Adult sensory overload with clothing

by Seratonin
(Ca)

Wearing bras hurt. I've had breast reduction to help this, however this was only a temporary fix. Plus after the surgery I had to wear a bra 24/7.




I'm 26, and need help. I can't stand the feeling of wearing a bra; but I'm a 44C - too big not to wear one, so I am constantly wearing sweatshirts and vests. Has anyone else had this problem? What have you done? Is there hope?

I am certainly interested in any solutions others have to offer. Please share them with Seratonin, if you can.



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Sep 06, 2019
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Help with sports clothes
by: Anonymous

I have a 16 year old daughter that has suffered with SPD since she was a toddler. She particularly has a problems with pants and shoes. She is currently in a Physical education class but cannot wear the required clothing for the class. She says it burns and it especially bothersome when you put athletic shoes and pants together.

Any suggestion on what kind of athletic wear you find tolerable would be very helpful.
Jan 20, 2019
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starstarstarstarstar 		I’m Not the Only One
by: Anonymous

Wow! After reading your story, I know that I’m not the only who feels this way.

For several years, I was misdiagnosed with asthma. I have enjoyed several trips to the ER for the last 10-12 years. It was in 2018 that my current PCP realized there was no way I could have asthma. He observed my behavior and said it couldn’t be anything more than anxiety.

I was referred to a psychiatrist who never saw me til this day. I have tried to help myself in more ways than one could imagine. I had to change several things about my lifestyle and now I’m a little calmer.

Sadly, my panic attacks still take place early in the morning while waiting for the bus and I am running late and at night when I am alone, just me and my thoughts. I currently do not have insurance at the moment so I have to wait this one out and try to make myself better in the mean time.

Thanks for sharing your story :)
Apr 18, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		I hate bras and tight clothes
by: Cyndarella59

I have suffered with this problem all my life. I ripped and cut up a lot of underwear over the years. My mom finally found underwear I would wear without a meltdown.

Back in the 60s we wore dresses to school, no pants allowed unless worn under a dress in winter. I wore what we called tap pants. Silky loose legged underwear that looked like shorts. But when I wore pants these would bunch up and didn't work for me.

I buy my underwear a size bigger. Nothing can touch my belly button, pinch or be tight around my legs in the groin area. I wish they would make boxer briefs for women that are longer in the leg to reach mid thigh. The women's version cream up and bunch under pants, intolerable.

At home it's baggy everything. I had breast reduction on March 22nd because I absolutely hate bras. I wish they could have reduced them to a AAA. Right now I'm 5 weeks post on so I'm a C cup and hoping the swelling goes down to a B or an A. The plastic surgeon says I never have to wear a bra again if I don't want to.

I hate wide straps. Too much pressure on my shoulders. I prefer spaghetti strap camisoles. I don't like any clothing touching in my underarm area. I prefer being naked under a pretty cotton sundress that falls loose over my body. I wear skirts and can tolerate yoga pants and leggings.

I would love to be normal and wear all the pretty clothes out there. If my clothes fit too tight I feel claustrophobic and can go into panic mode. Bras cause intense itching between my shoulder blades. I'm going to try some of those stick on bras, silicone stick on bras and nipple petals.

Jeans are a no go unless they are the soft stretchy kind like jeggings (best invention ever!). I have ADHD and Bipolar ll disorder. It's sad that we all suffer a problem others just can't understand. It is not all in our heads. Summer is coming and off come the winter clothes and bring on my comfy sundresses, yes!
Apr 03, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		Ahh Bra
by: Anonymous

check out this link
https://www.herroom.com/rhonda-shear-92071-ahh-seamless-leisure-bra-with-removable-pads.shtml?utm_source=adv&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=pla&utm_content=Rhon01-92071&gclid=CK7miODQidMCFQSLaQodjIQJbg&kwid=productads-adid^149452287584-device^c-plaid^93995591357-sku^1483164-adType^PLA

