Tag / occupational therapist

by Erin Nowicki

The Princess & The Beach

πŸ–πŸŒŠπŸŒžπŸ¬Going to the beach can be intense for a person with Sensory Processing Disorder. So, come with me and I’ll give you a few tips for some ways that help me enjoy my time at the beach AND come home with a smile and not a grimace. πŸ¬πŸŒžπŸŒŠπŸ–

1. Mr. Sun

Getting burned by the sun, whether or not you have a skin disorder, is painful and uncomfortable for any person. When you have SPD, that pain is heightened and the process of healing can be brutal. The burn, the itching, the peeling: OUCH. I used to be known for getting terribly burned every single time I went to the beach. As of today, sunburn is a rare occurrence for me, but that is because I have adjusted some things.

When you get hurt, you usually don’t like the thing that hurt you, so you start to give off negative energy towards it. Even though I was applying sunscreen every hour on the dot, I still kept coming home looking like a cooked lobster. I started to fear, dislike and blame the sun for causing my pain. The pain and sunburn didn’t stop, but if you think about it…why would it? The expectation I set before going to the beach was that I was going to get burned no matter what I tried. I believe that it was one of the factors why I’d leave with that not-so-lovely cherry burn. Mindsets and words are so powerful and I was manifesting this negativity for my body….um not cool Erin.

A couple years ago, I decided that this has to stop. I started to shift that powerless mindset and I put some effort into my relationship with Mr. Sun. Instead of assuming I was going to get burned, I started to focus on my gratitude for all of the major benefits the sun gives me. The sun’s purpose is not to bring pain, but to bring life, light, and wholeness. It wasn’t the suns’s fault I was getting burned…there was so much more to it.

2. Screen Yourself

After shifting into this mindset, I started to try different types of sunscreens to see which would be a better partner to help protect my skin. I noticed that my skin would be better protected when I would wear a mineral-base sunscreen as opposed to the regular kind. I don’t like the feeling of lotion in my hands, so this definitely is my least favorite part about beach days, but it is important, hence why I use it anyways.

**Some tips for troubleshooting your own experience with sunscreen**

Make-Up Brush: If you don’t like using your hands to rub the sunscreen into your skin and don’t have someone to do it for you, try using a make-up brush instead. There are different kinds of brushes, so test out different ones to see which one works the best for your skin. This is also a “parent hack” for children who hate the sunscreen process. Give them the brush and watch how much fun they’ll have while also encouraging the lesson of self-care. Don’t forget to finish the job for them to ensure they didn’t miss a spot.

Pre-Screen: Put on your first round of sunscreen at home or in the parking lot before you get to the beach, that way you can get everything covered before sand gets in the way. I can’t stand the feeling of rubbing sunscreen on my face with sand mixed in, so if I can start my beach day off without that feeling, I’m all about it.

Lotion vs. Spray: Try different forms of sunscreen to see which one feels the best for your skin. Some sunscreens are heavy and some light, so paying attention to the different “feels” might help you figure out what you prefer the most.

Wipe Your Hands: Have some baby wipes or a hand towel to wipe your hands off after using sunscreen. Applying deep pressure while wiping your hands can help you reset quite nicely.

3. L’eau

Hydration is actually another way to help prevent sunburn. When your body is nourished and healthy, then it doesn’t have to fight so hard to protect itself from the Mother Earth’s elements. I’ve struggled with drinking water most of my life up until about 4/5 years ago. I have an amazing holistic chiropractor who did some energy work on me and helped me realize that I had too much copper in my body. Once I got treated for that, it completely shifted the way my body was responding to good ol’ H2O. All of that to say: drink your water….especially when spending time out in the hot sun.

4. Sea-Shellter

Jon and I bought a beach tent and it has rocked our world. We usually get to the beach and set up our shelter first thing, then go for a nice long walk. After a walk we come back and rest in the tent to give our skin a break from our buddy, Mr. Sun. If the sun has shifted and is shining directly on the front of the tent, we’ve come up with a solution by using a couple of chip clips to hang up colorful tapestry; that way we are in a shady spot while we get a break from those intense rays. It’s functional, fun and totally sets a chill vibe for some sweet beach hangs.

