SPD? OCD? Both? Should I finally seek help and be screened?

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So many questions........

Ok, let me make a list or description of things I just can't seem to do or find it difficult to do/experience:

-People touching me, for example when I talk to someone and they touch me to get my attention, or when I'm close to people and they walk close to me and accidentally touch me, when people touch my face or any other part of the body when I don't want to.
I tend to either compulsively wash that part of the body or rub it as if I try to remove the feeling of the touch
It also happens with things. If I touch a thing I don't like, or something dirty, I have to immediately wash my hands or rub that part of the body.

I found this site by accident. I have these symptoms and I thought it was OCD because a psychologist mentioned it but I might just have both and never really told her about these other feelings (I just told her I line up objects and wash my hands a lot).
I will put a V if I have the symptom and a X if I don't, and maybe a ? if I don't know or didn't notice that I have it. =ther additional info might be added.

Adolescent / Adult Sensory Processing Disorder Checklist

Sensory Modulation:

__ V__ bothered by clothes; certain materials, tags, seams, pantyhose, ties, belts, turtlenecks, have to wear shorts, skirts, or pants exclusively, etc.

__V __ bothered by "light touch"; someone lightly touching/rubbing your hand, face, leg or back

__V __ excessively ticklish

__V __ distressed by others touching you; would rather be the "toucher" than the "touchee", difficulty "snuggling" with your partner

__ yes but not all the time__ have to fidget and "fiddle" with things all the time; change in your pocket, your keys, a pen/pencil, paper clip, rubber band, ANYTHING within reach

__X __ often touching and twisting your own hair

__ V__ very sensitive to pain, especially as compared to others

__ X__ don't seem to notice pain; get shots/cuts/bruises and hardly feel a thing

__ not showers, but I hate being splashed__ dislike the feeling of showers or getting splashed

__V __ difficulty going to the beach; the sand blowing on your skin or getting on your body

__V __ avoid touching anything "messy"; if you do, you have to go wash your hands right away and/or only touch it with your fingertips

__ ?__ can not wear new or "stiff" clothes that have not been washed or soaked in fabric softener

__V(hate to be barefoot) __ hate to be barefoot or hate to wear shoes and/or socks

__X __ frequently get car sick, air sick, motion sick

__X __ a thrill seeker; loves fast and/or dangerous rides, leisure activities, and sports

__ ?__ difficulty riding on elevators, escalators, or moving sidewalks

__V (I avoid amusement parks completely) __ avoid amusement park rides that spin or go upside down

__ X__ seek out fast, spinning, and/or upside down carnival rides

__ sometimes__ will often rock or sway body back and forth while seated or standing still

__ X__ frequently tips chair on back two legs

__ V__ restless when sitting through a lecture, presentation, or movie

__ X__ constantly chews on ends of pens and pencils

__ X__ smokes cigarettes

__ V__ difficulty eating foods with mixed textures, or one particular texture

__X __ prefer foods with very strong tastes and flavors

__X __ prefer very bland foods, dislike anything spicy

__X __ has a diagnosed eating disorder or has major eating "sensitivities"

__ X__ constantly biting nails or fingers

__ V__ bites lips or inside of cheeks

__V __ frequently shake your leg while sitting or falling asleep

__depends __ love to sleep with multiple or heavy blankets on top of you

__X __ seek out crashing and "squishing" activities

__V __ cracks knuckles often

__X__ loves crunchy foods (popcorn, carrots, chips, nuts, pretzels, etc.)

__X __ frequently have gum or hard candy in your mouth

__X __ has an "endless" supply of air fresheners, scented candles, odor masking sprays, etc.

__ V__ becomes nauseated or gags from certain cooking, cleaning, perfume, public restroom, or bodily odors

__X __ identifies objects by smell, have to smell everything, judge whether you like something or someone by smell

__ V__ becomes overstimulated / overaroused when people come to the house or in crowded places

__V (very low) __ very high or very low energy level

__V __ avoids crowds and plans errands at times when there will be fewer people

__X __ overly exited/aroused in group settings

__ V__ hides or disappears when guests come over

__X __ substance abuse

__X __ drinks excessive amounts of coffee or caffeinated beverages

__V __ notice and bothered by noises other people do not seem bothered by... clocks, refrigerators, fans, people talking, outdoor construction, etc.