It is the only bra I have ever been able to wear. Wearing even a traiing bra reduces me to hyperventilating because the feeling to me is litterally equal to having a pedophile squeeze me. That is how violated and constricted i feel. i hate bras. i think we should go back to burning them... anyways. The ahh bra and the genie bra are extremely soft and comfortable. The strap is wide and the band is wide too. if you layer them they can serve as a day bra or sports bra. If i could change naything I would add something to make they straps adujustable but well perfection is hard to find in a bra. i have found this is as good as it gets for now.
Apr 23, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Comfortable bras - FINALLY!
by: Cathy B

Hello,

I am 50, of average proportions, and have suffered my entire life with itchy, scratchy bras that are too binding. Even the softest, no seam bras in the stores were uncomfortable, and believe me, I tried everything. A couple of years ago, out of desperation, I spent a weekend scouring the internet for a site where I could possibly purchase a custom-made bra. I found one! The company is called Decent Exposures and they make all sorts of bras and other clothing where you can select the material and the thread, and even ask for custom styles. I have my bras made out of cotton velour and sewn inside-out! The Un-Bra is an over-the-head type and the best I can find out there that does not itch, plus I have mine made with longer straps, and a 2" cotton band that minimizes the chafing itchy feeling under the breasts. This company is fantastic to work with. Good luck!
Apr 22, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		instead of a bra, what about sport compression shirts?
by: Anonymous

My son is very hypersensitive and needs to wear soft shirts, soft sheets, etc. He's able to tolerate more textures, when he wears a sport compression shirt. I take him to Dick's sporting goods as they have a huge selection and have him try them (only picking the softest ones to do this) and he'll end up getting 2-3 different colors of the softest one.

They also have a really big selection of women's compression shirts - that you could wear to substitute for a bra, under other shirts or by itself. Very big variety of styles and colors to choose from.

Dec 29, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		So I am not crazy...
by: Anonymous

I hate all clothes (except my 1 t-shirt and 1 pair of sweatpants)...and I especially hate bras! I have hated clothes my whole life and would find a style of shirt or pants I hated less than others, and would buy multiple in various colors because I couldn't bear the feelings of the way different tops/bottoms fit. I had like 50 of the same bra because I just knew they were going to stop making that style. Dressing was an panic attack in the making...every, single, day! Luckily, I was a thin 95lbs and 5'4" back then...unlucky to be a 32E.

After 3 kids, I happily had them chopped off & can actually go bra-less now (they were pretty bad to start with, but after nursing 3 kids...lets just say they didnt resemble boobs anymore). Problem now that I am older, a bit heavier at 140lbs...clothing has become a bigger problem, like I cant wear anything tight, or baggy...that leaves a small middle area my panic attacks have proven dont exist. I CANNOT tolerate the feeling of my belly (or any body area) rolling over fabric or being restricted by tightness. I used to hate bras, but tolerated that 1 style...after my reduction, the scar tissue made my sensations worse and I cannot keep any bra on over 5 minutes without a full blown I-am-going-to-die panic attack. Luckily, I stay home with small kids & don't have to wear clothes (other than my 1 outfit mentioned above). It sucks, its getting worse as I get older (currently 34), doctors are idiots, meds don't help, CBT didn't help...I'd move to a nudist colony, but I think they are all TRULY crazy and I am just a whiner.

In short, chopping off the tatas will not help your SPD, it may even make it worse. I have been diagnosed with ADHD, SPD, OCD, GAD, and probably some other things I have yet to discover. I feel better knowing there are others having this bra battle too...cuz I was starting to feel a bit crazy myself.
Dec 01, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		No more bras
by: Anonymous

I'm 22, i have very small breasts. i have autism and any time i attempt to wear a bra, it ends with crying. I'm to the point where I've decided no more bras! i wear two layers, baggy shirts, and depending on my mood, putting band-aids over the nips helps.
Aug 18, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		I can't wear bras
by: Anonymous

So relieved to read some of the comments here as I thought I was unique. I have never been able to bear the feeling of wearing any bra. This has massively affected my life as I was conscious of it, and angry about it, ever minute of the day that I was wearing it. No, having one "properly" fitted does not help and misses the point. It's the sensation of having anything touching that part of my body. Extra problematic for me as my breasts are quite large.

