Sensitivity

In some ways (for some things) I am a bit sensitive. In others ways, I'm not sensitive much or at all. I'm pretty good about receiving and accepting constructive criticism, and acknowledging my own faults and responsibilities. If people criticize me for things I don't feel I did (or deserve), I might either argue the point, or just let them think what they think. I can't control others, but am responsible for controlling my own reactions. I try not to grieve or be angry, perpetually. It's not fair to myself or to others.

When I'm weakened, psychologically, emotionally or physically, I do get sensitive to anxiety and stress. It's hard not to. But therapeutic exercises help, but take practice. They're not always immediately successful. I need other forms of help/support, too. I used to think I could do everything myself, but that's just not true, at times. Acceptance of certain weakness was important for me. I used to demand a certain perfection of myself (in some respects). I've started to ease on that over the years.

Expectations from others can also sometimes (not always) make me upset. Obviously I have had to conform, when I didn't want to. Sometimes not conforming (and accepting the ramifications) is the better choice.

I do still get very frustrated when I see people or things doing harm to others. Especially when its uncalled for. Politics is frustrating.

Are you sure you don't have autism or sensory processing disorder? Those sound a lot like my son's issues, and he has autism. Not that you can't have a sensory processing disorder on its own.

If you saw my work environment, you wouldn’t be asking that question. Did I say something offensive to warrant that question ?
And no, I don’t have those issues.

"....sensory overload, bright lights, loud sounds, strong smells." <<< that describes what a lot of people with sensory processing disorder go through, something people with autism often have. You didn't say anything offensive, and I didn't mean anything offensive, no.

Ok well we aren’t supposed to diagnose others here, I’ve been told that as well . Autism or sensory processing disorder has never come up for me. No I don’t have autism or a sensory processing disorder . I work in a loud environment with bright lights and lots of conflicting aromas . It’s a lot at 6 in the morning .

Sensory overload can trigger bipolar episodes for some people.

That makes sense, my current work environment has definitely not been good for my mental health, and I’m planning on changing it.

I am definitely very sensitive to external stimuli, and I frequently get overwhelmed by them, so this is very interesting to me. Do you remember where you read this?

that's me! Church is so hard for me because of the music and lights in the beginning. I don't go if I think I'm going up because it is risky.

I don't have a reference but when I worked in psych (I'm an OT) I discovered that treating certain patients using techniques for kids with sensory integration issues was very effective. I wound up doing a lot of it and having a lot of success.

I’ve recently been manic and am now in a depressive episode. I’m feeling very sensitive. For the past two months, I’ve cried during church. It’s embarrassing to lose control like that. It feels like every sermon hits home for me, triggering thoughts and pain related to my son’s estrangement. Today’s message was asking the question, “Does God give us too much to handle?” For me, the answer is a resounding YES! I’m not coping at all in spite of meds, regular pdoc appointments, and weekly therapy. I’m drowning.

I'm sorry to hear that, I know how frustrating it is to work hard on your treatment and still feel like it's not enough. I hope at least the crying gives you some temporary sense of relief, and of course I hope you get better soon. Are your depressions typically very long?

Thank you! Are you talking about bipolar patients, specifically? And do you have any references and/or search terms for me to learn more about these techniques? I might like to try it as part of my treatment.

Thank you so much for your kind words. My depressive episodes vary. Some last only a few weeks while others can go on for months. Maybe the crying IS good for me, and I shouldn’t fight the tears. I haven’t thought of it that way at all. Thank you for the insight.

I’m sorry for your suffering, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be estranged from my child.

Don’t feel ashamed about crying in church, I’ve done that too.

It was different diagnoses, mostly schizophrenia but definitely some bipolar and other diagnoses. I don't have references but I can see if I can find something online that might give you more information. It's been a long time now since I worked at all and even longer since I had that job so most of what I had at the time is long gone.

I found weighted blankets invaluable (this was before they were the least bit popular or even before anyone knew what they were).

Yeah I was going to mention that when another poster accused me of having sensory processing difficulties. I too studied sensory motor development as it pertains to childhood in college. I never imagined some random stranger on the internet was going to speculate on my own childhood. I do know shortly before I went back on medication I lay in my neighbors hammock that she had hung for her autistic son and found it quite soothing. Many conditions can look the same on the surface. It is interesting that an anti-convulsant can treat a mood disorder.

My ex fiancé got me a weighted blanket to help manage my ptsd .

It depends. I can get super triggered and sensitive on this site. But in real life I have tougher skin. Usually if I am sensitive it’s stuff like Amazon orders not being on time or stores not having things in stock. But If people in real life don’t like me and if they are not obvious assholes about it, then I don’t care. I’ve had people be assholes to me in real life and it’s just like “water off a ducks back” family is a bit different but everyone’s been super cool and my one cousin who was a jerk to me in the past, no one in my family likes anymore not even her parents. They are still friends with her ex husband because it’s the only way they can see my cousins kid. My aunt and uncle live in Florida

But Working retail changes you.

Also I just have less empathy in general now.

I guess I get the most triggered by unprofessionalism in the mental health field more then anything else. It’s always been a huge trigger for me. But it’s more of an issue when I’m dealing with PMDD. A symptom of PMDD is sensitivity to rejection. But yeah when mental health people are weird it bothers me.

Sigh. I wasn't trying to diagnose you. I only meant that I wondered if you had been evaluated for it. That's all. Clearly it's a miscommunication where you're taking what I'm saying as a negative, and I mean it as a neutral. Just a question, not an accusation. I apologize.

I suppose I should apologize to those who are actually diagnosed with autism and/or sensory processing difficulties . I wonder how they would feel if someone asked them if they had complex ptsd or bipolar 2 . I think that’s why the forums really discourage people from diagnosing each other.

At any rate the discussion has produced good results , at least others with bipolar have been able to chime in about feeling physically overwhelmed by overstimulating environments, so I know I’m not the only one.

I’m also sorry for what suffering your son has endured. While I’m not autistic , I do have an autistic neighbor and I was engaged to an autistic man, so I’ve seen first hand how difficult that condition can be.

I see where you're coming from. It just made me wonder if you had a comorbidity and was not trying to diagnose you, but I could have worded it much, MUCH better.

Yeah it's hard for people on the spectrum. Thankfully my son is on the higher end of the spectrum, so he doesn't suffer as much as others.

Have you ever seen the movie Joe vs. the Volcano? The way you describe your job reminds me of that, if you've seen it. It's pretty strange-funny too.

And I definitely don't mean our senses can't be overwhelmed, or soothed, in any way if we don't have an actual disorder. I know I become more physically sensitive when I'm cycling.

I don’t know that I “cycle” either, my ex bf’s mother once made a comment or asked a question about that , and I didn’t identify .

I’ve had a few diagnosis in my lifetime, autism or sensory processing difficulties has never been one of them.

I’ll look up that movie.

There are all kinds of reasons my job is not a good fit for me, the physical environment being one of them, but not the only one.

I think the op was more talking about emotional sensitivity, I kind of took the discussion in a different direction.

I have noticed since I stopped using alcohol and marijuana and got back on medication that my senses are more heightened, interestingly enough, especially my sense of smell.

I admit that I probably think more than most about both autism and SPD because of my son. I have been told that it's a harder diagnosis to make. There were 5 different specialists that made my son's diagnosis, and it took a little over 3 months.

Oh yeah, definitely about emotional sensitivity.

I hope you find an environment that's more positive for you. That all sounds very hard.

Huh, that's pretty interesting about the heightened senses.