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I will be doing a series of posts regarding Sensory Processing Disorder to explain what it is, the symptoms and the treatments.  This series will be posted daily, one sensory dysfunction at a time.

I would be remiss if I did not mention how expensive it is to get treatment and how difficult it is to find occupational therapists in your area that treat adults.  That being said, I will tell you the little tricks that I have learned on my own to lessen my own symptoms.  I was diagnosed very late in life but the diagnosis explained a lot and the research I’ve done has shown me that my instincts were right on for finding variations of the official treatments on my own.  This pleases me immensely LOL Validation is a good thing:)

Since I am aware that I am not alone in the quest for relief with limited funds I believe it would be helpful and encouraging to others on a similar quest.  So I will start with:

1. Tactile sensitivity: Sensitivity to input from the skin such as touch, weight, temperature, and pain. 

a. Tactile defensiveness or hypersensitivity to touch may show as

• difficulty wearing clothing made of itchy or rough material

• the need to change clothes the instant they become dirty or wet

• doesn’t like unexpected touch, kisses, or cuddles

• avoiding big crowds and rooms full of people

• prefers hugs from people they know and like

• doesn’t like to be dirty or participate in messy activities

• very ticklish

• walks on tippy toes

• doesn’t like to brush teeth, wash face, brush hair or cut their nails

May also be considered picky eaters which will be covered on another day.

the opposite spectrum Hyposensitivity to touch looks like this:

• craves touch, back massages, and hugs

• engages in self-injury, such as biting, pinching, or head banging

• insensitive to injuries with high tolerance for pain

• oral fixation always putting things in their mouths

• seeks messy activities

• prefers touching soft or smooth surfaces

• enjoys the feeling of objects that have vibration – (Who doesn’t? LOL)

some other signs are:

• poor fine motor skills and problems zipping pants or buttoning shirts

• difficulties using scissors, pencils, crayons or silverware

• struggles defining objects in terms of shape, size, texture, temperature or weight.

• afraid of the dark

• too difficult to identify things just by feeling them

Treatment offered by Occupational Therapy

• Desensitization procedures

• deep pressure massage

• weighted blankets

• firm brushing of the arms and legs with a soft bristle brush, known as the Brushing Technique or the Wilbarger Protocol, Wilbarger Brushing Technique

• plays with texture materials, such as play dough or any gooey yucky slimy substance

• play with sensory tables filled with varying temperatures of water, beans, rice, or sand.

• massages with lotion

• finger painting

• vibrating toys or massagers (your favourite vibrator perhaps?:)

My Process

When I take a shower I only use Dial body wash with a light fruity scent, use a cheap $store puffy (as opposed to the higher quality soft puffies) to wash scrub my skin.  I use a rough towel to dry myself off.  I wash and dry myself as vigorously as I can stand but not hard enough to irritate the skin.

I always apply a light moisturizer lotion immediately after drying off.  This prevents itching.  (I use whipped lotions because they are not too light, too heavy or too greasy)

I am not able to tolerate heavy blankets or anything else too heavy so instead I will sleep on the couch, my back against the back of the couch, forming a type of cradle sensation for myself.  I have also had one side of my bed butted up against a wall and a body pillow for me to lay against.

Massages are challenging because it depends on how I feel at that particular moment, sometimes I want a deep massage but often a deep massage is painful.  Then I need just a light pressure applied during the message.  Sometimes I cannot tolerate either one.

There are absolutely NO “textured materials” that I tolerate so I avoid them when possible.  Touching chicken is insane for me so I use forks to avoid touching any poultry when cooking.  Very clumsy but the only way I can do it (even with gloves on it grosses me out!).  I don’t play in the sand, I don’t finger paint or anything like that.  Just can’t stand it so I don’t.  I’m allowed:)

As far as vibrators go, I’m not a fan.  Far TOO stimulating for me, even on my hands.  So, no need for me to worry about batteries LMAO

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