some sensory issues-please help | ADHD Information

~I posted this on another board here but it didn't seem like many people
looked at that board so I thought I'd post it here too~

I am a college student who was diagnosed with ADHD in elementary
school and am curious about this disorder. In the past my mom and I have
agreed that I have many symptoms but I never really thought it was worth
pursuing but I am having a few issues that I would really like someone's
opinion on.

Some of my main problems are that I really am picky about the way things
feel. As a child I only wore certain things, closes couldn't be too tight,
couldn't have tags and socks had to be inside out etc. Ever since I was a
small child I have had a blanket. It is the checkered indented material that
long johns are often made out of. It is very soft and usually feels cold. I
will run it through my hands over and over throughout the day. As a child
this was how I calmed down and I still use it when I'm home or sleeping. I
have to buy a new one every couple of years because they will get holes
and eventually with become like ripped up rags from me playing with
them with my hands so much. I also have a very bad habit of rubing the
soft and smooth parts of my hands like the part of your fingers in
between the nuckels. I will either rube it with my fingers or against my
lips. I also bite my fingers(not my nails). It is something that I just can't
stop and I do it all day. My hands look very bad and messed up and
people are always asking me what is wrong with them. I also bit my lips a
lot. I really want to stop but I don't know how to stop or why I do it. I am
also a really picky eater but only with textures of foods not really with
tastes.

I like motion a lot. As a kid I ran literally everywhere. I like skiing fast and
riding a bike fast. I also love roller coasters. But I absolutely love being in
the car. Not really driving as much but just being in a car. I can think
much better in a moving car and find it soothing.

I also don't like being touched and never let anyone hug me except a few
people who I am very close to. I hate hugs! I also don't like crowds and
places with too many people. I usually just try to get away as soon as
possible and end up almost almost pushing people out of my way. I also
don't like group settings and often will either not talk at all or if I am
comfortable around the people I will get much more hyper and outgoing.
I also have a tendency to get way too excited about certain things and will
flap my hands when I do.

I just listed a few things I could think of. I am not sure if this is sensory
processing dysfunction but I thought it would be a good place to post it. I
am mainly concerned about the more extreme issues like biting my
fingers and nuckles. I am not sure what I can do to improve these issues
so if you have any advice i'd greatly appreciate it.

You do not mention NLP, Neuro Linguistic Programming.  NLP is about changing habits.  If you have a habit that bothers you, and you are having diffidiulty finding sufficient motivation to change the habit on your own, then you might utilize NLP.

There is a wide range of NLP practioners, in approach and cost.  There are DVD lectures and books, that teach NLP techniques.

Understanding the complexities of your personal tendencies and preferences is important.  You are not likely to change your preferences.  You might realize that biting your knuckles is in conflict with maintaining a professional-like appearance, and you might have a conflict of preferences that needs to be worked out.

One way to use NLP is to figure out what brings on your undesired response.  Then work to have a more acceptable response more readily at hand, so when the trigger for the undesired response occurs, that you are ready to implement the alternative.  Like a squeeze ball to have in your hands.  Captain Queeg rolled two steel ball bearings in his fingers, when he felt nervous, in the fictious story of the Caine Mutiny.

Make an appointment with an NLP therapist, then at the appointments, threaten to fire the therpist if he does not produce better results faster.  Thereby, you can shift the blame for any of your undesirable habits, from yourself, to a therapist.  NLP Theapists accept responsibility for changing your habits.

If you can define a habit you wish to change, can you describe what leads up to the action of the habit yoy wish to extiguish or change?

 

 

..

Otter40371.6580787037

[QUOTE=Ms Ambivalent]I'm not a health professional so feel free to ignore this comment completely, but to me the behaviors you mention are more typical of autism than ADHD.  We all have our preferences and habits though.  I think the first poster had some good input for you,  learning to change the behaviors that don't suit you is probably the best course of action.  

   [/QUOTE]

The same idea of Autism characterisitics occurred to me.  There are mild cases of autism, in which the individual is able to fulfill many of society's expectations.

Personally, on the job, my performance is streaky, so sometimes I can get my work done neatly, and sometimes my handwriting is difficult to read.

Working in a team where others understand your contributions, and can pick up for you on an off day, might be one type of job for ADHD people.  Some government jobs can tolerate occasional off dahys, if you are still n time and pleasant. 

One woman I know works in the government financial area, looking for mistakes made by others.  Auditors want all the columns to add up, so if there is a discrepancy, it often takes creative detective work to find the error, and figure out how to correct the columns.  

 

 

//

I'm not a health professional so feel free to ignore this comment completely, but to me the behaviors you mention are more typical of autism than ADHD.  We all have our preferences and habits though.  I think the first poster had some good input for you,  learning to change the behaviors that don't suit you is probably the best course of action.  

