I had my first appointment with an O.T today. I was 2 hours early (because I wrote the time down wrong ) but it did give me time to find out where the building was

Over-all the appointment went very well. The O.T was lovely - we talked a little about what areas I wanted to address and if there was one sense that was more affected... to which I said they are all stressful / bad...but really wanted to work on touch, sound and taste the most. We decided to start with touch. As we talked she brought up that she noticed that I fidget a lot, especially with my hands - so she suggested having something to hold/have in my hands to touch might be a good idea - I tried various small toys and objects - and got a feel (excuse the pun) for what I did and didn't like. After, we discussed how the therapressure Brushing works and did my first brushing session - it actually felt a lot nicer than I was expecting - though a little irritating by the end (it did seem to calm me down a bit after the pressure part after brushing).
By the end of the session though I was really tired, and had trouble focusing on what she was saying, and wanted to go home.

I see her again hopefully in two weeks - in the mean time I am meant to brush 3 to 5 times a day. It sounds like a lot - I'm afraid I'll forget! but i'm really hoping this will be helpful. She didn't say whether or not I have S.P.D as a diagnosis? (she mentioned when I talked with her about my problems on the phone that it sounded like sensory processing disorder/issues). I handed in all the questionnaires today she asked me to fill out, and she said she is going to just write a letter back to the GP who reffered me. Can Adults even receive a dx of S.P.D? or...can anyone? since it is not in the DSM? I have heard it is only diagnosed as a co-morbid thing?
Either way, I'm really not fussed about an official diagnosis (even if it would make me feel less crazy!) - I really just care about getting the right treatment to make my life bearable and less stressful! have many people here done brushing? did you find it helpful? will I have to brush every day from now on?? any advice?/what to expect - e.g. senses get *more* sensitive before they get better?

I'm glad to hear it went well for you. It's perfectly normal to be worn out after OT as it's forcing your neurological system to do things it wants to resist. Feel free to tell your OT when you're feeling that way. Sometimes you may want to stop early. When my daughter did the brushing, she had to do it every 1.5 to 2 hours, so 3 to 5 times a days doesn't sound like a lot to me. If you think you'll forget, set a pleasant alarm in your cell phone--I find the harp sound not so offensive on my IPhone. Ask for a copy of the letter she sends your GP--you have every right to see it. The dx won't be SPD because it's not in the DSM, but it will be something that describes how your sensory symptoms are manifested. For my daughter, it was dyspraxia. The brushing was not helpful for my daughter, but she is not hypersensitive, and I've read it's more helpful for people with those symptoms. I've also read that, after the initial treatment, some people only do brushing when they're stressed or feel overloaded to calm down. The OT told us to stop immediately if the brushing made our daughter feel worse, so if it makes you feel more sensitive, you may want to call your OT to ask if you should continue.
It sounds like you're being very proactive about your treatment. You're doing great.

Hi Meow_machine! Glad you've had your first appointment. When you next see her, ask about the diagnosis. As we're both in Australia, I'll say to you that my OT did outright say to me that yes, I do have SPD.

I'm hypersensitive on everything except visual. I do the brushing, but the advice from my OT was in the morning, before you go to bed (because it helps with sleeping) and then otherwise when you're going to do something that will be stressful for your system and after you've done something stressful. I think people vary in how effective they find it. I find it quite effective for overall calming down my system. My job involves presenting 1.5 hour sessions to school groups of up to 100 kids at a time. I brush after it, because I can often feel jittery/wired afterwards and it gradually calms me down. When I have to deal with working at heights, it works to help keep me from falling straight into sleepy tired because I've overstressed my vestibular system. Nowadays, I mainly do it when I know that I'm going to have a sensory stressful day or after something stressful.

I've found yoga also very effective for overall calming down my system. I have a box of various shaped/sizes smooth rocks/marbles that I bought from the 2 dollar shop that I can run my hands through, that feels nice. I have a squeezy ball that goes with me almost anywhere when I leave the house.

Hope you start to make some headway with this!

I started with brushing for the first day or two... but havent done it since... I dont often have some who can do the brushing of my back part.... so I haven't done any brushing.. . as not sure if not doing would just part of whats needed will work or if it will make things worse..

I seriously need to find a way to brush... between the hectic few weeks im having/will have I end up wanting to either sit on the couch for hours and do nothing... or worst case scenario .. which happened two nights ago - I end up crying and yelling and freaking out at who ever is around ... udually my poor boyfriend or mum... I look like a crazy person.... the incident two days ago - I had had enough that day and was stressed and exhausted - boyfriend insisted on lighting two sticks of insence at one .. my nose felt like someone was consrantly ticklingexploding it with a feather - so itchy I couldnt think - and the smell - I couldnt breathe! Then walked into kitchen where we just put up a new clock... and I found out it ticks so loudly... unfortunately as it became too mudifferent storyiend walks in and copps it my mind was both paralysed with just feeling to much of everything ... then just had this huge burst of uncontrollable anger ... id never be violent.. and im not a very angry person.. but when it comes to stress and things being too much... its a different matter unfortunately

The first few days of brushing are the worst. Really. And it helps even if you don't do your back. I usually got my back 2 times a day and the rest of them I didn't get my back. That worked fine for me.

Thanks Turttleturtle,

I left a message with O.T but I think she might be away...
Will definitely try to brush regularly (and brush back maybe once or twice a day), now that I know it wont wreck things if I'm not able to do the full brushing routine.

Today is another stressful day, as is every day over the next two and a half weeks - so time to get on with brushing

Quick message - I'll reply more fully later. I've never done my back, OT said not to bother as one person by myself. I still get a big benefit from it from arms/hands/legs/feet (feet on the whole don't get done in winter, either!).

meow - what about compression garments? They can also help with providing calming input.

My son is hypersensitive to tactile input, and it worked almost better than brushing - which seemed to have a different effect at different times - at calming him down and helping him focus.

When your system is freaking out it's almost certain you're going to get mad... anyone who's ever had a really overstimulating day will attest to that...

Hang in there, OT will help!

the idea of a brush with thousands of bristels/needles in my skin is a threat to me

(11-29-2013, 06:24 AM)Esmee Wrote: the idea of a brush with thousands of bristels/needles in my skin is a threat to me

Brushing is a very specific protocol that uses a very specific brush. It's not "take any brush and then put it on your skin". When you're doing it properly (using the proper brush, and pushing down hard enough), its actually pretty soft. Itchiness is actually a thing you watch out for in how you are doing it.

But, the protocol, between the brushing and the joint compression that occur after, can actually train your nervous system to be less sensitive to touch. It's one of the ways to work on our symptoms, rather than to just work on coping with our symptoms.