I have been wondering recently about temperature, and skin sensitivities. Specifically regarding me. I have been trying to read and learn more about autism lately. It doesn’t feel like one of my normal special interests. However, with the amount of time I put in, it may be.
I have a strange relationship with temperature. I may be outside during recess and the temperature will read at 0 degrees. I don’t notice it much. On the same day, I may be at home, resting on the sofa. It’ll be 17 degrees in the house, and I will be freezing. I will need my blanket, and to be wrapped up.
This drives my wife nuts.
I am not ignorant of the temperature. I can feel a bit of discomfort. My leg muscles will tense up, and start to hurt. My knees get stiff, and I have a hard time walking. But I don’t feel “frozen” or the need to cover every inch of myself like the other teachers nearby. I used to believe it was because I am Canadian, and we joke about this a lot in Canada.
But then why do I freeze in my own living room?
My theory on cold is this. My feet are sensitive. When I’m outside, my feet are wrapped up in warm socks. I have my shoes or boots on to keep them warm. But at home, I may have no socks on if I just got home. (My feet sweat and need to breathe or they stink). Or they may have just socks on. Either way, I feel cold. My whole body feels it, but I think it starts on my feet and works up.
In the summer I have the opposite problem. I don’t feel overly warm, and often need others to remind me to take my jacket off or similar. My family knows I will dehydrate if not. I will notice a burn, or overheating that causes physical pain. But as a temp, It doesn’t bother me.
My skin, however does react. If I sweat, my skin gets itchy. My legs and my sides are the worst. I swear my sweat is corrosive as well. I get rashes on my skin from my sweat. My leather watch bands dissolve rather quickly. My metal watch bands corrode. Only my cloth bands survive, but they get itchy.
My mouth, like my feet, however is sensitive. I love Hot drinks, for example, but cannot drink them too hot. I love holding a hot mug of coffee, or hot chocolate. I just hug it, it’s awesome. But I need it too cool before I can drink it. Likewise I am very susceptible to Ice-cream headaches. That one may be just because I eat it too fast…
Interestingly, the American National Library of Medicine seems to confirm that It may be an autistic trait in me.
I am by no means an expert in Autism. However, I can, and have tried to express my experiences as an Autistic Adult (Autist?). Please don’t take my articles and use them to diagnose yourself.
Baldwins Abroad 