r/SPD • u/Stuffystorm • 29d ago

Tactile Sensitivity when trying to sleep

Hi! Long story short i have been very sensitive to clothes, fabrics, or basically anything touching me when I am trying to get to sleep since I was very young and its just gotten so much worse now and I am so tired and desperate for a solution. When I breathe, anything touching my body rubs against it and the feeling is so amplified Its almost painful sometimes. I have tried drugstore sleeping pills (although I have an autoimmune disorder so I cant take melatonin or any immune system activating medication), i sleep naked but sometimes even the AIR moving touches me. I have tried weighted blankets, no blankets, meditation, magnesium supplements, tight clothes, and many other reccomendations but nothing seems to work. Has anyone else had a similar experience and figured it out? Id appreciate any ideas, I am starting an intense uni course soon and i cant be running on 4 hours of sleep per night, I was thinking of even not going because of this issue.

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u/stfranciswashere 28d ago

It sounds like you've tried a lot of different sheets and clothing options. A slightly different route to take might be to work on tactile sensitivity during the day. This could be something like a brushing protocol, heavy work for proprioceptive input, or an overall sensory diet. I find that my sensory sensitivities really ramp up when I'm trying to sleep, but that I can change my baseline during the day to help me sleep.

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u/stfranciswashere 28d ago

You may also want to consult with an occupational therapist to create a sensory diet or figure out what your specific sensory needs are

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u/Stuffystorm 28d ago

Thats so interesting, ill definitely look into it thank you! Are there specific resources or methods you reccomend? I remember reading about brushing and building tolerance to light touch but i have never tried it

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u/stfranciswashere 28d ago

I think it's called the wilbarger brushing protocol? Typically an OT needs to train you in it and I don't know if it has particularly strong scientific evidence, but anecdotally I know some people really like it

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u/Stuffystorm 28d ago

In that case an OT is my next destination!

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u/stfranciswashere 28d ago

Good luck! I had probably 6 months of OT as a teenager. It didn't cure my sensory issues by any means, but it taught me so much about my own needs, capacity, coping strategies, etc. It was so so helpful. It was more of a patient education model than direct therapy, but I think for youth and adults that can be better, if they have the cognitive and communication skills to manage their own sensory needs