Hi All

I am not very good at the forum stuff, my social skills are somewhat lacking and I usually end up inadvertently become a thread killer so I generally try to stay away from forums however given that for the first time in 48 years I am finding I may not be alone in my quirkiness I have decided to take the risk join.
I tend to ramble so will take the admins advice and use the questions below to introduce myself

1. What brings you here?

I was looking for information for my grand daughter, she was recently diagnosed as having Autism spectrum disorder however some of her symptoms did not seem part of the disorder and a Google search led me here.

2. What is your relations to someone with SPD? Do you have it? a child of yours? Do you treat SPD kids as a professional?

I was totally shocked when reading information here and some of the stories because there were so many things I can relate to, many of the stories are more debilitating than me so I really am not sure if I have SPD or if I am just quirky and weird and can relate to some symptoms.

3. Share a little of your journey if you'd like.

The first time I really knew I was completely odd was around 8 or 9 when I started to lick my hands. I could not stand the feel of them when they were dry and at 8 or 9 I had never heard of moisturizer so when they started to annoy me too much I licked them and rubbed them together. My Mum would yell at me because as a child my hands were not always clean. I was also an extremely finicky eater, my parents said when they stopped mashing my food together like baby food I stopped eating completely refusing any food, eventually I got hungry enough to eat again but was very fussy about what I would put in my mouth. I have horrific memories of food and my childhood, threats of smacking, dinners server and re-served, hiding at dinner time because I didn't want to eat.
There are many other situations and events and way too many to go into detail but as an adult now here are the things that affect me the most.
I wear shoes 24/7, the only time I take them off is to shower and I literally step out of them into the shower and then step back into them. I cannot stand the thought of dry skin on my feet and cannot bear my feet to touch sheets etc. If I am lying in bed with my husband he has to wear socks, we sleep in separate beds because I could not stand the thought of him touching me with his feet during the night. I have had the embarrassment of going for surgeries and having to explain to the medical staff I have to wear shoes into the surgery.
I use hand cream constantly during the day
If one side of me accidentally gets splashed or wet I have to wet the other side of me
if one of my muscles is sore I have to keep clenching the other one
If I have a scab or pimple I will pick at is constantly
I am addicted to nasal spray because I cannot stand not being able to breath through my nostrils. I have used over the counter nasals sprays for 25 years
I cannot stand some textures and would physically throw up if I touched them, one day my daughter handed me my grandson (6 mths old) and the grow suit he was wearing felt like cotton balls, it was all I could do not to drop him on the ground. I made my daughter throw away the grow suit
My texture issues are probably the worst with food, there really are very little foods that I actually can put in my mouth so its a struggle to maintain a varied and healthy diet.

4. Is there any immediate help you need?

Would be nice to find out if I do have SPD but not really sure how to go about doing that

5. SPD doesn't run your life! What are you or your child's gifts? Interests?
Reading, Computer games, work

Hope this wasn't too boring

Jad

Well hello Jad! Welcome to SPD Support

I understand lurking around and getting a feeling for the community before jumping in an participating. I'm very much the same way myself. I like to know whether or not I feel safe and welcomed before I even assert myself. I guess it's a fear of rejection, at the end of the day, and it's a tough one.

Anyhow, it's not uncommon, as SPD becomes more and more commonly diagnosed in children and adults alike these days, for many adults to learn about their own sensory struggles after seeing a son, niece, or grandchild receive a diagnosis. As you read up on it, you begin to notice just how much this disorder explains a lot of your struggles through life. It's tough to learn so far into life, but it's great to know you aren't alone and that others have been there too.

You sound like a great person, and I wish you the best of luck on your journey. Welcome to the site!