However, my physical symptoms exist whether I un-think them or not. It’s like telling someone with any other neurological condition—like multiple sclerosis or epilepsy—that their symptoms exist in their thoughts and chemical makeup: it’s just not true.

This makes the processing of sensory information difficult and at times even impossible simply due to the way our brains are structured.

Adults in the sensory community were called “picky,” “spoiled,” and “sensitive” as kids and were frequently misdiagnosed with a whole host of psychological disorders

People with sensory issues usually don’t have issues with sensation, but they struggle with perception and responding appropriately to what the brain perceives.

Dysregulation is the temporary state in which someone with sensory issues is unable to self-regulate (energize or relax) and maintain a calm, poised, and ready state.

Sensory Discrimination Disorder, which includes the difficulty of understanding the basic sensory qualities of people, places, objects, or the environment.

This is often called depersonalization in psychology circles—feeling disconnected from yourself and your surroundings, or even derealization, feeling like the world is dreamlike and distant.

Each piece of sensory input—from the feel of our feet on the floor to the laugh of a stranger—cascades upon us without our consent, and we must constantly fight to keep our heads above water.

Unable to feel the full extent of pain, it could take more force—more burning, more sharpness, more ache—for them to register that they have a problem.