5. Sock-A-Row-Nees

My feet are the most sensitive part of my body when it comes to my SPD. Swimming in the water, walking on shells and getting covered in sand can be quite overstimulating. I’ve discovered that socks actually help me to relax a lot easier when I’m relaxing in the beach tent. The deep pressure that socks give allow my body to chill for a second and know that it’s ok. On days I have forgotten to bring them, I definitely noticed that my overall pain level was heightened and I had a harder time being able to relax.

I typically bring two pairs with me so I have one for the actual beach trip and one for the ride home. When you’re already in an environment that not only is life-giving but also overstimulating, that can be a lot for your body to process once you have to drive home. For me, having a clean pair of socks to put on right when I get into the car (sandy feet or not), has really helped ground and remind my body that I am ok. It’s really powerful what a pair of socks can do.

6. Powder Your Nose…or Toes

This one isn’t something I do as much anymore, because the sock hack has been a better fit for me, but I don’t want to leave it out because it might help you out. Get some talc free baby powder fill up a sock wit it (I used my winter socks since I live in Florida and don’t need them as much). Before you get into your car to leave the beach, grab that baby powder sock and quickly dab it onto your skin and watch as the sand magically comes off. Once you’re done, just put it in ziplock for your future beach days. **Another great parent hack!

7. I’m Misty Over You

When I get overheated, my body tends to freak out, therefore, I freak out. Jon and I have this joke that if JosΓ©, the name I have for my upper lip (go ahead and judge my quirkiness for naming literally everything, including my third eye who’s name is Kiki), gets sweaty, that means I’m about to hit my code red of overheating…which is not pretty. In Florida, especially the summers, it can get boiling hot. so I’ve found something that has helped prevent a code red for me and that is having a small fan that has a misting feature on it. This not only cools me off, but it actually helps me shift my focus back to being grounded and to remind my body that I am totally fine. I also make sure to have a bandana either to wear on my head or have in my pocket, that way I can have something to take care of JosΓ©.

8. No Cowboys Allowed

As a fabulous, plus-sized gal, chaffing can be a real buzzkill, while having magical beach day…especially living with SPD on top of that. I don’t want to be the one walking like a cowboy while I’m trying to enjoy a lovely day at the beach. I’ve found that bringing an extra pair of comfy shorts is wonderful. You can just slip them on before you go for that walk to hunt for those treasures that are waiting to be discovered. Another thing that I’ve done in the past, that works nicely, is using a chaffing balm. I’ve tried a few different brands but the one I felt worked the best at preventing and even soothing the chaffing is a product called For Her by Body Glide (this is not sponsored, just a personal recommendation). It goes on very light and isn’t greasy like other products I’ve used. It also doesn’t clump up which is nice, because it’s not like you want to be walking around with white clumps in between your legs. Even though it’s called “For Her” and they have a “For Him” one, it honestly can be used by any human.

Conclusion

You might have noticed this, but a lot of the “hack” that I mentioned above aren’t out of the ordinary or unusual. Most of the things I mentioned could totally be a part of every person’s beach routine. The key for me is that having these things help to alleviate extra pain and let me feel a little more relaxed, especially since the beach is one of my favorite places to be.

Do you have any personal tips that help you to enjoy your time at the beach? Leave a comment below and I’ll try it out and let you know how if it helps!

𝕀π•₯𝕒π•ͺ π•žπ•’π•˜π•šπ•”π•’π•
by Erin Nowicki

The Princess Chronicle vol. 7

Sensory discrimination is really how we define how we actually label the physical experiences we are having with our external world as well as even our internal.

Mim Ochsenbein, MSW, OTR/L 

This quote is from an amazing video I watched that further explains a little more what SPD is about. It’s only 10 minutes and I highly recommend you check it out!

