Thanks for the response country girl.
Where would be the best palce to seek help/information for these sensory issues. I spent many years at the doctors explaining the problem only to get all manner of creams and lotions which didn't help and antidepressants again which didn't really help.
Thanks
I think it is ADHD related in many cases. I have always found it impossible to concentrate if there's a tag in the back of my shirt or even one hair touching the wrong spot. If I have a rough material on my chest sometimes I'll chafe fast and very painful. A rash means no ability to focus.
I became a naturist as a result partly of the sensitivity. I just feel so much more free without clothing as it torments me sometimes. Now if I could afford hand tailored silk all the time with no tags or stiching - maybe I'd dress all the time. Until then I tolerate what I can and take it off when I can't.
I have just discovered this forum and thought I would drop a post to see if anyone out there suffers(ed) from a strange skin condition that I have which I think (after reading a few articles on here) may be ADD realted.
Basically my skin is extremely sensitive to touch, i.e. any clothing that I wear will feel extremely uncomfortable as I can feel every movement in it. I have had my skin checked out for all of the usual dermatological issues of which there is none and there is no form of any rash either. I am desperate for a cure for this as it has been with me for many years - any ideas, should I see the doctor or are there any diet/vitamin supplements I can try that may help ?
I have never really thought of myself as having ADD (although I didn't even know it could affect adults and didn't really know what it was). It is funny though now I think about it, I never manage to finish a book, never read a magzine from start to finish, get fidity in meetings at work and can't even stay on one readio station in the car... all things I have seen in the forums here.
Any advice much a appreciated - if indeed this is an ADD thing.
Thanks
I have read that skin sensitivity can be ADHD-related. I am not usually irritated by tags and such, but when I am sick or over-tired, my skin feels like it is burning. A caress feels like an Indian burn. Weird....Does anybody have any suggestions then as to where I could start looking to alleviate this ??? Or am I stuck with it....Si issues can come with many disorders as read in the out of sink child. Most just think of it with autism. Look at the cleaning stuff you use it could be effecting you also. Dry skin is also a sign of enough Good fats/thyroid missing in the diet.Thanks for the info - really appreciated. Absolutely driving me up the wall this...
Hello ninja;
I have spent the last couple of years working in Autism. Often with this disorder comes the inability to wear clothes. To alleviate this as well as adversion they may have to tag in clothing is called the Wilbarger brushing technique. It is usually very successful in making clothing more tolerable. I would not even begin to try and explain how it is done in print as it is much easier when shown. It can be learned however from any Occupational therapist that knows what they are doing. I would highly suggest giving it a try.
Another thing you may find that may help alleviate some discomfort is deep pressure. This will get the blood flowing and usually make clothing a bit more bearable.
Hope this helps;
Lori
Thanks for the advice - how would I go about organising sorting this out, or learning about the technique ?
I went to the doctor today and explained what I was suffering with and after goign through all of the usual (i.e. allergic reactions, dry skin etc) he came to the conclusion that there was nothing they could do other than refer me to a skin specialist (been there done that). Anyway I mentioned could it be ADHD/Autism related and got told definitely not ?!?
Just confused now.
Ninja - maybe you can start looking into autism spectrum disorders (which seem to be related to ADD). I used to type for doctors who worked with kids with autism, ADD, etc, and they often looked for that very thing - being sensitive to clothing and other similar sensory issues to do with things touching the skin. I'm not suggesting you have autism but you might find some information if you look it up related to this.
I really dislike wearing shoes, they bother me a lot, but clothes don't bother me so much. There are some things I can't stand to touch, especially things like chalk and powders - I hate the way chalk feels soooooo much it's almost unbearable. It's to the point where I hate even the smell of it and I can't stand to look at it. I remember walking my son into class and feeling apprehensive that I might see a chalkboard, and how was I going to be able to talk to the teacher and focus if there was one - and I was so happy because his teacher uses some kind of board with magic markers instead. It's awful how these things can affect your life! I'm sure your situation is pretty rough because it's on a daily basis. I'm not sure what kind of treatment is available. I'll see if I can find any info, and if I do, I'll post it for you.
Hello ninja;
The doctor may well not know about the technique I told you about.. It is used by occupational therapists. I would suggest asking him to refer you or if a referral is not necessary to go and see an O.T.
Please remember all O.T.'s are not familiar with this either as not all deal with Autism. If this is a problem you run into then look for a local chapter of CHADS and see one of their O.T.'s. They should be well versed in this technique.
Best of luck and don't let a doctor's lack of understanding shake you. Often doctors specialize in one area and so fail to know much outside it.
Wasn't there something about this in Driven to Distraction? Being hyper-sensitive to textures, irritants, etc.?
I was extremely sensitive to clothing textures as a kid. Somewhat now but not as bad. Tight ill fitting clothes will send me over the edge! Tags? We don't even go there. Needless to say, there was no way that my mom would/could have dressed me in lace and frufru girly clothes! I remember sitting in the yard, right before Easter, with my Easter outfit on having a kicking screaming little temper fit cause my shoes 'felt funny'.
I think it is probably ADD related. After all isn't ADD in part the inability to block internal/external stimuli?
You might want to see a psych specialist about ADD and ask if the hypersensitivity to clothing might be related.
I've heard of the brushing therapy. It's a sensory integration technique. But I would also think it would just feel really good to get brushed. Hey, dogs like it don't they?