So I have this thing called sensory processing disorder (and frankly it sounds like some of you all might too!) It's vaguely related to OCD... basically my brain thinks certain types of sensory input are threatening even though they're not- certain textures, sounds, whatever just initiate a fight or flight reaction where I need to either get away from the sound/texture or I get more and more panicky and uncomfortable ("teeth hurt" "nails on a chalkboard feeling")... ends in nasty panic attacks if I can't get away. Anti anxiety meds help a lot - celexa for me - and there's an excelletn book on SPD in adults called "Too Loud, too Bright, too Fast, too Tight" - anyone who is interested should check it out. On to my quirks -
-I can't stand the sound of birds chirping, ever - cooing is ok, but high pitched chirping freaks me out.
-It bothers me beyond all reasonableness that my pinky toes are bent. EVERYONE'S pinky toes are bent, but for some reason I have to stretch them out straight on the floor constnatly. I really want to find a doctor who will break them and reset them straight for me.
-I also hate my food touching, although this one has gotten much better over time.
-Things have to be even on both sides of my body - if I hit one knee, I'll hit the other knee. This is much worse when it comes to my fingers and toes - everything is worse around my fingers and toes. Still, much better than it was when I was little.
-I need the skin under my nails to be pushed back constantly - it freaks me out to no end when people have their nails bitten down so far that the skin pokes over the top. Makes me want to die a little inside.
-Sand on my toes, or anything dry against my feet when they are dry. AWFUL.
I have no clue how my boyfriend deals with all this. Some nights I yell at him because he breathes on me. Poor boy.