Me No Touchy

Ever since I was little I've always been odd. The way I react to things has always been very different from the reactions of peers. The difference has always been most notable in my tactile reactions. The feel of a tag on my neck, lotion against my skin, and many creamy, thick, or smooth foods have always caused me to freak out. 

Luckily I believe I have grown out of the tag freak out. This is mostly due to the fact that most of the clothes I buy don't have tags. However I have grown into the extreme dislike of bras. Worst piece of clothing ever. As I have gotten older I have been forced to handle myself in some situations. I have to put lotion/sunblock on even though the feel of it makes me incredibly uncomfortable, because my skin is getting drier with age, and I want to keep my tattoos looking good. I hate it but I do it.

I have also gotten braver about trying new foods, even when they do not have a texture that I like. I can now eat Chinese food, pudding (sometimes, in very small amounts), and milkshakes. There are many foods that still elude me and initiate my gag reflex upon smell or taste. To the surprise of people who don't know me this includes cheese. I was babysitting a few weeks ago and saw some cheese in the fridge. I decided to try a slice to see if I could handle the texture. Let's just say I won't be doing that again any time soon. When it comes to trying these new things, I hate it but I do it. 

So why do my odd reactions matter today? Well today I discovered a new tactile dislike, one that had only been hinted at previously in my life, dripping sweat. I have never really liked sweating, mostly because I tend to be overly concerned with the thoughts and perceptions of others. Most of my life this hasn't been much of an issue. I've never been one to enjoy physical exertion so it didn't matter. This morning was my second trip to the gym. Over the course of 20 minutes I used the treadmill to walk and run. By the time I was done I was dripping sweat. Each drop that made its way down the side of my face freaked me out and made me want to vomit. I guess if I am serious about becoming more fit this is the next tactile challenge I must face. I will hate it, but I will do it.