SPD Covid Hacks πŸ˜‰

**Here are my top four “hacks” that I wanted to share on how I’m helping myself to cope better during this pandemic. Some things might work better for you and some might not…if you have some of your own, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE share them in the comments below!**

  • Bandana or Wide Headband
    • Do face masks bother you? I know I can’t stand the feeling of them brushing against my face or how they pull on my ears. Obviously I still wear them but I have found that bandanas or wide headbands help me feel a little more comfortable. The deep pressure it provides as opposed to just sitting on my face definitely makes a difference.
  • Grocery List
    • You might already be an avid grocery list person…before Covid-19, I would rarely make one. Now, I really make it a point to have one, because I like to get in and out of that store as fast as I can. It also helps to have it organized by section, that way you can strategically make yourself through the store. I haven’t personally done this, but I know some grocery stores do a curbside pick up; so, that’s something you might want to try as well.
  • Foam Soap
    • Having to wash my hands more (see previous post), I’ve noticed that my least favorite part is the soap. I realized that I don’t dread it as much when I know there’s a foam soap as opposed to the slimy regular soap. πŸ˜‰ Foam soap is a little more airy and not very textured which makes it less painful.
  • Hydration
    • This hack isn’t really a hack…it should be something we all are doing anyways, BUT, if you’re like me at all and HATE water, then this hack is for you. πŸ˜‰ If I don’t hydrate, I notice that my face sweats more when I’m wearing a mask and that is a HUGE pain for me.
    • I have found that I like ice cold water better than room temperature. I will sometimes add frozen or fresh fruit (such as berries, lemons, strawberries) to my water to help cover the taste of the water. I also found that I drink more if I have my water bottle with me at all times and if I have a straw (I use a silicone or metal straw).

What You Missed Last Time

If you missed out on my last post, click the link ^^^^^ and check it out. I wrote about what it’s like to be living in this pandemic world as someone with SPD.

Guess What!?

I have some exciting news that I wanted to share with you!

You know how I really wanted to review products for you so you don’t have to? Well…. I have officially become an Affiliate for a company called Huggaroo. Huggaroo is this amazing company that sells weighted blankets and other wonderful products that can help people with SPD; and honestly, I think any person can benefit from their products- I know I sure have personally.

Being a part of their Affiliate program means that any product YOU purchase using my referral link, helps provide me with a 10% commission! Isn’t that killer?!

I do need to establish something with you- I vow to never ever ever become an Affiliate or sponsor for a company unless I 100% love the product and believe in it. Yes, getting a little extra cash so I can start buying more items to review for you would be so nice, but it’s not worth it to me if I’m not being honest with you or myself. Make sense? I also wanted to tell you that any money I make from being a part of the Affiliate program, I’m going to use so I can purchase other products to review for you, my readers!

My link will be on my Contact page.

by Erin Nowicki

The Princess Chronicle vol. 6

Today’s chronicle is filled with some coolio stuff! I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe while the Covid-19 Pandemic is happening!

Make sure to check out my next post where I will talk about how this pandemic affects someone living with SPD.

Peanut Butter Podcast

What an adorable name for a podcast, eh?! My friend Stasia invited me to be a guest on her show! The best part is that it was specifically for me talk about SPD!

When I asked her how I should describe her podcast for my bloggers- this is what she said,

Stasia interviews neat people about neat things for the benefit of all mankind.

How magical is that?!

I’d love for you to not only check out the episode that I’m on, but also make sure to listen to the other episodes she’s done-it’ll be a blast!

OH! I almost forgot to mention that Stasia is actually the artist who designed two blog logos! She’s just a magical, creative bean isn’t she?

Thank you SO much Stasia for interviewing and letting me spread the awareness about SPD and thanks for always making me laugh. ❀

What You Missed Last Time

I found this fun, little test to see if I have SPD. πŸ˜€ I recorded my answers and included a link for YOU to go do it. Even if you don’t have SPD, you should still go and see if you learn something new about yourself. If you do take the test, I would love for you to share what you got by leaving a comment!

Journal Entry

Within the past year, it came to my attention that my sensory processing disorder DOES affect my mouth. Now I’m not a picky eater and textures don’t bother me when it comes to food, so I always wrote off my mouth for not being affected by SPD.

