(11-02-2015, 06:20 PM)Jules1717 Wrote: Hi, I'm Julie, I'm 31 and just learned about this diagnosis a week ago...might be the answer to all of my "crazy"...who would I see about getting an official diagnosis? A regular MD or therapist?

I've had most of the symptoms since I was a child (memories of aversion to how clothes/texture felt on my body since I was three, symptoms started giving me panic attacks and I began avoiding trigger situations beginning in the 4th grade).

As an adult, touch/feel is actually not a sensory problem anymore unless I'm really overstimulated. I would say my sight and hearing are the two most affected. For example, when I'm driving, my eyes are frantically trying to track everything: the texture of the pavement, how bright the lines are, anything that's moving--it all feels like a potential threat. My hearing and other senses will fade (everything sounds like it's underwater) as my vision takes over completely. When this happens, I will bite or pinch my arm or hand to distract myself, and it buys me a few minutes. I haven't driven on a highway or interstate in years, not interested in risking killing myself or anyone else (I have a five minute, in-town commute to work and I can always pull over if I need to). This has been the hardest one to try to explain to people and it's so frustrating to be so dependent on other people if I need to get around. Fluorescent lighting hurts my eyes a lot (thank you, office) and walking or being in a crowd makes me extremely dizzy and disoriented. I also get motion sickness very easily.

When I feel overstimulated, I get really jumpy over sounds. Closing a cupboard door, sneezing, throat clearing or coughing...loud or sudden noises cause me to jump involuntarily. I also obsess over repetitive sounds.

Movie theaters are The Worst. All of that visual and audio stimulation...I will legitimately show all the signs of a heart attack: severe chest pain, numbness down my left side, shortness of breath, dizziness. Symptoms disappear the minute I step out of the theater and get in a quiet, calm environment.

I struggle with frequent insomnia. I can't sleep if I hear sounds, and I usually feel too overstimulated to be able to shut my mind off.

One doctor in college diagnosed me with severe reactive hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), but altering my diet has had no impact

Dear Julie,
I just found (and joined) this SPD forum today and have been searching to see if there is any helpful information about insomnia. I am a lifetime sufferer. There is a brushing protocol that has--at times--helped me, and also a weight blanket ("ditto"--doesn't always help). I do resort to Ambien but obviously would prefer not to. Most of what I've stumbled on on this forum has to do with children with SPD and sleep challenges.
P.