   I have similar sensory things to you about how things feel, I am extremely fussy, about clothes and how they feel, cut off tags ect like you, I have to undo and do up my shoelaces on my runnning shoes about 5 times until they feel exactly right , I feel cold- hold weather intensely, water showers ect, and I can feel the wind on my skin quite alot, and I can only eat certain foods and cant eat certain foods because of ther texture and how it feels in my mouth, I am also extremely sensitive to others touching me, and I do not like shpping centers crowds ect, because of over stimualion of senses, and I have extreme acute hearing, I only realised I was different about two years ago, when I was reading about sensory processing disorder, I have turned it into a positive thing, and found out that I had many talents, because of it, I now do theurepeutic massage for work,becauase my sensitive sense of touch I am a complete natural and really good at it, and I also discovered I have an artistic flair with colour, so now my house and my wardrobe is alive and vibrant with colour and people are always commenting on my sense of colour cordination, but I do have troube too and I have learnt to mange things, I have would you believe industrial ear muffs I wear if their is any concrete drilling or building outside my house because it feels like the drills going through my brain which is not pleasant, I have to wear ear plugs to sleep, have to take rest after shopping centers, I have to put ear plugs on, face mask, go in my bedroom and be silent in darkness, to have relief from sensory stimulation, I am 40 year young woman, and have been doing some wierd things all my life to manage it, it took me a long time to realise I was different, for some strange reason I thought everyone was like me, but now I know they are not, but I also just accept it,and dont see it as a negative thing because it means I am artistic, and I experience life in a vibrant, sensory, alive , adventure that other people dont have, I would advice you, to love and accept yourself, and dont worry about the wierd habits, and dont worry about what other people think or say , as even if you tell them, they usually are not going to understand anyway, I am funny with people as well , get overwhelmed and hyper and over stimulated ect, and calming down can be really hard, but I think their are definitely postitive , gifts that can come out of being like this, I have found some of mine which have really enhanced my life, I dont think it as autism , I just think it is being a highly sensitive gifted sensory person, but it is a challenge dealing with the loud, fast paced, world out there.I have to wear my socks inside out or the seam will bother my toes so much that I want to jump out of my skin. Also, I hate repetitive noises.

I think autism can exist with ADD. I like the suggestion of the NLP therapist. I hadn't considered that, but it would probably be a good thing.
Those all sound like my brother, who has ADD and is on the spectrum.

You are much more high functioning than my brother, though.

That NLP stuff is really interesting...I'm not sure if CBT could also apply here,
but they use it to treat a myriad of things, and while I'm no mental health
professional, I think it could be a possibility.

WOW sounds SO familliar. I have found that I don't get self-destructive unless I have too much energy that I am unable to expell. Fourtunately that dosn't usually happen unless I'm sick, injured or on a bus/plane/train. I work at home and have a pull up bar, a ballet barre, my Rhythmic Gymnastics hoop, and some random carpet space all between my office and the kitchen. If I find myself getting aggitated/restless I'll go do one of those things. If I'm REALLY hyper I have a home gym in my garage.

I find as a rule of thumb it's important to ALWAYS have something around to do with your hands. I like to draw while watching TV/Movies or take "notes" (and by notes I mean scribbled diagrams with chicken scratch lables) if it is educational -

one of my friends in highschool had this bird toy that she used to wear on a chain to play with to keep from biting her nails....  

 

 

 

I am also very sensitive - other than a couple of tiny vison issues (nearsighted and have trouble distingushing between blues and purples) but hearing, touch, taste and smell are very sensitive.

I can't eat certian foods without literally throwing up (most legumes) and I can't stand food that has been "overcooked" (I eat meat blue rare and refuse to eat cooked vegitables - eggs over easy ect.) My ex-bestfriend was even shocked becuse he'd never seen a girl eat meat the way I prefer it.

Touch is probably the most irritating one - I can't stand shoes or too many layers of clothing. But at the same time when you're standing on the back of a moving horse having hightened sensitivity in your feet can be very advantageous. I find it allows me to feel subtle changes/signals from my equine partner. (I do Equestrian Vaulting)

I hate HUMAN physical contanct - For the most part I don't mind hugs from my parents and obviously I'm fine with physical contact with my husband I love to snuggle while we sleep - I hate awake-time cuddling though or hugs that last more than 20 seconds. Other than my close familly and one or two friends my gymnastics coach is the only person who can touch me without making me squirm. And no-one can touch me when I'm angry/restless.

For the most part I am an incredibly light sleeper. Earplugs never worked for me becuse I could still hear sounds through them. When I was about 15 I started wearing headphones and listening to music to fall asleep. My Mp3 player battery would usually die after a while but I would be in a deep sleep by then. 

I find noise dosn't really bother me for sleep as long as I feel safe. I still use the music trick when I travel tho.

crouds used to be a HUGE problem especilly places where there were a lot of smells such as food courts/cafetirias but with time and practice I learned to filter what I was hearing/seeing/smelling. I still don't LIKE crouds but I can deal with them without having a panic attack.

The motion thing sounds a lot like me too - but I think that relates to the ADHD needs to expend energy and be stimulated.

I say find ways to use the energy - control it rather than trying to contain it. :)