I find it completely incomprehensible that I am still having to work out how I present, my physical, mental and emotional disability. At the age of 46 when I first found out about cerebral palsy, I thought hypersensitivity was something to do with that because I didn’t know about autism. Without a diagnosis of autism, hypersensitivity, or sensory overload, only seeing a bad foot and bad leg, meant I could only assume it all had something to do with cerebral palsy. I now know my neurological issues and hypersensitivity have little to do with cerebral palsy, but they do include autism also.

My Hypersensitivity Issues

The first time I came face to face with hypersensitivity, was in my twenties seeing someone close to me deteriorate through cancer and feeling panicky because I couldn’t bear to look at him. I didn't know that seeing someone ill, activates my senses through sensory overload, and distorted vision making my senses and what I see look more exaggerated.

Growing up, things felt different, but I could never understand and explain. I have learned that with hypersensitivity seeing, hearing, or feeling something can activate my senses in seconds, and that makes for challenging behaviour.

My Hypersensitivity Meltdowns

If not nipped in the bud quickly it can result in me having a meltdown, or a panic attack. A meltdown can happen at any time, usually caused by a number of factors including uncertainty, stress, environmental stimuli, and change.

It is hard to come to terms with the enormity of symptoms around a disability you don't know you have and have to continually deal with those symptoms. It's difficult to comprehend that I’ve had these symptoms my whole life and not known.