Sensory problems: any solutions?

Post Reply New Topic

I've recently been growing more aware of the sensory issues typical to all autistic people, thinking they might explain my constant fatigue and inability to carry out the simplest of tasks.

I prefer being in company to being all alone, but usually get really tired at the end of it. At home, I get frustrated when addressed a lot and like to keep the door shut so I can focus on whatever I'm trying to focus. It might seem that too much sound tires me, which is the case to some extent; however, I find myself listening to music in the background of activities I engage in nearly all day long, taking small breaks every now and then.

Is there any logic in being exhausted by people more than other sounds? One explanation I have is that people don't just make noise, they engage you on something, and it may take me a while to figure out what it is that they want and how I can help them. As my mind is always saturated with thoughts, this seems to give me headaches. As I don't perceive music on the same level - it just plays, it doesn't ask me anything, this might be what makes it different.

But I don't know, really.

Has anybody had any luck with solving their sensory problems, preventing sensory overload?

Also, about stimming. Wouldn't this condition (as manifested in a lack of sensory stimuli) sort of be the opposite of sensory overload, where you've had too much?

Still thinking about this...

Yes, there's definitely logic in being exhausted more by people than sounds.

There's the social anxiety aspects.. being overwhelmed in social situations. Also, there's the coping mechanism of giving a great social performance when around people.. like an actor giving his all, then being completely drained of energy afterwards because it takes everything you have to intellectually process all of the social cues and manage your responses accordingly vs. intuitively doing it by nature. That's why so many AS kids are so drained and need their solitude after school, or for myself and another AS friend why we're that way after a shift working very social jobs.

As for sensory issues, depends what they are.. but for hypersensitive hearing at night I sleep with earplugs in to try to block out traffic noise. While out in public, even while in a mall or store, I've taken to listening to a very peaceful radio station on low volume w/ headphones. It's quiet enough that I can still have conversations with people when I need to, but enough of an audible distraction that it's very calming vs. the anxiety inducing background noise of people doing their thing all over the place.

I completely agree with goldfish 21. Socializing is way more exhausting than sounds in general. Sirens or excessively irritating noises are another story. But the prolonged self analysis and forced focus on other people and constantly thinking..... do I hav the right facial expression...am I looking at the right thing......is my body language appropriate....did I just say the right thing...what is the topic....what response do they want from me.... and then the other side is telling myself to not stim in public to not make weird hand gestures to not repeat other people's words or accents...and the most difficult of all is to not talk about topics I'm interested in. And people wonder why I retreat into myself.