"Adults with Sensory Defensiveness"
Dec. 6th, 2005 04:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beandelphikiA sensory questionnaire from this site, ganked from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
sensedefence. Because I have many other things I should be doing instead.
1. I am sensitive and get bothered by smells that don't seem to bother other people.
That seems to be true. The perfume counter at any department store makes my head foggy and it hurts if I'm within 20 feet. The smell of certain foods makes me violently gag. (Bananas, especially. I hate people who peel open bananas on the bus or train.)
2. I am sensitive or bothered by sounds that don't seem to bother other people.
Oh, hell yeah. Biggest issue. People chewing drive me bonkers of course, and I've had to leave the room in a red rage before I punched the person chewing. Any sort of "eating" sounds, actually, any lip or mouth noises.
But I also hate all kinds of other noises, and they enrage me to no end, or put me near tears.
3. I am bothered by looking down a long flight of stairs of by going down an escalator.
Yes, although not so much that I will go out of my way to avoid them. I tend to cling to the banister going down stairs, and hold onto the wall in elevators. Sometimes I'm not sure if I like the elevator-sensation or not, but I do know that I seem to notice it more than other people, or react more.
4. I get car sick.
Not exactly. I do fall asleep very easily in cars, no matter how much sleep I've had, and my mother's much the same way. I think it's an ADD thing, in that sitting in a car forces you to sit still for too long, so we pass out. But then again, my mother also has similar sensory issues, so who knows what that is.
5. I am sensitive to movement. I get dizzy VERY easily.
I haven't noticed this, no.
6. I am sensitive to and bothered by lights/contrasts/reflections or objects close to my face (that don't seem to bother others).
Arrgh, fluorescents and halogens! Halogens give me a headache from the INSANE bright blueness – they make everything on a page swim if I'm trying to read under them. Fluorescents are only slightly better; they tend to flicker like busted Christmas-tree lights.
7. I am bothered by some food textures in my mouth (or I avoid them).
I could probably think of several specific things if I sit and think, but I've got a bit of a headache at the moment. Suffice it to say that I'm ESPECIALLY picky about veggies – every veggie that's on the "okay" list can only be prepared in a very specific way. Lately, a few on the "okay" list have become "okay" both cooked and raw, which is encouraging, since it's usually one or the other.
Meat must be as lean as humanly possible. The texture of even a small piece of fat in my mouth makes me gag.
I ate off separated plates until I was 10 or 11 or so. Then my parents forced me to eat off "grown-up plates," because the separated plate thing was getting "ridiculous."
8. It bothers me to be barefoot on grass or sand.
No, I love it actually. Well, grass, anyway – I'm not so sure about sand. The one bad thing about winter is I have to keep my shoes on.
9. I am bothered by tags and labels in my clothes (or I remove them).
ARRRGH, tags are so painful. More than once, I've startled people around me by violently ripping one out. That or I fold the clothing outward so the tag isn't touching me. I really don't care how it looks.
10. I am bothered by turtleneck shirts, tight-fitting clothes, elastic, nylons, or synthetic material in clothes (any of the above).
Tight-fitting clothing especially goes on the hate list. It makes me internally scream, and want to tear my clothes off. All my clothing is pretty baggy for this reason. I cannot stand anything too close to my skin. This is the one thing about my binder that nearly drives me insane some days, but the feeling of compressing my chest outweighs that.
11. I am bothered by the feeling of jewelry (or I never wear it because of this).
Hmm, I'm always pulling my watch off because of this..? Not sure, maybe my watch is just uncomfortable. I really don't wear jewelry, ever. So...probably, but I don't know.
12. I am very aware that certain parts of my body are very sensitive.
*puzzled by question*
13. I avoid putting creams and lotions on my skin because of how it feels.
I don't especially like lotion on my hands, but if they're dry, the lotion's better than the dryness.
14. I have a sensitive scalp.
Maybe? I remember screaming when my mother did my hair. I really don't know how I'd know as an adult, though. I don't think so, since I can tolerate a comb fine.
15. I do not like being in crowded areas such as elevators, malls, subways, crowded shops or bars (or I never put myself in these situations).
AAAH! I can take so much and no more. Christmas is the worst – the last time I went to the mall to visit my coworkers outside of work and get something to eat, I nearly burst into tears sitting in the food court.
It's not just the noise; it's all the people who are Way Too Close. Yes, I try to avoid these situations.