__V __ sensitive to loud sounds or commotion

__V __ easily distracted by auditory or visual stimuli

__V __ can not attend certain public events or places due to excessive noise



Sensory Discrimination:

__ X__ can't identify objects by feel if your eyes are closed

__V __ difficulty finding things in your purse or pocket without looking

__ X__ don't seem to notice if your hands or face are dirty

__V __ bothered by hands or face being dirty

__X __ loves to touch and be touched, has to touch everything

__ V__ have a hard time feeling where a bug has bitten you or whether you are being bitten

__ X__ difficulty heating food to the correct temperature, feeling if it is too hot or too cold

__ V__ difficulty locating items in a cupboard, drawer, in your closet, or on a grocery shelf

__X __ difficulty with recognizing/interpreting/following traffic signs

__ ?__ difficulty judging distances about where your car is in relation to other cars, in parking spaces, or near a curb (fail miserably at parallel parking!!)

__ ?__ difficulty merging into oncoming traffic on road, rotary, or highway

__V __ get disoriented and/or lost easily in stores, buildings, hiking, etc.

__ more or less__ can't sleep if room isn't completely dark

__ V__ fearful of heights

__ V__ difficulty concentrating on or watching a movie/tv show when there is background noise or distractions

__V __ difficulty remembering or understanding what is said to you

__ V__ difficulty following directions if given two or three at one time

__ V__ can not complete concentrated tasks if noises present

__V __ sensitive, or over reacts, to sirens, dogs barking, vaccuum cleaners, blenders, or other sudden/loud sounds

__V (too soft) __ talks too loud or too soft

__V __ lethargic, hard to get going, appears "lazy" and unmotivated

__V __ become engrossed in one single activity for a long time and seems to tune out the rest of their environment

__V __ spend hours at a time on fantasy or video games and activities

__X __ great difficulty settling body down for sleep or waking up in the morning (did you even hear the alarm that has been going off for 15 minutes?)

__ X__ has difficulty licking an ice cream cone neatly

__V __ difficulty with speech and annunciation

__ X__ bumps into things frequently

__V __ often pushes too hard on objects, accidentally breaking them

__V __ difficulty judging how much pressure to apply when doing tasks or picking something up

__ X__ difficulty identifying which key on your ring belongs to what

__ ?__ numbers and letters often reversed or backwards

__ now I don't anymore__ difficulty telling time on an analogue clock

__ sometimes__ difficulty reading and understanding a map, bus schedule, directions

__X __ difficulty organizing and grouping things by categories, similarities, and/or differences

__V __ can't seem to find words in word search puzzles

__X __ unable to identify foods that have gone bad by smell

__ X__ difficulty being able to smell dangerous smells, i.e., smoke, noxious/hazardous solvents

__X __ difficulty being able to smell when something is burning on the stove or in the oven

__X __ difficulty distinguishing different tastes and/or flavors of food and/or drink items


Sensory-Based Motor Skills:

__V (took me a while but now I can) __ difficulty learning to ride a bike or other "moving" equipment

__V __ clumsy, uncoordinated, and accident prone

__ V__ difficulty walking on uneven surfaces

__V __ difficulty with fine motor tasks such as buttoning, zipping, tying, knitting, sewing, playing games with small parts, closing zip loc bags

__ if you suddenly tell me turn left or turn right then yes__ confuses right and left sides

__V __ prefers sedentary tasks, avoiding sports or physical activities

__X __ difficulty with handwriting; hard to read, takes a long time to write

__ X__ frequently bumps into people and things

__V __ easily fatigued with physical tasks

__X __ frequently misses when putting objects on a table

__ X__ messy eater, difficulty with eating utensils, spills and drops food

__X __ knocks drinks or other things over when reaching for them

__X __ frequently drops items

__X __ has to talk self through tasks

__X __ hums or vocalizes while concentrating on a task

__V __ significant difficulty learning to tie a tie

__ V__ difficulty with motor tasks requiring several steps

__ X__ difficulty lining up numbers correctly for math problems and/or balancing a checkbook

__ V__ difficulty learning new motor tasks...a new dance, sport or exercise activity, how to drive

__ X__ lose balance frequently

__X __ significant difficulty learning to type the "proper" way



Social / Emotional:

