My introduction was not complete. I am Lane. I am 51 years old. Sensory processing disorder has affected every aspect of my life. Until I read the specifics I just thought I was weird and neurotic. I also figured I inhereted aspects of this weirdness from my mother and passed aspects of it to my two sons. I didn't know if it was nature or nurture or some mix of them both. My husband has aspects of this disorder as well, although he seems to cope better than I do. None of us - husband, self, sons - ever adapted to school. Actually, my husband dropped out of high school. My sons and I all graduated early because we couldn't stand it. One son and I tried our hand at college but again, couldn't stand it. Yet all four of us are very intellegent and learn complex things on our own. My husband is a successful technology consultant (his clients would be very surprised to find out he is a hs dropout). I became self employed within three years of leaving school. I sold my business after 25 years. I loved running a business, loved making money in an environment I got to control.

I'm sort of retired now. I spend most of my time at home with my dog and my cat (although if I touch the cat I have to immediately wash my hands or my skin begins to crawl and I have to take a shower). Being out in the world is exhausting. I hate that TV and radio are broadcast in so many envirnments these days. Shopping is bad enough. I started carrying earplugs with me everywhere I go. I wear a hat and dark glasses.

My friends could never unstand why I don't hang out with them in restaurants. I love picnics. I love to be outside amoung trees in quiet places. If I agree to meet someone at a restaurant it has to be for no more than an hour. Some places I just have to leave as soon as I get there.

I go to movies but only the earliest matinee on Sunday or a weekday. I learned long ago I can't sit through most movies. They overwhelm me.

I was never diagnosed with anything except anxiety and depression. That was by the first psychiatrist I ever went to - in my forties! I went specifically looking for medication because it was getting worse. I had tried every self-help and spiritual option. Appearantly you can't self-help your way out of SPD. Whenever I tried to tell a doctor about these weird things they just looked at me like I was crazy. They even saw evidence of it in their offices and never responded or questioned or gave any comfort or explaination. I think I learned at an early age to hide my symptoms, to avoid places and situations (school, work, resteraunts, stores,) where I had no control of my environment.

I am curious to know if anyone else here found out about their own SPD at an advanced age. What was the process of learning about the disorder like? What has changed in your life as a result of finding a name for what was wrong?