference
Patterns - they need to be regular. Camo is unbearable as it's so chaotic.
Sudden strong smells
Soup must always be eaten, never drunk
Bright lights

Light, fluorescent especially. I also get irrational when the sun shines in winter.

Too much movement around me.
Bright light.
Feeling too hot.

@TeaSoakedDisasterMagnet

The colour yellow. It makes me feel physically ill.

As a kid eating dinner next to my sister would give the rage, she would smack her lips and chew with her mouth open because she “can’t breathe when eating otherwise”. I developed a habit of reading when eating to try to block it out. Now if DH is biting his nails or tapping something it also drives me mad, but less ragey. I think I love him more!

Thumping music, or repetitive heavy beats, or very dance style music. It makes me want to claw my skin.

Someone did a thing on twitter to find out which colour autistic people hated the most and yellow was massively the winner. I don't mind normal yellow but fluorescent yellow makes me feel sick and dizzy.

Hair on face.
Snoring. Also clicking.
Touch while sleeping.
Repetition.
Clothes' tags
Shoes without socks.
People standing too close.
Make up hurts.
So does jewellery.

@ofwarren that’s really interesting! I can cope with small amounts, and the colours at the creamy buttery end of yellow don’t bother me as much. But very vibrant yellow is awful. I particularly hate it when the rape oil flowers and it’s just miles of yellow.

[quote TeaSoakedDisasterMagnet]@ofwarren that’s really interesting! I can cope with small amounts, and the colours at the creamy buttery end of yellow don’t bother me as much. But very vibrant yellow is awful. I particularly hate it when the rape oil flowers and it’s just miles of yellow.[/quote]
Yes, me too! I'd love to see some research on this.

My biggest sensory issue is noise. It’s definitely got worse the older I’ve got. My biggest issue with noise has to be where I live currently. I live in a busy street with lots of neighbours who have lots of kids and although you have to expect noise from kids especially during the summer when they’re playing outside around here the noise is unreal. I’m sandwiched between two noisy families. On one side they party like all the time until the early hours of the morning. They get so drunk that they’re either declaring their love for each other singing etc or they’re arguing shouting screaming at each other. They often have their windows open so we hear it all or in the summer they’re in their garden and have bonfires music blasting etc. My neighbours on the other side are doing a ton of home improvements at the moment so they’re drilling, banging, bouncing around their house throughout the day and night. The noise form this has been so bad that I’ve been going out the house during the day as I just can’t tolerate how loud it is. There are a lot of kids round here and whilst some of them seem lovely and are well mannered and play nicely, a lot of them cause trouble, shout, swear etc and even with our windows and doors closed I can hear it all. We’ve only lived here two years and in that time my mental health has gone downhill and I’ve started on sertraline as my anxiety was getting to much.

Anyone unable to stand hearing someone else brush their teeth?

I'm sensitive to bright sunlight, noise etc which sort of impairs my function, but if I hear tooth-brushing (it's on TV all the time!) I get really horrible goosebumps and feel really tingly and on edge. It's a real physical response, and I find it really unpleasant.

I think it's like ASMR but apparently it's only ASMR if you like it. (?)

I get a similar thing if someone whispers too close to my ear, but that doesn't happen much!

A new one for me: listening to the cat eat and his subsequent satisfied belly rumble

😂

Two sounds at the same time. TV and radio on, being able to hear two lots of music, someone playing a phone video and also listening to a podcast. I can't handle it at all. Triggers my ADHD overstimulation.

@Ahalam

Sound bouncing off hard surfaces. The architecture and decor styles of the last couple of decades - all hard floors and glass and no fabrics of any kind to soften/dampen noise - have created this issue in almost every restaurant and shopping centre and public space. It makes me feel a bit seasick.

I find it really hard to filter out background noise and concentrate on conversation when there are bouncing echoes.

I think this is me

I don't cope well in noisy environments

I also can't cope with high pitched tones, including children

The high pitched tiny music that's used for when a call is on hold.

Those really powerful hand dryers in public loos.

Women with high pitched grating voices.

Bright lights.

@Doobydoo what type of cord dress? I like the sound of a soft cord dress. I usually wear trousers, but I get sick of them.

Euch, me too. Soft slightly wet lips kissing me make me feel physically sick.

Also, screechy, high pitched or overly harsh toned loud voices. I find I can start to overcompensate to block it out by making a loud noise myself. This can seem odd at meetings.

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation. I wear the Seasalt ones. They did ones called Wagtail and I have a fab one that is sooooo soft.If I am feeling daring I wear cotton ones with lining from them too and they have pockets.

Ooo, I love Seasalt clothing. I have a few tunics from them.

My work life was ruined when a bright spark decided to bring in a radio. I literally cannot think when music is playing, I'm totally focused on the lyrics. I have tried numerous ear plugs then ended up blasting white noise into headphones for 8 hours a day. Suffice to say I've loved home working.

Ticking clocks give me rage.

People eating (except for my DC, weirdly that doesnt enrage me).

Ticking clocks...argh...