ASD/SPD gag reflex... (light hearted)

[Chance]

What is odd is humans seem to be the only species that have a sense of disgust in the first place, sometimes like in this case it can be overactive.

A dog for instance wouldn't even have the slightest issue drinking out of a toilet bowl, it would never understand why it was disgusting to us and it most definitely wouldn't gag, in fact I don't think any other animals would gag at anything we would find disgusting.

I constantly clean the toilet here... I also try and keep the lid closed (but I'm a guy and sometimes I forget)... The reason for my madness is just what you stated...

Mia (my dog) will have a clean bowl of water, but if she gets the chance she will go drink out of the toilet... Plus like any dog, she licks herself... I don't know why she does this, she is clean all the time? The noise she makes while performing this task, alone makes me sort of queazy. And If she licks my face its all coming up... I even brush here teeth and she gets mad and sulks over it...

I do not know what has always made me have this mental, visual, smell thing that causes this to be so extreme. Its funny most the time, but also horribly embarrassing at the same time.

 

[Ellie.s]

Mia (my dog) will have a clean bowl of water, but if she gets the chance she will go drink out of the toilet... Plus like any dog, she licks herself... I don't know why she does this, she is clean all the time? The noise she makes while performing this task, alone makes me sort of queazy. And If she licks my face its all coming up... I even brush her teeth and she gets mad and sulks over it.

And the dogs food! God it smells awful!!!

 

[Streetwise]

chance you're immune system is weak pork allergy ,remember humans naturally dislike the smell of sulphur ,a lot of organic substances have sulphur in them you can get rock sulphur for animals to put in their water , I don't know what you're given if you're human .
try to eat a vegan diet or vegetarian,it seems to stop the nausea of sulphur smells ,I think because what it does is replenish the vitamins and minerals you lose from eating meat and fish .
untreated water has sulphur in it .
part of the reason dogs and cats lick them selves is for comfort ,they would wash the other one where it cannot wash itself.
it's comforting for them ,if you show a stress reaction when the dog licks you !-you will stress her.
The cats lick me if I stroke them I am honoured

 

[SusanLR]

The dog or animal feels no disgust because it does not understand the concept of germs.
Knowing a toilet is full of germs causes the disgust or nausea humans feel.

When as a baby and we don't have this knowledge,
we can be like the animal.
Babies will pick up nasty things and put them in their mouth. They know no better.

I have no experience with babies except for what I've seen.
But, I do have a lot of experience with animals.
I love them yet I can't stand the idea of one licking me in the mouth or face. For this very reason. It is unsanitary.
I have the urge to wash myself even on my hands or arms if one does lick me.
This is one reason I prefer reptiles for pets.
Most people are disguted at reptiles due to phobias or how they look. But, having had most any pet you can name, the reptiles are the cleanist. No hair, non-allergic, easy to keep clean, so less germs.
And they don't carry rabies.

I don't consider myself a germaphobe
but rather one who is health conscious.

 

[LucyPurrs]

I constantly clean the toilet here... I also try and keep the lid closed (but I'm a guy and sometimes I forget)... The reason for my madness is just what you stated...

Mia (my dog) will have a clean bowl of water, but if she gets the chance she will go drink out of the toilet... Plus like any dog, she licks herself... I don't know why she does this, she is clean all the time? The noise she makes while performing this task, alone makes me sort of queazy. And If she licks my face its all coming up... I even brush here teeth and she gets mad and sulks over it...

I do not know what has always made me have this mental, visual, smell thing that causes this to be so extreme. Its funny most the time, but also horribly embarrassing at the same time.

Yup, this is exactly why I'm not a huge fan of dog kisses, especially on the mouth!!!!!

 

[LucyPurrs]

The dog or animal feels no disgust because it does not understand the concept of germs.
Knowing a toilet is full of germs causes the disgust or nausea humans feel.

When as a baby and we don't have this knowledge,
we can be like the animal.
Babies will pick up nasty things and put them in their mouth. They know no better.

I have no experience with babies except for what I've seen.
But, I do have a lot of experience with animals.
I love them yet I can't stand the idea of one licking me in the mouth or face. For this very reason. It is unsanitary.
I have the urge to wash myself even on my hands or arms if one does lick me.
This is one reason I prefer reptiles for pets.
Most people are disguted at reptiles due to phobias or how they look. But, having had most any pet you can name, the reptiles are the cleanist. No hair, non-allergic, easy to keep clean, so less germs.
And they don't carry rabies.

I don't consider myself a germaphobe
but rather one who is health conscious.

Help me out here-how exactly does one cuddle up to a reptile?

 

[pjcnet]

Many animals also have a higher immunity to a lot of germs and disease than we do, E.g. a cat can eat a rat raw and usually it won't get sick, badgers literally eat cow s**t as part of their diet, wild animals often drink dirty water that would get us sick. I think part of the reason our immunity is so low is because of our strong sense of disgust, the cleaner we are the less we are exposed to germs and bacteria, then the less we become immune to them and this also passes down through generations (Edit: it's even worse when a mother doesn't naturally breast feed as the baby doesn't adsorb vital antibodies hence why breast feeding should be encouraged, especially for new borns). That said I think even domestic animals immunity is lower than wild animals since we try to control what they eat and keep things as clean as possible for them.

