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Lunarr

619d

I need some advice on an ongoing sensory situation. I'm sensitive to heat, light, and sound as part of my dysautonomia. I'm in college so most of the time I have my own space and can control these issues. However, over breaks I come home and stay with my parents (divorced). My mom's house is fine but at my dad's I have constant issues due to my stepmother. Her sensory needs combat with mine. I need quieter volumes, she needs them higher because of poor hearing. I need a cool environment, she gets cold easily and needs it to be higher (aka intolerable for me). I respect her needs and understand why she needs things this way but her needs are actively causing me pain and illness. My stepmom has hearing aids as well as a Bluetooth enabled thing that allows her to hear the TV through her aids. This is great for me and my dad because then we can have the volume at a lower number. However, she says that this device causes her headaches if used for too long and so she often won't use it. Like,, I get it, but also not using the device is making things inaccessible for me now instead of her. She also hates subtitles and refuses to let us turn them on for her in order to maintain a lower volume. My dad has told me that she's sensitive about her hearing loss so I suspect that may be part of the issue. It's the same with the temperature thing, which has apparently been a big argument between her and my dad for some time. He runs hot, like me, and has tried unsuccessfully to convince her that it's easier for her to warm up than it is for us to try to cool down and stay cool. Due to how the house is built, in the mornings it gets up to 75 in my room despite being set at 72, I can hardly function and it makes me ill. When confronted about these things, she will comply with the hearing device and lower temps but she's very meak and clearly unhappy about it. It's sad and makes everyone uncomfortable if I'm being honest. It's nearly impossible to get her to compromise and things tend to go her way in this house (just her and my dad) despite being outnumbered on some decisions when I'm there. My dad doesn't want either of us to be uncomfortable and has told me before that my sensory needs are a "point of contention" in their household. It makes me want to come over less and I'm already only there for 6 day chunks maybe 4 times a summer. I love my dad and want to spend time with him but his wife, who I've never completely gotten along with (we're civil with each other though), really tests me sometimes because her needs and wants make me physically ill. This is super long so thank you so much if you read this far! This is kind of a vent but I'd really appreciate your thoughts, advice, feedback, etc., I'm so tired of being in a constant flare at their house šŸ˜­

    • justpeachyqueen

      612d

      Iā€™m not sure if this is an option for you, but are there ways you can spend time with your dad away from his wife? Also, thereā€™s nothing wrong with setting boundaries with the both of them (or simply with your dad) and tell them you wonā€™t be able to spend time with them if their environment negatively impacts your health. For the temperature help, try a small fan in your room or near your spot in the living room. I also have a reusable ice pack that I lie on my chest when I get too hot and it cools me down.

    • tatertot731

      612d

      for the temp issue, try a cooling blanket, for me they can be really helpful! you could also maybe get a small portable AC just for your room in the house. i definitely relate to how you react to heat and i agree that itā€™s easier to warm up than cool down. i have the same issue w my dad sometimes where he wonā€™t understand why iā€™m asking for something when it relates to my illness which i canā€™t change. so regardless make sure to not be hard on yourself for an illness that you canā€™t change !!

ā˜ This content is generated by our users and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision

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