This is excellent insight and very helpful, keep it coming. And for clarification, the bedwetting just started two weeks ago out of nowhere. Totally confusing. And...Serenity, the hearing thing, Elizabeth does that. I don't know if that's causing the headaches, but I think I'm going to give her earlplugs when she needs to concentrate on a task because she forgets where she's going or what she's doing because she hears so many things on the way and sees and smells so many things. It's worth a try. I have to use earplugs or my iPod sometimes to block out "voices" (and they're in my own head).

I just asked her what all she could hear and she rattled off: all of us breathing, something ticking, her brother walking (barefoot on carpet)etc., etc. and I could only hear her talking. I asked her how loud it was and she said fairly loud, but, since there really is no reference point of comparison, it's probably hard to say. I'm not excited that she could have this APD, but...now I may be able to help her. She has also talked about just needing to "squish" or "bite" something but she doesn't know why, I'm wondering if that is some type of stress reliever such as you use for your tension when you're in a public place.

When my bipolar is cycling I can hear the slightest sound and it makes me irrationally angry. A boy was tapping the end of his straw on a table and it was all I could do not to reach over and take it away, and I only heard one sound. If she's hearing everything, then it makes total sense.

"week whackers"

These are closely related to "day thumpers" but bigger and stronger. "month maulers" are positive brutes though, so be careful around those.

Sorry, Serenity...just couldn't resist. I know you had a simple typo and meant to write "weed whackers"

Hugs

The squishing or biting is definitely a stimming action, to relieve stress. Most aspies hear everything, but it is not necessarily APD. The aspie can train themselves to eliminate conscious recognition of the sounds, although I don't think the APD person can do that.

While I was still working, I could actually hear who was leaving out the back door, almost 80 feet away, and by their footsteps, while dealing with talking customers at the front counter. At the same time, I'd trained myself to ignore the A/C fans.

Bart,

THANK YOU for that laugh!!!

I lost it today. I didn't know the bus schedule was on a Saturday schedule (their reasoning? it's a holiday TOMORROW). Since I was so late in getting up and looking human today, I couldn't possibly go out to Whole Foods without risking being stranded. I missed a trip to Whole Foods LAST week, so I'm getting pretty low on my "goody" stash. I have to make due this week on a trip to Giant's and Safeway, but will have to wait to replenish my "goody" stash next Friday (and just force myself to leave work on time).

We MIGHT be starting a new project at work. Just the thought of it has me totally freaking because I'm not sure how much more time it'll take. I'm slow in scanning the journals, so I'm already staying late just to make sure my work gets done. I will work up to 12 hour shifts - I don't care; I feel bad that I'm being so slow with the journals. It's taxing but I have to be happy I have a job because I know so many people are out of work [and Aspies lack compassion - pheh, I've been out of work so many times, I have nightmares over it!]. That's why I'm not protesting this new project idea. Yeah, it may be a good idea even though it has the potential to be so time-consuming. However, in compromise, I will ask to survey people to see if this project will meet their needs or if we're way off.

I cannot just ignore sounds. It's one of my many frustrations - "Just ignore it!" and when I tell them I cannot: "Well, try harder!" I can really loose it - especially on my bad days - if someone is blaring their music too loudly. Sometimes, people play their music so loudly on the bus that I can still hear it through the ear plugs *cringes* At that point, all I want to do is beat the living stuffing out of them or rip their IPOD out of their hands and turn the music down for them. Of course, both options are illegal, so I can do nothing but shoving my ear plugs in my ears and shoot them dirty looks.

- Serenity

Have you tried, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I have a severe sensory disease and I'm struggling with the music being at that volume. Is there any way you can help me?"

I realize some jackasses might shoot you the finger, but I would almost think it would work better than a "Hey, can you turn it down?" request by someone else.

Given that they're strangers that you'll never see again anyway, I'd be tempted to lay it on thick - "Hi, sorry to bother you, but I just got back from chemotherapy, and a little-known side effect is that loud noise is extremely painful and has been shown to negate the positive cancer-reducing effects of the treatment."

Ok, maybe you get a few extra days in hell on the other side, but I'll bet it solves the immediate problem real quick!

O.K., you guys just crack me up. I think I socialize better with Aspies than I do N.T.'s. You have my sense of humor.

I learned a long time ago that sometimes when Max was laughing it was a sign that he was nervous, not happy so I never assume....and I am not sure it is important for them to identify their feelings at all times. What I think is very important is to have ways of dealing with when you KNOW you are not feeling good. It's like the Kelso's chart I brought up a long time ago. Just make a chart of feelings and possible actions. ie, I am feeling angry at a person, I can A. Tell them calmly that I don't like the way they are acting B. Get outside help (teacher, parent, other trusted adult) C. Count to ten D. Walk away. etc. We had a whole set of different options for different feelings. As we talked about HOW to cope with feelings Max was more willing to explore what they were and get in touch since he actually had some ways to cope with them and he wasn't just overwhelmed with them. Don't know if that makes any sense, but if not let me know and I will try to clarify, if I can...
Linda

That's cool Bart.