One day I was reading through this SPD Facebook group that I follow. A post caught my attention when someone mentioned that their was kid having a really difficult time with brushing their teeth. I felt like a light switch in my brain turned on immediately.

So here’s the thing…I HATE brushing my teeth. It’s not that it hurts necessarily, but I always gag and even sometimes puke (TMI? haha…sorry). I never knew why and have tried all sorts of different toothpastes, which never helped.

Seeing this post helped me realize that the issue with brushing my teeth is most likely a symptom of my SPD. Unfortunately, the knowledge doesn’t really take away my problem, but it has allowed me to have grace towards myself through the frustration. Sometimes knowledge can make a difference when you have a struggle.

I’m A List Person

If you’re new to the The REAL Princess & The Pea story, welcome! I hope you were able to learn something new, felt understood and I also hope you know that you aren’t alone.

I enjoy writing lists, so I thought for our newcomers, I’d write one to explain some of the reasons why I write this blog!

  • First and foremost, I don’t want ANYONE to ever feel like they are alone in this struggle of living with SPD. SPD is still not super well known to most people, so it can feel isolating. I want this blog to be a place where you can come and get advice, perspective and comfort.
  • To bring awareness to others about SPD.
  • I love to write and when I find time, I really enjoy telling my story with SPD. (It also helps to clear space in my brain for other things in my life like writing music!) πŸ˜€
  • To help educate others about SPD…and honestly I’m learning too!
by Erin Nowicki

Testing Testing

So, I found this “Sensory Processing Disorder Symptoms Test for Adults” created by TheΒ ADHD EDITORIAL BOARD and I thought it would be fun (and funny) to take it and then share my answers and what I scored . πŸ˜€

  1. Hugs even from those I’m close to can make me feel uncomfortable. Likewise, being in a crowded elevator makes me want to break out and run.Β 
    • My Answer: Very Often
  2. I enjoy high-adrenaline activities.
    • My Answer: Very Often
  3. I avoid some foods because of the texture. I would rather go hungry than eat a mushy banana.
    • My Answer: Never
  4. The thought of having to walk through the sand to get to the ocean or a lake can ruin the fun of a swim.
    • My Answer: Never
  5. When everyone else is sweating or shivering, I’m usually somewhere in the middle.
    • My Answer: Often (I’m usually the opposite of everyone tho…)
  6. Flickering lights β€” or even worse, strobe lights β€” send me over the edge.
    • My Answer: Sometimes
  7. My handwriting is illegible. I’m told I have “difficult-to-read” penmanship.
    • My Answer: Never
  8. I avoid walking through the perfume department at all costs. Scented candles β€” even the most subtle ones β€” bother me.
    • My Answer: Very Often (except candles…I love those)
  9. When I’m in a car with other people, I’m always asking, β€œCan we turn down the radio volume?” My Answer: Very Often (Honestly, that’s what I want to do most of the time, but a lot of times I just grin and bear it)
  10. I find myself bumping into things a lot, knocking stuff over, and tripping over my own feet.
    • My Answer: Often
  11. The sound of a dripping faucet or a crack of sunlight coming in from around my shades wakes me out of the deepest sleep.
    • My Answer: Never (I have a hard time sleeping in general but not because of those things…plus I sleep with a blanket over my eyes)
  12. Daily activities can be hard to do if I’m not able to see what I’m doing.
    • My Answer: Never
  13. I wear anything that’s loose and flowy, like caftans.
    • My Answer: I don’t wear caftans but I do like to wear loose shirts…but then I have to wear tighter pants for deep pressure…interesting!)
  14. I avoid public speaking.
    • My Answer: Very Often (I know this sounds so silly since I am a performer, but it’s 100% true…I am TERRIFIED of public speaking. But I’ll sing in front of however many people will listen haha)
  15. I prefer to wear tag-less shirts and seamless socks. I cut the tags out of my sweaters and would rather go naked than wear wool.
    • My Answer: Very Often

My Score: 35 out of 60!

