Do you struggle with nail filing?Sensory processing disorder is a condition where the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses. People with SPD might be overly sensitive to sensory inputs (hypersensitivity) or under-sensitive (hyposensitivity). This disorder can affect anyone, but it is particularly common among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). SPD can impact various senses, including touch, sound, and sight, making simple tasks overwhelming.
Tactile hypersensitivity, a common manifestation of SPD, makes even mild touch feel uncomfortable or painful. For individuals with ASD, tactile sensitivity can be particularly challenging, leading to significant distress during everyday activities like grooming - think tooth brushing and nail filing.
For me, the act of filing my nails feels like dragging my nails down a chalkboard. It’s visceral and makes me gag. The sensation is not just uncomfortable;it’s sharp, burning signals through my fingertips.
So why do I do it? Beauty treatments are one of the few ways I “normal” - I want the nails and lashes and I suffer for them. For better or worse they somehow make me feel at least a small part of the girl club.
#autism #asd #neurodivergent #sensoryprocessingdisorder #spd
