My body tenses, and I get horrible chills...?
Question:
I get that every time I experience what I call "dry on dry." when clothing rubs against clothing, when using paper towels with dry hands, when rubbing my feet on the carpet... I can't explain it. I go tense, I get a funny feeling in my chest, and my skin erupts into goosebumps. I can't think or talk or even stay in the same room. I'm in art school, and I had to walk out of class once because I couldn't stand charcoal against newsprint paper.
It's gotten worse. When others do it around me, I freak out. I don't understand it... it's starting to rule my life.
What is this condition called?
I know others have it... my father can't stand touching things with a vinyl material. He drops it every time...
please... any suggestions would be grand!
Answers:
What you are talking about makes perfect sense to me. ]I believe something that you could investigate is called "Sensory Integration Dysfunction." It is a neurological condition in which people are either overlysensitive or undersensitive to touch, taste, smell, sound or sight, and forms of movement. The messages from the senses aren't correctly processed by the central nervious system.
I have tactile sensitivity and am picky about the kinds of materials I can wear for clothing. Socks have to fit just right, and especially my shirts. I have a hard time with movement close up (Like when my daughter comes running up to me when I get home - I have to have her stop and then I will go to her so the exposure is gradual. In a movie theatre, I have to sit as far back as possible to watch the movie, otherwise I can't watch it - there is too much to take in.
There is a book called "The Out of Sync Child" writen by Carol Stock Kranowitz, MA that talks about this condition. It is highly endorsed by some prominent people. Although it mainly talks about children, the information is helpful for all involved.
I also have ADHD, and a Nonverbal Learning Disability which is the core reasons for my SI Dysfunction. But I don't believe that it is just limited to those conditions either.
I wish I could provide you with more tips on how to deal with it. I know that I have a lot of trouble with some sounds, and so when I am around them, as possible, I either turn off or turn down my hearing aids to lesson the impact.
I hope this is somewhat helpful and I wish you success.
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