How funny is that!? I think the test could’ve touched on a few other things but that’s ok…I still had fun doing it and seeing my score! Even if you don’t have SPD, I want everyone who reads this to do a homework assignment; it will be super fun to see what you get! And hey, maybe you will learn something new about yourself!

Homework Assignment For YOU:

  1. Take the test.
  2. Share your score by leaving a comment!

**If you like what you’re reading, hit that subscribe button so you can be the first to read my next post! And don’t forget to share my blog with anyone you think would benefit from this. I’m always looking to partner with others who want to collaborate with me on this endeavor to spread the word about SPD.**

by Erin Nowicki

The Princess Chronicle vol. 5

Happy New Year (22 days late)! I hope all of my Unicorns had a magical holiday season and I hope you are ready for a great new year we have ahead of us.

I know I haven’t been on here in AGES, so I wanted to share with you why!

Sometimes the “Pea” wins…

Ever since I started this blog, I felt like I had the momentum, brainpower and excitement to write and share a glimpse into my SPD life. In November, after my last post, I ended up just dropping off the blogging map…but why?!

At first, I couldn’t figure out why I didn’t want to write about my SPD and why I was dreading to even think about my blog. After talking to one of my blog subscribers, I realized what the issue was.

Every week I was writing a new blog post, which meant throughout each week I was thinking of what I wanted to write about.

This in turn was causing my Sensory to actually flare up ALL THE TIME. Once I figured out that this blog was the “Pea” that was causing me to be in pain (remember, SPD revolves around the brain and the disconnect with the nervous system), I decided to take a break for a little. So, yes, I let the “Pea” win but I’m ok with it..because I’m baaaaaaack. πŸ˜€

–Game Plan–

Instead of focusing on writing one blog a week, I’m going to write multiple blogs at one time so then I can post them once a week. Less thinking time overall…so let’s see if that will help this Sensory Princess. Wish me luck! ☘

What You Missed Last Time

Do you want to know what it feels like for a person with Sensory Processing Disorder to take a shower three days in a row?

On my last blog post, I did an experiment for yall and I hope it gives some insight. Go check it out!

Imagine a sound technician working a soundboard like the one above, but he clearly has zero training.

Excerpt from The Body Is Not An Apology

If you have time, click on the link to go check out the full article where I got that excerpt. I had never heard that analogy about SPD before and it totally resounded with me because I am a musician. Let me know in the comments below what things stood out to you in the article!

Next Week’s Blog

I found a “Sensory Processing Disorder Symptoms Test for Adults” and I wanted to share my answers with you. Do you think it will tell me I have Sensory Processing Disorder? HA!

by Erin Nowicki

The Princess Chronicle vol. 4

I’m back from California! Wow, what a trip that was!! I had such a blast tagging along with Jon and his band, as well as hanging out with my in-laws.

After the tour, Jon and I were able to spend two days in Venice Beach just exploring, eating delicious food, relaxing and crossing things off our bucket lists. It was dreamy and pure magic.

Journal Entry

This last Sunday, as Jon and I were driving to church, there was a car behind playing music EXTREMELY LOUD. He had the bass cranked and oh my goodness, because of my SPD, it was hurting my ears so much.

We had to sit through two lights with this car behind is. I was starting to panic because it was hurting so badly. When I was about to break down, he actually pulled up next to us and I decided to do something about the situation.

**Now, let me set this straight- never in a million years would I have done what I did next… I honestly think because of me starting this blog and no longer being ashamed of my disorder is why I did this.**

I rolled down the window and waved him down, with a smile of course. With hand signals, I motioned for him turn down the music. —->

He turned his music down and asked what was up. So I kindly asked him if he could turn it down just a little bit because it was physically hurting me.

Honestly, I thought he wouldn’t care because it seemed like he wasn’t caring about anyone when he had his music so loud that it was affecting everyone…but he COMPLETELY surprised me!

He then responded with a sincere apology and said that he didn’t realize that it was painful. SAY WHAT!?

