Other Selective Sensory Sensitivity?

[siniang]

I've spend my last days researching sensory sensitivity/processing disorder. I've seen it mentioned here on the forums multiple times and I think at least a few users actually suffer from sensory processing disorder. I want to learn more about it how sensory sensitivity looks in every day life beyond the formal descriptions on random internet articles.

What triggered this research and pondering is that I got really sick over some random car scent hubby was using, the other day. Which got me thinking. Because I do seem to react strongly to certain sensory inputs that others don't seem to care about.

But it seems...selective.

Like I actually love scented candles. But only certain scents - while I cannot stand others. Scents in general seems very hit or miss what I like, what I can endure, and what makes me legit sick, even within the same general type of scent. Cigarette smoke, even when many yards away? Makes me sick as a dog. Bonfire? Bring it on!. I can't stand most really artificial scents (perfumes, deodorants...ugh!). Natural ones are fine and even encouraged (like, LOVE eucalyptus...but are quite picky with those...essential oils very much differ significantly in quality-- again, some are just awful, why would they even sell that and call it "eucalyptus"?!? -- does no one else notice?). But I noticed this particularly with essential oils.... I love a selective few...and can absolutely not do the majority.

I know T asked me a few sessions ago whether I have problems with tags in clothes. I negated.

But in retrospect towards that question? I absolutely do avoid and cannot stand certain fabrics. Also most really tight clothes. So...maybe tags aren't that much of a problem because I subconsciously mitigate it by preferring to wear wide clothes?

I never thought much of it.

Also...for example many random noises? No problem. Ticking clocks? Drive me insane. Same with dripping faucets. Cannot stop not focusing on those. Very very hard for me to tune out.

Bright lights (sun, oncoming cars at night)? Hurt like hell. Strobe lights? No problem.

Either way, it doesn't seem to be restricted to any one particular sensory channel. And they all seem to be very selective without any obvious pattern.
And it can be more endurable one day and almost unbearable the next. For no obvious reason.

I don't think I have actual sensory processing disorder. But, I guess I'm trying to figure out/calibrating how much sensitivity is perfectly normal -- and what would warrant further (medical?) investigation. Particularly when trying to communicate this with others.

 

[shatter eyes]

I have this and its from TBI. When did it start for you?

I go berzerk with artificial scents and chemical smells. Feels like my head will explode while my heart rate spikes on some smells. Eucalyptus is so nice. Our sense of smell is wired directly to the limbic system from what i remember. Evolution later added a second pathway for brain to act as executive.

Its interesting you can tolerate strobe lights. I cannot.

A neurologist might be good start to document and investigate. Sudden onset of certain stimuli??

 

[siniang]

No TBI that I'm aware of.

Also, I think...in retrospect. At least some of those sensitivities have been there for forever. I've gotten legit sick over the taste/smell of certain foods as long as I can remember. Same with certain fabrics...I recall them always bothering me.

I wonder if that's also why I've always absolutely hated facepaint as a kid? I never could quite make sense of what's the deal with THAT!

 

[Keen]

I have similar experiences. Certain seemingly random scents or sounds or touch sensations that make me super tense or I find intolerable.
Many of mine are similar to yours--tags, tight clothing, smoke, most essential oils, bright sun. I can't do strobe lights though.
At first I thought it could be PTSD related--maybe each one was connected to the trauma in some way? Although now I think that is true for some of them, some of them really seem to be unrelated to the trauma.
I haven't solved it though, and haven't investigated it with a professional or medically. I just assume its something sensory-processing related.
Maybe this was not helpful, or maybe it is just to know someone else experiences what you do.

 

[Friday]

It might make more sense if you look at it in personal-spectrum-land:

- Some of those things may be completely normal dislikes.
- Some may be trauma related (trigger/stressor)
- Some may be PTSD related (hypervigilance &/or anxiety &/or dysreg)
- Some may be medical (hormones, nerve damage, etc.)
- Some may be sensory-schtuff (preexisting / pathological)
- ???

Reeeeeally don’t discount personal preference.

Love/like/neutral/dislike/hate is a spectrum in and of itself, and it’s both completely normal to have it & a good thing to have. It ALSO often trumps sensory issues... speaking as someone with 2 disorders that come part and parcel with sensory issues... loving or liking a thing so much that one learns to move past the crossed wires; or in reverse, one can dislike/despise a thing far more than another thing with massive sensory-schtuff attached.