i’m almost always cold
Living in the midwest I’ve experienced 4 seasons my whole life. The slightest breeze changes the temperature for me. It can be 90 degrees out and if there is any air movements I get cold. I always have to have a long sleeve shirt with me, even in the hottest part of the summer. And when I go into a store (or air conditioned place) I have to put the long sleeves on. The cool air feels so good but if I don’t put on the long sleeves my body gets use to the cool temperature and when I go back into the heat outside I overheat immediatly and am unable to cool back down.
Winter season is the worst!!! I experience actual physical pain when I get cold. It’s the same pain I feel when I see or hear someone else in pain (I feel a stabbing pain run from the top of my neck down to my ankles). I also have hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating). Unfortunately, SPD and hyperhidrosis are a horrible combination. I expect to sweat when I’m in a stressfull situation, most people do. But what’s crazy is I sweat when I’m cold. Yes, you read that correctly. When I’m cold, I sweat. It’s horrible!!! Because of my SPD when I’m cold I experience discomfort and pain. My brain understands this as stress. When my brain registers stress I start to sweat. it’s a vivious circle.
The same thing happens with clothing seams, tags, and textures…they make me sweat! They rub on my skin which is irritating, causing my brain to register stress. I’m so thankful that I found out SPD was a thing! It doesn’t change anything, EXCEPT it does. It has changed my life! It has helped me understand why I’m so different from everyone else around me. It has helped me understand why I am the way I am. I spent about 20 years of my life telling myself that tomorrow I will be able to (fill in the blank) like everyone else. Seriously, I should be able to wear a normal shirt (like everyone else) without wanting to rip it off. Learning about SPD has been life changing. It has allowed me to accept that this is who I am! It has allowed me to stop wishing and hoping that tomorrow will be different. It has allowed me to except that this is how my brain works. I don’t choose to feel clothing texture different than everyone else. I also don’t choose to be cold all the time. I would love to dress like everyone around me. I learned that I have to adapt and alter a lot everyday but I’m thankful I’ve been able to figure it out.