Sometimes people just aren’t aware of how things affect you and honestly, they might not ever be aware unless you advocate for yourself with kindness & confidence.

What You Missed Last Time

I had so much fun writing my last blog post, but if you missed it, click the link above to go check it out. I wanted to share my go-to’s when packing for an out of town trip as someone with SPD. If you have SPD, you probably have some go-to things that you bring to help ease your sensory while you are away from home. I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below!

In my packing list, you might’ve noticed that I mentioned something called “deep pressure.” The product they’ve created is pretty neat too…maybe I’ll try it someday. πŸ˜‰ I wanted to send you over to an article that explains it in a good way. ⬇

Deep touch pressure refers to a form of tactile sensory input which is often provided by firm holding, firm stroking, cuddling, hugging, and squeezing.

Excerpt from Tjacket

Come back next week to read about how I attempted an experiment for my sensory and how I failed. πŸ˜€

by Erin Nowicki

Packing List- SPD Style

For someone diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder, going on a trip away from the comforts of home can be stressful. Now, I love to travel and I find it exhilarating, but that’s because I make sure to be prepared.

This list I’ve compiled is specific to my needs, but I bet some of them will be helpful for you:

1. Compression Socks

I would say this is the most important thing to bring. My feet are the most sensitive part on my body, so making sure I have a good pair of socks is clutch. When traveling, I never know what kind of sheets I will be sleeping on; having socks makes sure to protect my feet from any uncomfortable textures as well as giving me deep pressure. Compression socks are the best choice not only for sleeping, but they also help if I get overloaded with my sensory.

2. Superman Blanket

I get cold easily which in turn spikes my SPD so I always make sure to bring my superman blanket. I’ve had it since I was in high school (I think) and it’s gone with me all over the world. It’s a kid size blanket and the texture isn’t too bad, so it’s perfect for travel.

3. Hoodie

You never know if it’s going to rain (because rain=needles for me) or be chilly so I make sure to always bring a hoodie. Of course I bring a cute one but it also needs to be comfy. πŸ˜‰

4. PJ Pants

Like I mentioned with the socks earlier, I don’t ever know ahead of time whether or not I’m going to be comfortable where I sleep. Making sure I have comfortable PJ’s at least protects my skin for the most part from uncomfortable fabrics.

5. Fingernail Clippers

If I let my fingernails grow out too long, it really triggers my sensory in my hands. I can’t stand the feeling after I take a shower and I have long fingernails. I get the chills just thinking about it now. So, before a trip, I always cut my fingernails. I still bring the clippers just in case for some reason I didn’t cut my nails well enough or if I accidentally break one. A broken fingernail is a no-no for this sensory princess.

6. Baby Wipes/Dry Shampoo

I never know what the water will feel like in the different places I travel to. If it’s too soft, I will most likely not take a shower more than once when I’m at that location. So, that’s where the baby wipes and dry shampoo come in. The wipes help keep me somewhat fresh and the dry shampoo tames the hair.

7. Shaving Cream

Shaving cream comes in really handy if I really have to take a shower and the water texture brings me a lot of pain. When I’m ready to get out of the shower, I wash my hands with the shaving cream. It helps take away the soft feeling of water or shampoo/conditioner from my hands. It’s been a lifesaver!

8. Lavender Oil

Sensory overload happens and can feel like you can’t get away from the pain. Something that I’ve adapted into my packing list the past couple years is Lavender Essential Oil by DoTerra. Lavender is a natural calming agent, so I’ll put a little on my neck and it helps remind me to take deep breaths and calm down. I won’t put it on with just my fingers because the texture of oil actually hurts my skin too, so I use a cotton swab or tissue.

Another thing this oil helps with is mosquito bites. You never know if you are going to get bit on vacay! No one likes a mosquito bite, but add a sensory disorder on top of it which makes the pain even worse. Thankfully, lavender takes away the itching which in turn takes the extra pain away too.

9. Chapstick

Traveling via car or plane, it’s inevitable that my lips will get extremely dry and chapped. If I get stressed out, I tend to pick at my lips, so chapstick is a must bring.

