As a child I always loved playing on the beach, making castles, etc.
But now, I can’t stand the touch of the stuff - it makes me cringe! This hypersensitivity seems to have developed spontaneously over at some point over the last couple of years.
I love the going to the seaside but this sand problem is denting my enjoyment 
Why has this happened?
Is it possible to ‘desensitise’ myself?
Are you in the military?
It could be Iraqiphobia!
It just icks you out? Or do you actually have a physical reaction, like a rash or some such?
No physical reaction, purely mental, I just can’t stand the texture of it. Wet sand is fine, it’s just the dry stuff. Kind of hard to explain, some people have a similar reaction to the texture of other substances like cotton wool, velvet.
What’s going on here?
My daughter will not touch sand, wet or dry. She’s going to be four soon and has always had this problem. I know what the problem with her is though, she’s autistic. She freaks out if I get sand near her open palm or on top of her bare feet. Since she can’t tell me what it feels like to her, I just try (gently) to have her touch it as part of her therapy. So far she pokes it only with a fingertip.
I know what that’s like, zhfl210. I can’t stand to touch chalk of any kind. Never could. My other tactile problem is dry cotton towels. I can’t stand to touch a really dry towel with wet hands, especially “pruny” hands. Oddly enough, that hasn’t always been the case. I think it developed in my late teens. The problem is solved by keeping the towel near the shower to catch steam. Having it very slightly damp seems to help. If I can’t do that, I apply hand lotion before I dry off.
The really wierd thing is that a dry towel doesn’t ALWAYS bother me. I’d say it happens with 1 out of 5 towels. I think different fabrics might have something to do with it. :dubious: