When ordinary life became too much

For years, Anna felt as though ordinary life was something her body could no longer tolerate.

Perfume, cleaning products, certain foods, noise and busy surroundings could leave her feeling unwell or overwhelmed. Sometimes a smell seemed impossibly strong. Sometimes sound became unbearable. Migraine, burning discomfort, exhaustion and poor sleep added to the strain.

“I feel allergic to life.”

It was the closest she could come to explaining it.

She wanted to be with her family. She wanted to take part. But participation often came with a cost that other people could not see.

Trying to make life manageable

Finding a quieter space or avoiding a strong fragrance could help her get through the day. Yet making her world smaller also brought loneliness.

She needed protection from overload and ways to remain connected.

Over the years, she heard different explanations for what was happening. Some gave her language for her symptoms; others left her frightened or uncertain.

She worked hard to find the right food, the right environment and the right way to keep herself well. It was exhausting to feel responsible for identifying every possible trigger.

Discovering another part of the picture

Much later, an autism diagnosis offered another part of the picture.

Anna began to reconsider how much effort everyday life had required: coping with sounds and smells, adjusting to changes, managing conversations and continuing when she was already overwhelmed.

She wondered whether some experiences she had understood only as environmental illness also involved sensory overload—and how illness, pain, trauma and depleted energy might fit into her own experience.

Autism did not explain every symptom. Recognising sensory sensitivity did not remove the need for medical care. She still needed help understanding her physical symptoms.

Making room for her needs

She now had another way to describe what she needed: quieter surroundings, fragrance-free products, predictable plans, rest and help with everyday tasks.

She could look for manageable ways to participate, with support.

There was grief in wondering how life might have been different if those needs had been recognised earlier. There was also some relief.

She had spent years trying to make herself tolerate more. Now she could also ask how life might become more tolerable.

“I thought I was allergic to life. Now I’m learning that I need a life with room for my sensitivities—and room for me.”