I don't really have any pertaining diagnosis, so I wasn't sure where to put this...but I have sensory issues that get in the way of my life (especially my relationship). While smell and sound sensitivities bother me, they don't usually impact my life too much. Although, there's things I want to do/places I want to go, but I can't because they're too loud, so there's that. It's the touch sensitivity that really bothers me.

Getting my hair done and really having anybody touch my hair who isn't 100% gentle is anywhere from painful to traumatic. Any shower that has high water pressure (like my boyfriend's for example) is going to have to be turned down pretty far or it's immensely painful and yes, kind of traumatic. Physical intimacy is often a nightmare because it's too intense or he uses the wrong kind of pressure (I'm ok with "firm" touch now it seems, but if the touch is too "light", it's the tactile equivalent of nails on a chalkboard).

I think the problem is worse because there's so much sensory stimulation at work and while it's within what I can stand (most of the time), I have no resources left at the end of the day. I don't know how to desensitize or find a way to recover faster. There's such a thing as a sensory brush, but I don't know if it works for my issue. I wouldn't even know how I would get in to see an occupational therapist because I don't have any diagnoses like ASD or SPD (I've never been properly assessed really). So I doubt they would believe I have an issue.

I've had this issue (especially with touch) since I was a child, maybe even a baby. I just avoided touch as much as humanly possible for most of my life.