About 20 years ago, following months of therapy which did nothing for me, I stopped wearing a bra altogether and invented my own garment to wear instead, which I have to sew myself. I can share my design if anyone is interested. Hugely helped, though not perfect and I have been considering breast reduction. Terrified of the aftermath, especially the idea of someone telling me I have to wear a bra 24 hours a day post-operatively. Would be absolute torture. Also, would the scar tissue be extra sensitive and make matters even worse?

Anybody had any experience of this? Should I try for mastectomy? Think I must havve SPD or perhaps ASD as I have never been able to bear anyone touching most parts of my body from early childhood.
Apr 06, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Bras for spd!
by: Nik

I have spd, these are the only ones I ever wear. Size 44 DD, but 44 D when there aren't the other available in store. http://www.penningtons.com/en/plus-size-wirefree-cotton-bra
Jan 29, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		professional fitting doesn't help
by: Anonymous

I have had bras fitted, many times. I hate them. There were certain points in my life, for some reason, where I could wear them and not really notice. In the last few years my clothes sensitivities have gotten way worse. Bras are at the top of my list. I wear 32C to 32D depending on the bra, which are a little less common.

Sports bras even bother me, but they don't often produce anxiety attacks like when I try to wear one of the few fitted wireless bras I have bought.

At least I feel less crazy knowing that other people have the same problems. As an adult I have found socks, and some shoes and some pants I can wear...but the bras.

After I know for certain I do not want another child, I am going to get my breasts reduced, possibly just removed.
Sep 11, 2012
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starstarstarstar 		Bras Drive Me Crazy!!!
by: Anonymous

I have known there was something wrong with me forever and my mom always said it was just the ADHD. But I've always had an issue with clothing! Tags, socks, shoes, undershirts (I've found I will never be able to get out of the house without except on a REALLY REALLY good day!) But bras... oh my lord! They are the worst! They drove me insane when I had to start wearing them,

I only wore sports bras until I absolutely had to start the real thing) and I did grow out of it for a couple years, I'm 19 now and I noticed as soon as I graduated from high school my sensitivity started up all over again, The underwear (Hanes ComfortSoft Waistband has saved my life) and THE BRAS! I came to the conclusion that Ambrielle was the best brand, it had to be a push up, had to be this, had to be that... but that is not working anymore.

I'm still figuring out what to do. I'm sick of tightening the straps until it hurts. I am sick of having an anxiety attack every time I have to get dressed. I heard that a compression tight fitting sports bra will work? I plan on trying it over a real bra, I can't afford to lose what little bust I have, but if that fails, maybe I'll just try the sports bra? I looked at those compression bras for people after breast surgery... They look really comfortable, but they are just really ugly.. Any suggestions??
Apr 15, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		You bra size is wrong
by: V

Your problem is wrong bra size, not hypersensivity. Most women wear wrong size and they complain because of too big/too small/too wide/too other breasts. They wear too big band and too small cup size. There are bras available in many sizes, 28-46, AA-M. Check out "brafitting" in Google.
Apr 13, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		--A hairbrush
by: Jennifer

Something that I've found helpful is to take a hairbrush with stiff bristles and scrape it over my skin before I put my bra on. Sometimes I have to go into a bathroom stall a few times during the day to redo the process. I don't know if that will help you or not, since your problem sounds a bit different than mine, but it's something cheap and easy to try.
Feb 21, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		nursing bra
by: Anonymous

You didn't mention what about bras was uncomfortable for you. For me its the clasp right on the spine, why do they do that? And Lace. How can other people stand it? Anyway,

I had a nursing bra that was so comfortable I could sleep in it. Also if you are comfortable in swimming suits, just wear that underneath. Good luck

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