16. Growing up, I did not like to be hugged (except by my mother).
Not even by her. It's weird and uncomfortable, and I want it to be over with as fast as possible.
17. I am often uncomfortable with physical intimacy.
I don't really know for sure, but my guess would be "hell yes."
18. I feel bothered when someone touched me from behind unexpectedly, or stands too close.
People have gotten really mad at me because when they came up behind me, I turned around and punched them, or reached behind me, grabbed them and threw them over my hip, Judo-style. I really, REALLY don't take being approached from behind well; I tend to react like a cornered animal. Practically snarling a warning and everything.
If I can see someone's shadow on the ground in front of me, I step to the side and let them past. I can't stand it; it feels like they're stalking me, and my haunches go up. (So to speak.) I also prefer to sit with my back to the wall in a restaurant; I can't stand movement of any sort behind me.
And I just plain don't like people too close. I have personal space like whoa.
19. I was very active as a child (or I am now).
Either half-dead or in motion. ADD related, I'm sure.
20. I have mood swings more than other people.
I don't believe so. This is one part of "disregulated nervous system" that I don't seem to have, although I'm hurt easily.
21. I do not go to sleep easily and wake up easily and/or I don't sleep between 6 and 8 hours each night.
Life-long thing – hard time sleeping, hard time waking up.
22. I consider myself to be anxious.
I wouldn't have said so before I saw Dr. Y, but I guess I'll say yes to this. Too many nervous habit things I've done in the past anyway – tooth grinding, yanking my hair out – to REALLY say no.
23. I feel I must mentally prepare myself for situations in which people are apt to touch me.
With deep breaths and the reminder that it will be over soon.
24. It is important for me to be in control and know what to expect.
Yes.
25. I am perfectionistic, or compulsive.
Hah! Just yes.
26. I avoid if at all possible, situations in which my senses will be stressed.
If at all possible? Strong wording. I don't know, I think there are many situations where I just take a deep breath and deal. I don't think all of my issues are THAT serious, although they can be serious enough sometimes to be a serious pain.
Total Score (# of "trues"): 17
Scoring:
> 10 = definite sensory defensiveness
6 – 10 = moderate sensory defensiveness
< 6 = not sensory defensive
....But I knew that. *yawns*
sensedefence. Because I have many other things I should be doing instead.1. I am sensitive and get bothered by smells that don't seem to bother other people.
That seems to be true. The perfume counter at any department store makes my head foggy and it hurts if I'm within 20 feet. The smell of certain foods makes me violently gag. (Bananas, especially. I hate people who peel open bananas on the bus or train.)
2. I am sensitive or bothered by sounds that don't seem to bother other people.
Oh, hell yeah. Biggest issue. People chewing drive me bonkers of course, and I've had to leave the room in a red rage before I punched the person chewing. Any sort of "eating" sounds, actually, any lip or mouth noises.
But I also hate all kinds of other noises, and they enrage me to no end, or put me near tears.
3. I am bothered by looking down a long flight of stairs of by going down an escalator.
Yes, although not so much that I will go out of my way to avoid them. I tend to cling to the banister going down stairs, and hold onto the wall in elevators. Sometimes I'm not sure if I like the elevator-sensation or not, but I do know that I seem to notice it more than other people, or react more.
4. I get car sick.
Not exactly. I do fall asleep very easily in cars, no matter how much sleep I've had, and my mother's much the same way. I think it's an ADD thing, in that sitting in a car forces you to sit still for too long, so we pass out. But then again, my mother also has similar sensory issues, so who knows what that is.
5. I am sensitive to movement. I get dizzy VERY easily.
I haven't noticed this, no.
6. I am sensitive to and bothered by lights/contrasts/reflections or objects close to my face (that don't seem to bother others).
Arrgh, fluorescents and halogens! Halogens give me a headache from the INSANE bright blueness – they make everything on a page swim if I'm trying to read under them. Fluorescents are only slightly better; they tend to flicker like busted Christmas-tree lights.
7. I am bothered by some food textures in my mouth (or I avoid them).
I could probably think of several specific things if I sit and think, but I've got a bit of a headache at the moment. Suffice it to say that I'm ESPECIALLY picky about veggies – every veggie that's on the "okay" list can only be prepared in a very specific way. Lately, a few on the "okay" list have become "okay" both cooked and raw, which is encouraging, since it's usually one or the other.