__V __ dislikes changes in plans or routines, needs structure

__X __ may be described as "stubborn", "defiant", or "uncooperative"

__ V__ cries easily, over things others usually don't, very "emotional" and "sensitive"

__V __ can't seem to finish anything

__ V__ difficulty making decisions

__V __ rigid and controlling

__V __ prefers solitary activities, avoids groups

__sometimes __ impatient and/or impulsive

__ sometimes__ difficulty with social cues and non verbal language

__X __ difficulty with authority figures

__V __ trouble relating to and socializing with peers and colleagues

__X __ a "sore loser"

__ V__ strong feelings of anger or rage

__V __ easily frustrated

__V __ needs sameness and routines; needs to know what to expect

__V __ have panic or anxiety attacks

__ V__ plagued by fears and/or phobias

__depends __ OCD-type qualities; can't let foods touch each other on your plate, have to wear clothes a certain way, will only do ____, repetitively does ____, can not do _____ without doing _____, has to have ____ like ____

__ V__ distractible and unorganized

__V __ hates surprises

__V __ difficulty seeking out and maintaining relationships

__ V (it depends though)__ avoids eye contact



Internal Regulation:

__V __ difficulty falling asleep or getting on a sleep schedule

__? __ heart rate speeds up, and won't slow down when at rest, or won't speed up for tasks that require a higher heart rate

__ X__ respiration too fast or slow for the appropriate state of arousal

__V __ over or under sensitivity to bowel and bladder sensations

__X __ over or under sensitivity to the sensation of hunger/appetite

__X __ irregular, inconsistent bowel, bladder and appetite sensations

__X __ difficulty with temperature regulation of body


I also have issues touching surfaces accidentally and if it happens I just feel like I should go wash my hands. I've always thought it was OCD, and I still get confused. I don't understand if some behaviors are related to OCD.
The main issue for me is touching or being touched.
It's so bad that even if I accidentally touch some part of my body I have to rub it several times or wash it. Even if it's me!! !
I don't know if it's a typical autism thing. I've been told by a psychologist "hey these are autistic traits" while discussing about social issues.
I've always had coordination issues too, they probably got better now so I'm ok with riding bikes, but when I was a child it was really bad and my sisters constantly made fun of me and joked about my poor coordination. It also made me suck at sports or make me look awkward. I still am clumsy and have poor coordination, this is one of the reasons why I avoid driving, usually.

Also, I don't know what it is or why I do it, but I constantly bite my inner cheeks and lips, and clench and grind my teeth, and I do it unconsciously, just like moving my legs or feet a lot especially when lying down.

When I was a child, I used to rub my lips with my shirt.

I am pretty used to these things now, but the social part and difficulty with communication and social things can get bad now that one day I'll have to have an independent life and a job.
I should probably have looked for help when I was a child. I'm still unsure if getting an official diagnosis can benefit me or damage me. The psychologist didn't talk about it anymore once she said "these are autistic traits" (regarding social and communication issues). Maybe I shouldn't have ignored it and wait until college and stuff. Because now I feel like I won't be able to get and maintain an independent life if I don't get help.

I feel like I've never really been taken seriously for some reason. I see a psychiatrist for mood issues but we focused on mood and she doesn't investigate much. I never got tests or anything like that. I feel like I'd communicate better if they let me type/write or answer written questions or maybe just check stuff like on checklists.

It sounds rather OCD´ish at least - and ASD´ish.
If you´re planning for more education, it could be a good idea to have an evaluation and maybe a dx. That way you can have accomodations if you need them.

If I had accomodations and a dx as a child I could have saved myself a lot of anxiety, misunderstanding and meltdowns, really.
I don't want bad stuff like that to happen again. I don't want to pretend to be like everyone else. I want to be myself. I'm tired of fighting by myself.
What if I get a job where I'll be forced to do group stuff or socialize? I'd have serious issues with that. I remember having to work on a group project in college and freaking out about it. Even one day during class....I kept sitting alone very quiet and lost and really wanting to cooperate but didn't know how.
Sometimes it makes me really sad and worried about my future.

It would seem like a good idea for you to seek evaluation.
You do need some help.
Take your list, show it to your doc and ask for a referrel, - but do try to find a psychiatrist, who can recognize autism!
A psych., who knows about OCD often knows autism as well, because OCD is a common comorbid, but you know all that yourself.
Do you have a good doctor?
Is there an autism centre in your area?