 

[Progster]

Small children may avoid certain foods which are bad for them because they taste bitter and unpleasant, and I believe we have an innate sensitivity to certain smells, but other than that, disgust is learned socially from those around us.

 

[tlc]

I've always been highly sensitive to smells too. Like when my would run vinegar through the coffepot, I'd have to go outside for the day. And not so much the new low VOC stuff, but the house paint from 30 years ago. Horrible. And to me, that's what ranch dressing smells like. And when I used to be sick all the time as a kid, the smell of the woodstove (smelled like smoked fish) just made me sicker. And yes cigarette smoke too. One coworker would always go out to smoke in her car, then douse herself in vanilla extract. You could smell where she'd been 10 minutes later. Don't know which was worse. Other smells in the shop, like silicone caulk. And the bubblegum-ish smell of wire being stripped. The smell of all animals. Main reason I can't won't be with them unless they're isolated enough in nature.

What brought me to this thread in a search, was the gag reflex thing. I was wondering if it's an aspie thing, considering we generally have overative senses. I might be finally getting somewhere with dentists. My teeth have been very forgiving with little work but at 41 they're catching up with me fast. Because I've got one of the very worst gag reflexes around, to the point dentists don't know what to do. But this one gave me the number to one who would sedate me first, I'll call him tomorrow. Need a root canal bad. I feel horrible, I'm an engineer but can't handle routine dental work because of that. If I could cut the nerve I'd do it. Thing is I'd love to watch the camera as they do their work, it's not like I'm scared or anything. It bothers me in many more ways. Since I was a kid, I couldn't blow up balloons or play wind instruments. Partly due to reduced lung capacity, but also due to the gagging effect of something in my mouth. I couldn't chew gum for very long for the same reason. And always had a hard time swallowing meat. I try to eat in private because sometimes I have to push the food back out into my hand temporarily. When I'm driving I have to keep pulling my shirt off my neck or it makes me queasy. Could never do up a top button or have a barbers neck tie since I was a kid either. Hopefully I never become immobilized to need a mouthstick because I'd gag on it in a few seconds. Or just maybe I'd lose the gag reflex along with the mobility.

 

[SusanLR]

Help me out here-how exactly does one cuddle up to a reptile?

Same as any other creature.
I like the feel of snake skin. When he was wrapped around the arm of my chair, guess you could call it cuddled against my arm.
An Iguana can sit by you to be petted.
Even my frogs jump onto my arm and I take them on a walk about the pool. They like their heads rubbed.
Yeah, strange... Repticon coming to town again this month.

 

[SusanLR]

I've always been highly sensitive to smells too. Like when my would run vinegar through the coffepot, I'd have to go outside for the day. And not so much the new low VOC stuff, but the house paint from 30 years ago. Horrible. And to me, that's what ranch dressing smells like. And when I used to be sick all the time as a kid, the smell of the woodstove (smelled like smoked fish) just made me sicker. And yes cigarette smoke too. One coworker would always go out to smoke in her car, then douse herself in vanilla extract. You could smell where she'd been 10 minutes later. Don't know which was worse. Other smells in the shop, like silicone caulk. And the bubblegum-ish smell of wire being stripped. The smell of all animals. Main reason I can't won't be with them unless they're isolated enough in nature.

What brought me to this thread in a search, was the gag reflex thing. I was wondering if it's an aspie thing, considering we generally have overative senses. I might be finally getting somewhere with dentists. My teeth have been very forgiving with little work but at 41 they're catching up with me fast. Because I've got one of the very worst gag reflexes around, to the point dentists don't know what to do. But this one gave me the number to one who would sedate me first, I'll call him tomorrow. Need a root canal bad. I feel horrible, I'm an engineer but can't handle routine dental work because of that. If I could cut the nerve I'd do it. Thing is I'd love to watch the camera as they do their work, it's not like I'm scared or anything. It bothers me in many more ways. Since I was a kid, I couldn't blow up balloons or play wind instruments. Partly due to reduced lung capacity, but also due to the gagging effect of something in my mouth. I couldn't chew gum for very long for the same reason. And always had a hard time swallowing meat. I try to eat in private because sometimes I have to push the food back out into my hand temporarily. When I'm driving I have to keep pulling my shirt off my neck or it makes me queasy. Could never do up a top button or have a barbers neck tie since I was a kid either. Hopefully I never become immobilized to need a mouthstick because I'd gag on it in a few seconds. Or just maybe I'd lose the gag reflex along with the mobility.

I could never stand anything against my throat.
Can't wear tops with collars and I need my blanket to sleep comfortably, but have to keep it off my neck.