Sensory issues and age

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Yes, I've read some similar things, plus comments by Temple Grandin.

Also: Worse for me overall, but some (touch, for example) have improved. And a big culprit in getting worse is exposure to them - sound is most common, but not my only sensitivity.

I've also hit the point where video games cause shutdowns, and considering they're my primary hobby, this is really frustrating. It does depend on level of action (sound, movement, etc), however, as I can last longer randomly wandering the wilderness in Skyrim than I can going from shootout to shootout in Mass Effect 2.

Oh, and what MrXxx said about noise and children? They're not my children, but they cause debilitating levels of noise. Plus, I don't think the adults who take care of these children are entirely competent to do so. And yes, I am talking about people I am related to when I say this. Most of them are rubbish, except my sister and to a lesser extent my mother.

I've read sensory issues tend to get better with age, but mine really have not changed at all. I'm only better able to control my reactions to them.

~Kate

With me I don't think: "This will be over soon."
My way of thinking is: "ARGGGGGGGGH! It's going to be like this forever!"

Some theories I have for the worsening of my sensory issues: medication side effects (every different brand has just made me worse), avoiding high sensory areas (bit hard to avoid it when you live in the city - maybe I'll see how used I am to the speeding flying metal tube going over my house everyday by the end of the year) so I'm not really adjusting to it, and anxiety about my sensory issues. The more awareness I have the more it bothers me, although I don't always think about it when I do have to go out. I just remember when it begins to happen again.

I think that I've become less able to shut down enough to deal with large stores and such. I was always uncomfortable, but I just dealt with it. Now I don't have the energy or desire to deal with it any longer than I just have to.

I've gotten better I would say... of course when I was a little kid I would sometimes get so scared of loud sounds that I'd pee myself, so it's not really easy to get worse from there. Just the sheer fact that I don't have that problem as an adult is a very big improvement on quality of life.

I still have a lot of discomfort at loud clubs and parties, or if I am standing in front of loud people in a line, or near trains or heavy traffic. The urge to either run away or lash out and defend myself from the attack is something that I can resist now much better than when I was young, but given the choice I'd still much rather avoid those situations entirely.

The main reason my reactions to sensory overload have changed is probably that I've been doing martial arts for the past decade. When I am in the dojo with an opponent it's alright to react to stimuli suddenly, in fact, it's encouraged. I spend a lot of time training my reactions to be more productive and less detrimental. Now, when I am faced with a noisy street and a fire truck rolls by, I still feel like curling up in a ball and covering my ears, but I simply don't have to anymore.

i would say that overall they've gotten better. the things that bugged me most (incessantly barking dogs, too cold interiors, being hurried, bad smells, & fluorescent lighting) still do, but other, less aggravating things i've gotten used to (other drivers behaving aggressively, many people talking at once, the glare of sunrise/sunset, the feel of the wind), & in some cases even learned to like them (e.g. exotic food). i think i have gained coping skills to some extent (like changing the focus of my attention), & also become desensitized (although this seems to vary).

it is certainly possible to learn to "mind" less, even if you can't adjust the stimuli. meditation, even of the most superficial sort, can be an aid.

My sensory issues have gotten much worse with age, however I deal with them alot better now even though they are more severe. I can't stand bright lights (I always wear sunglasses) and strange textures. When I'm in a room full of people all talking at once, I feel extremely nervous and start visibly shaking, due to how overbearing it is for me.