Hello wishIhadknown, and welcome to SPD International .

(10-19-2010, 11:01 AM)wishIhadknown Wrote: And so I come to you seeking a community who understand why I cringe when someone lightly touches my skin, or lose it after a stressful day and my kids are in my face... when light, sound, fast movement irritates me... I go have me time in nature, in the park, or in the tub.

And I think you have found the right community!
You cringe when someone lightly touches your skin (as do I, or worse, lol) because you have tactile defensiveness and you have an intense, unusual reaction to this stimuli. It is physically aggravating.

You loose it at the end of a stressful day because all of us sensory defensives do. Our systems, as poorly adjusted as they are, can only handle so much before it's too late and a meltdown becomes imminent. I loose it after work shifts and classes a lot, myself. I certainly understand.

Quote:I want to understand why my daughter shy's away and yells OWIE when someone takes her by the hand or hugs her unannounced. Why she rubs textured objects across her feet and palms and face. Why she too has meltdowns.

And I think you can learn these things here, if you aren't already aware. Your daughter shies away and yells in these situations because she too is tactile defensive. Taking her by the hand, unless it's firm touch, can certainly be a cause for discomfort and alarm. The unexpected hug can have the same effect, serving as a sudden alarm, triggering a fight of flight reaction. As you may have figured, her meltdown are also similar to why you have meltdowns - overload to the breaking point.

She rubs certain texture objects across her feet, palms, and face as a form of sensory seeking, most likely. Again, this ties into the tactile sense. Your daughter craves these textures, so she surrounds herself in them as they help her to calm and regulate.


Well, I hope you are able to find all the answers and support you need here . I am glad to see you on. Care to share a bit more about yourself and any interests you may have? Hey, we can get to know each other here too. I want this to be a place for people to find each other and start up supportive friendships, which is a form of therapy in itself. Take care .