10. Converse

My favorite pair of shoes are my raspberry pink colored, low top Converse. When I was in high school, my mom bought me my first pair. When those died, she got me another pair. πŸ˜€ Thanks Mom!

I bring these specific shoes because they are comfortable, provide my feet with deep pressure and are reliable. If it rains, these shoes hold up very decently, which is helpful for me because I don’t particularly like my feet getting wet if I don’t have to.

Alrighty, that’s my list! I hope you enjoyed it! If you have any packing musts, please share them in a comment below! I’d love to see if any of your things would be helpful for me too! πŸ˜€

by Erin Nowicki

The Princess Chronicle vol. 3

California here I come!!

On Thursday, I will be flying out to Cali with my hunky and his band, Flatfoot 56, for a week filled with music, adventure and of course other dreamy things.

This trip is super important to me because I have been dreaming of going to California ever since I was a kid. I’m so excited to check this off my Dream List!!!

All that to say, in honor of my trip, my next post will be a fun one for yall; I’m going to do a Sensory Processing Disorder Travel Packing List. Check back next week!

Bi-Weekly Journal Entry

I went rollerskating this weekend and had a bad fall. Luckily I had my helmet on, because it would’ve been brutal. My head has been killing me and my lower back is extremely sore.

Last night, Jon put some ICY HOT on my back and let me tell you…it was SOOOOOOO painful! Not only applying it hurt, but the entire hour after putting it on hurt, because I could feel the cream on every inch of my skin. It felt like little pinches and burns all over my back. Geesh.

For the record- I love rollerskating and definitely had a blast before I fell! SPD isn’t gonna stop me from going out again this week! πŸ˜‰

β€œI am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

-Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

I’m currently reading Little Women and I thought this quote would be perfect for today. Sometimes, I think SPD feels like a storm… and unending one at that, but I think there are ways to help manage the storm. I want this blog to be a place for you to come when you are ready to learn how to sail your ship.

One of my dreams is to start a review section, where I review different products, coping mechanisms, and really anything that might help you (and me) to learn how to sail our ship better. The goal for this is so that YOU don’t have to endure the pain of trying something blindly. I’m willing to do this and I want to do this. I want to see the world of SPD changed for the better. If you know any entrepreneurs or companies that would want to partner with me, please send them my way!

What You Missed Last Week

With SPD, rating pain accurately can be quite difficult. Last week, I talked a little bit about how I’ve managed to go about that. I even shared my most embarrassing story, so you want to make sure to check it out! πŸ˜€

I know that blogs can be daunting for some people, but that’s why I have a Twitter account! I want everyone to be able to have access to this blog. ❀

by Erin Nowicki

Pinocchio

I promise I won’t label every blog after a fairytale…sometimes I just can’t help that I relate so much to fairytales. I guess it’s because I’m a REAL princess. πŸ˜‰

“Can you please rate your pain level for me: 10 being the worst and 1 being the best?”

For someone with Sensory Processing Disorder, this can be a difficult question to answer. The thing is, for me, something as simple as running into a doorframe makes my arm feel like it’s immediately bruised or even cut open; to the point where I sometimes get shocked that I’m not bleeding like crazy because it hurts so bad. So, when someone asks me how bad it hurts or to compare the pain to something, my gauge is most likely wrong in a sense. I wasn’t planning on sharing this story (because it’s kind of embarrassing hehe), but it popped in my head while writing this and thought you might like it.

When I was 13 or 14 years old, my family moved off of the Army base and into our first owned house. On moving day, we had been offloading the truck with all of our furniture. It took us the entire day and even when the sun went down, we were still moving stuff. I decided to take a break and go explore my new backyard. The yard was dimly lit, but I saw this beat up dodgeball laying on the ground. And as any kid does when they see a ball and a big backyard before them, they run up and kick it as hard as they can.

It. Wasn’t. A. Ball.

