Oh my, yes. Almost got the dx for autism because of senses. I can smell people so much that family is astounded when I say, "Jean was here, eh?" or "That plummer you used 2 years ago came today, right?" Once I knew who had smoked in my car, what brand she smoked, and I could also assess that she had inhaled and tried to blow it out the side as she got into the car!! (She explained). I could totally be used by police to solve mysteries.
But truly, it is terrible and effects my ability to live in a house. I usually hole up in one room, but it has to be a safe room. Anything starts to smell. I can smell the furnace and the wood or the sheetrock. I had to rip up carpet and putting in bamboo, but of course, bamboo has an odour. I have lost deposits because an apartment SEEMS ok, and then a guy three doors door down smokes and it gets into the house and then I cannot stand it. Odour is worse. I burn a lot of food (PTSD) and it just makes me sick for days.
Odours are worst, but maybe noise is worse. I was so desperate with noise (they put a 24 hour mine behind my house) that I was in a serious state and all I could think about was how much I wanted to puncture my eardrums and then I realized that would not work----I would sense the vibrations! I realized only non-existence would end this torture. It dawned on my that my mind cannot stop once a fly lands on it. A little vibration from the trucks and BAM-----I will go from that dreamy state to WIDE AWAKE and ready to run. I was awake 30 days without even a minute of sleep and was having awake REMS. I went to Dr and she was like, "When you are tired, you will sleep". Not true.
Also light bothers me, touch ( I HATE to be touched---- I cannot even stand going to Drs), food issues.
So what do I do? If I have found a safe place to eek out my miserable existence, I tone down all excitement and communication around 4 pm and turn off all lights, but keep shades open so natural light falls into darkness (Melatonin). If I am not in a safe place, I spend days pacing and suffering from lack of sleep and overdose of stimuli.
I also wear earplugs if I leave the house for anything. Even to go to the supermarket and even out on walks and also to (try to) sleep. I went to church once and it was SO LOUD I had to leave. Even the preaching with the microphone was blasting.
I keep a safe pack in car with sunglasses, earplugs, sunscreen, hats ,etc.
But mostly, it's a nightmare. I often wonder how long I can do this.
Lately, I had to move into the home of a friend who wishes I was not there, but puts up with me but lets me know it's not want they want.
I am sorry that I cannot be of more help!! When I could not move around after I gave birth, I listened to a lot of music, like Bach and I also did A LOT of Latin and languages I did in college. Then I started to write poems in other languages (probably sucky, but you know what?? I LOVED THEM!) and also started to memorize long poems. Yes, I was going out of my mind, but I flooded myself with things that mattered (with occasional cheesy movies for DBT Changing Of Emotion).
You will get through!!! Thank you for being brave enough to post. It is not easy to bear the soul here.
