Tips for Dealing with Sensory Nightmares and Body Awareness Issues

had some questions for other autistic people here! and just people in general. One of my worst sensory nightmares is when I occasionally become hyper aware of how my skin feels, and I don't know any way to get around or help with this. I realized I should probably ask online to see if any of you guys had any tips or tricks! also! I know that I'm not good at telling when I'm hungry or thirsty, but I just realized other people may be able to tell they need to go to the bathroom before getting really really bad cramps. I won't know that I need to pee until I quite literally need to go right then, although I've known this throughout my life and have just made sure on work breaks and in between classes to go in case. and other than my morning routine, I don't know when I need to poop until I get very bad cramps. and yeah I just don't know if that's a typical thing or not? might be, I just figured I should ask because I don't know if anyone has any tips or if this is just like a me thing. thank you!

Your answer

NonbinarySlytherin

1y ago

Okay I know little about this so take this with a grain of salt. The bathroom thing kinda sounds like neurogenic bladder. That can be very serious. Again I am just offering up an answer because I didn't know that was thing until my partner told me a little bit about it. Also, I feel the thirsty and hungry thing. I have both Autism and ADHD which leads to a lot.

tigershark98

1y ago

I’ve had that issue with the bathroom thing my whole life. Only for bowel movements, though, not bladder. I only shit once every 2 weeks until I was 13.

Njade

1y ago

The not being able to tell when you need to do bodily functions is called poor interoception. I have it. The only ways i get around it are with the help of other people, eating food i like even if i dont feel hungry (i just want to eat for the taste/dopamine- and then turns out i was hungry), with peeing i tell myself to go every time i finish drinking my bottle of water. As im getting up to go and refill it, i remind myself that i need to go pee while im up. I think other methods that could help is setting reminders and alarms :)

Ash.G

1y ago

I have these same struggles. I have no advice really.

Cloudlight

1y ago

For the skin feels, usually deep pressure helps me. Tight-fitting sleeves and socks are good if you don't have a weighted blanket or a person to bear-hug you. For awareness of needs, I use a daily schedule app and block in specific times to go to the bathroom, drink water, ect. Even if I don't think I need to, since it's part of the schedule I do it anyway and that's pretty much eliminated the need to have to try to be aware of my needs. I also schedule in quiet time, stim time, hobby time, and any other things I find myself wishing I had time for. My approach is definitely very rigid but I'm sure you could adapt it to suit your lifestyle if you felt inclined!

anubisplane

1y ago

I wear compression sleeves when I'm hyper aware of my skin on my arms.

Nuclearsnot

1y ago

This is gonna sound weird but for the bathroom thing I've seen people just wear adult diapers. I know it may not be the right option for everybody but I don't think there should be any shame in using them if you want to either

j_Bug

1y ago

for bad skin feels, maybe it would help to rub ice along your skin for a stronger sensation to basically override the one that's bothering you? I also know for me that sometimes it's an indicator of a more specific issue with my clothes, so one of the things I try first is changing into comfier clothes.

Thymee

1y ago

thank you, sometimes it seems like it's a buildup of stuff but other times it's like I just become aware of how my skin feels, I'll try the ice tip!

videotapes

1y ago

i’m autistic, and i don’t know if i have much advice, but a lot of this was super relatable to me. it’s embarrassing, but i’ve gotten an infection before because i couldn’t tell that i needed to go to the bathroom. i try to remind myself mentally every few hours but i still forget a lot

Thymee

1y ago

I'm glad that I'm not alone in this, honestly was just told a lot that I was lazy as a kid and really internalized it, so I didn't know if this was just that or something actually there

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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