This story is so funny to me now because I legitimately thought that silly rock was a dodgeball and after looking at it the next day, it clearly looked nothing like a ball. Although, in that moment it was embarrassing because honestly, I felt so stupid. My purpose wasn’t only to make you smile with my clumsiness, but to give you an example of how difficult it is to answer the “rate your pain” question.

I have never broken a bone in my life, but in that moment I sure thought I had broken my foot on that massive rock. As soon as I gained my composure, I ran inside the house and called my parents, while sobbing and freaking out because my foot had to be broken. As my parents hurried to take off my shoe and check it out, you guessed it, nothing was wrong with it at all. Are you serious?! What about my toe? It has to be broken! What, it’s not?! But it hurts so incredibly bad, how could nothing be broken?

I hadn’t been diagnosed with SPD yet, so we didn’t realize that I was truly feeling excruciating pain…even though it obviously was not even close to being broken. They asked me to rate my pain and of course I rated it a high 10, but because the physical sight didn’t prove this rating to be accurate, they gave me some ice and I was walking around 10 minutes later with a perfectly fine foot.

This is the part where Pinocchio comes in. πŸ˜€

Over the years I’ve had to make decisions when it comes to rating my pain for doctors or even people when they are curious about how different things make me feel. I am thankful I’m not Pinocchio because sometimes I’ve chosen to lie when people ask me if it hurt. I would have a long nose with a cute, little birds nest on the end. πŸ˜€

Now I don’t usually condone lying, but when someone asks me if something hurts, and I can logically see that it probably shouldn’t be hurting, I will sometimes choose to lie and say that it doesn’t hurt. I guess my thought is that I don’t want to have to explain my entire disorder, then proceed to explain that it does hurt even though what they are probably doing doesn’t bring pain for a “normal” person, or admit to them that something silly hurts me….wow that was a mouthful.

Maybe this is justifying my lying or maybe not, but a question I ask myself: is it really lying or is it me fighting my disorder in order to strive for “normality”? I like to think of it that way, because it helps me to keep going and fighting this frustrating and maddening disorder. So, if being Pinocchio is my fate, I accept it for now. πŸ˜€

Do you have a hard time rating your pain? Do you pull the Pinocchio card to get out of having to explain SPD? I would love to hear from you about how you make those ratings- drop a comment below or feel free to email me!

by Erin Nowicki

The Princess Chronicle vol. 2

Welcome to The Princess Chronicle!

Thanks to everyone who messaged me about how they loved the format of my little newspaper-style post; I think it definitely helps break up the flow from those longer blog posts. If you have any ideas of what else I could add to The Princess Chronicle, drop a comment or message me!

Bi-Weekly Journal Entry

Positive: The hunky and I went camping this past weekend at Chain O Lakes near the Wisconsin border. It was so fun, relaxing and invigorating. My SPD didn’t flare up too bad either, so that made it even better. I made sure to bring some compression socks, which helps my SPD in the evenings when it gets colder.

Real Talk: Now I love roughing it in a tent and sleeping on the ground, but the whole Princess and The Pea thing is legit. I can feel every rock, pebble and bump in the ground. Thankfully I have to take medicine to sleep, because I know I would’ve been up all night feeling the “pea” under my sleeping bag. I love to camp, so it’s totally worth it.

The vast majority of health professionals just want to help, so describing your challenges as accurately as possible is really the best approach. Plus, advocating for yourself is important…

-Some great advice from the Love, Your Brain blog

What You Missed Last Week

My hunky, Jon, took time to answer some questions about what it’s like to live with someone who has SPD. He did such a great job and it’s been really cool to see the responses to this. It’s also been neat to hear how his post has already helped others with their relationships. If you missed it, go check it out and if there is another question you’d like answered, make sure to comment on the post so we can do another round!

What To Look Forward To

Next week, I’ll be talking about how hard it is to rate my pain when people inquire about it (especially doctors). I sure am glad that I’m not Pinocchio, because sometimes I have to lie about my pain in order to really have them diagnose the problem…hmmm interesting eh? Make sure to check back next week for more!

If you aren’t a blog person, head over to Twitter and follow me there! I will post little blips from the blog, inspiring quotes, and other fun things.