Tactile defensiveness in adults

by Jo
(USA)

For years I have had an extreme sensitivity to certain carpets, upholstered furniture, and certain cloth material. I become, for lack of a better description, grossed out or repulsed when my bare or stockinged feet or sometimes hands come into contact with someone's carpet or upholstery.

It is not every type of material. Berber carpet or flat carpet does not seem to bother me as much. If we are at someone's house, I am very picky about which chair I will sit on, preferring leather or a smooth fabric. The thing that makes this so weird is that if my hands or feet are sweaty it doesn't bother me nearly as much.

In the summer, I don't have nearly the problems I do in the winter. For example, at Christmas, I had to leave my shoes on at a family member's house because I couldn't bear the thought of my socks touching their carpet. We have a chair in our living room that I will only sit on if my feet and hands are sweaty. The good thing is that I often have sweaty hands and feet. But, never it seems, when I want them to be.

Is this totally crazy? I don't ever tell anyone about this because it is seems so strange. Does anyone know what I am talking about?