Meat must be as lean as humanly possible. The texture of even a small piece of fat in my mouth makes me gag.
I ate off separated plates until I was 10 or 11 or so. Then my parents forced me to eat off "grown-up plates," because the separated plate thing was getting "ridiculous."
8. It bothers me to be barefoot on grass or sand.
No, I love it actually. Well, grass, anyway – I'm not so sure about sand. The one bad thing about winter is I have to keep my shoes on.
9. I am bothered by tags and labels in my clothes (or I remove them).
ARRRGH, tags are so painful. More than once, I've startled people around me by violently ripping one out. That or I fold the clothing outward so the tag isn't touching me. I really don't care how it looks.
10. I am bothered by turtleneck shirts, tight-fitting clothes, elastic, nylons, or synthetic material in clothes (any of the above).
Tight-fitting clothing especially goes on the hate list. It makes me internally scream, and want to tear my clothes off. All my clothing is pretty baggy for this reason. I cannot stand anything too close to my skin. This is the one thing about my binder that nearly drives me insane some days, but the feeling of compressing my chest outweighs that.
11. I am bothered by the feeling of jewelry (or I never wear it because of this).
Hmm, I'm always pulling my watch off because of this..? Not sure, maybe my watch is just uncomfortable. I really don't wear jewelry, ever. So...probably, but I don't know.
12. I am very aware that certain parts of my body are very sensitive.
*puzzled by question*
13. I avoid putting creams and lotions on my skin because of how it feels.
I don't especially like lotion on my hands, but if they're dry, the lotion's better than the dryness.
14. I have a sensitive scalp.
Maybe? I remember screaming when my mother did my hair. I really don't know how I'd know as an adult, though. I don't think so, since I can tolerate a comb fine.
15. I do not like being in crowded areas such as elevators, malls, subways, crowded shops or bars (or I never put myself in these situations).
AAAH! I can take so much and no more. Christmas is the worst – the last time I went to the mall to visit my coworkers outside of work and get something to eat, I nearly burst into tears sitting in the food court.
It's not just the noise; it's all the people who are Way Too Close. Yes, I try to avoid these situations.
16. Growing up, I did not like to be hugged (except by my mother).
Not even by her. It's weird and uncomfortable, and I want it to be over with as fast as possible.
17. I am often uncomfortable with physical intimacy.
I don't really know for sure, but my guess would be "hell yes."
18. I feel bothered when someone touched me from behind unexpectedly, or stands too close.
People have gotten really mad at me because when they came up behind me, I turned around and punched them, or reached behind me, grabbed them and threw them over my hip, Judo-style. I really, REALLY don't take being approached from behind well; I tend to react like a cornered animal. Practically snarling a warning and everything.
If I can see someone's shadow on the ground in front of me, I step to the side and let them past. I can't stand it; it feels like they're stalking me, and my haunches go up. (So to speak.) I also prefer to sit with my back to the wall in a restaurant; I can't stand movement of any sort behind me.
And I just plain don't like people too close. I have personal space like whoa.
19. I was very active as a child (or I am now).
Either half-dead or in motion. ADD related, I'm sure.
20. I have mood swings more than other people.
I don't believe so. This is one part of "disregulated nervous system" that I don't seem to have, although I'm hurt easily.
21. I do not go to sleep easily and wake up easily and/or I don't sleep between 6 and 8 hours each night.
Life-long thing – hard time sleeping, hard time waking up.
22. I consider myself to be anxious.
I wouldn't have said so before I saw Dr. Y, but I guess I'll say yes to this. Too many nervous habit things I've done in the past anyway – tooth grinding, yanking my hair out – to REALLY say no.
23. I feel I must mentally prepare myself for situations in which people are apt to touch me.
With deep breaths and the reminder that it will be over soon.
24. It is important for me to be in control and know what to expect.
Yes.
25. I am perfectionistic, or compulsive.
Hah! Just yes.
26. I avoid if at all possible, situations in which my senses will be stressed.
If at all possible? Strong wording. I don't know, I think there are many situations where I just take a deep breath and deal. I don't think all of my issues are THAT serious, although they can be serious enough sometimes to be a serious pain.
Total Score (# of "trues"): 17
Scoring:
> 10 = definite sensory defensiveness
6 – 10 = moderate sensory defensiveness
< 6 = not sensory defensive
....But I knew that. *yawns*
