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Changing Sensory Needs:
Why Midlife is the End of "Grinning and Bearing It"

By Jazz | September 2026 | 5 min read

As we approach Sensory Awareness Month in October, I've been reflecting on my own journey with sensory and tactile difficulties that led to me creating my own sensory-conscious underwear brand. 

I’ve always honoured my clothing needs; even as a toddler, I would fiercely protest being put in flouncy, restrictive dresses. I’ve also always gravitated toward male clothing, not out of any particular agender or style statement, but because the generous cuts didn't pinch, seam, or strangle me. I was the colleague who slipped off my shoes and socks the moment I sat down because my feet felt suffocated. I love rings, but can’t bear to wear them because I’m hyper-aware of their pressure against my skin.

The Midlife Shift

Since entering my mid-30s, I’ve noticed my previous adaptions faltering in the face of increasing sensitivity to every form of sensory input.

My internal thermostat has gone rogue, I now favour soft mood lighting, elasticated waistbands are a must and having the telly on in the background has gone from a comfort to a nuisance. I’ve also overhauled my period products, moving almost entirely to soft cotton reusable pads and period underwear. When mooching about the flat, I rely on loose, flowy garments like Indian kurtas or a lungi. I’ve even splurged on Egyptian cotton bedding and a Kashmir silk throw for the sofa, transforming my space into a sensory sanctuary.

“Since entering my mid-30s, I’ve noticed my previous adaptions faltering in the face of increasing sensitivity to every form of sensory input”

During early perimenopause, oestrogen and progesterone levels begin to drop. Oestrogen is a powerful local neuromodulator; as it drops, so does our mental resilience and our capacity to cope, unfortunately compounding any existing mental health disorders. Progesterone produces neurosteroids that stimulate GABA, the brain's natural "calming" neurotransmitter. When both hormones plunge, your internal sensory shock absorbers collapse, leaving your nervous system completely unbuffered. Add work and life stress to the mix, and any demand can drain the remaining cognitive energy required to tolerate sensory discomfort. Even mild friction from clothing transforms into an unbearable sensation that your brain can register as a chronic physical threat.

While these hormonal shifts affect all women and AFAB people, for those of us on the autism spectrum or with other neurodivergent conditions, this discomfort becomes more pronounced.

“When both hormones plunge, your internal sensory shock absorbers collapse, leaving your nervous system completely unbuffered”

What the Research Actually Tells Us

Qualitative research led by Dr. Rachel Moseley, 'When my autism broke': A qualitative study spotlighting autistic voices on menopause (2020), shows that in autistic women, menopause may amplify autistic characteristics such as executive dysfunction and emotional regulation challenges. Sensory sensitivities can be heightened across the four primary sensory channels: noise, heat, clothing, and physical touch. This transition can become apparent as early as our mid-30s with the onset of perimenopause.

"Menopause can be a difficult time for neurodivergent people—autistic, ADHD, or AuDHD—a time when previous challenges are heightened and when it’s important to be as kind to yourself as possible. Since menopause is a neurological transition, there are very real reasons why people with any kind of neurological difference may experience it a bit differently. Your struggles are real, and you’re not alone."

— Dr. Rachel Moseley, Lead Researcher & Principal Academic in Psychology, Bournemouth University

"Your struggles are real, and you’re not alone."

Redefining Comfort as Healthcare

Understanding this research changed how I view my self-care. My daily habits and fancy bedding aren't just indulgences; they're protective measures for my physical and mental well-being. A healthy diet, regular exercise and 7 hours of sleep have become non-negotiable, alongside therapy and talking openly with similar-aged friends who understand this transition.

(It’s important to note that I’m privileged to have access to all this support, as many autistic women and AFAB people face real economic, social and cultural barriers in accessing assistance.)

This shift in perspective, from viewing comfort as a luxury to recognising it as essential self-regulation is strongly echoed in clinical occupational therapy. As Jacqui Brett, Specialist Occupational Therapist and Neurodevelopmental Practitioner at J.B.O.T. UK Ltd®, explains:

“Sensory responses are not fixed; their intensity and impact may fluctuate throughout the lifespan in response to changes in the body, environment, and demands placed upon the nervous system.

Many neurodivergent people use considerable cognitive and physiological effort to manage sensory input such as noise, light, temperature, pressure, and touch, while also interpreting internal bodily signals. During perimenopause, fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone disrupt the serotonin, dopamine, and GABA systems, destabilising key functions like focus, emotional regulation, and sleep; during this shift, you often have less capacity to modulate competing sensory information.

From a sensory-informed perspective, meeting your physical and sensory needs, whether that means changing the clothes you wear, adapting your environment, or reducing demands, is not a luxury or an indulgence—it is an essential means of supporting self-regulation, participation, and wellbeing.”

Informed by emerging research: Moseley et al. (2020), Karavidas & de Visser (2022), Groenman et al. (2022), Gilfarb & Leuner (2022).

 

If you are navigating this alongside me, know that your new sensory limits aren't a weakness, they are a boundary. We aren't losing our ability to cope; we are simply claiming our right to be comfortable. Have you noticed your sensory threshold shifting in your 30s or beyond? What non-negotiable comfort hacks are you adopting to protect your peace? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with me.

Take care and see you in the next one,

Jazz

Founder and Director of OUTCÆST®

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OUTCÆST® and Sensory-Friendly Underwear:
Why Sensory Comfort is a Right, Not a Luxury

By Jazz | March 2026 | 3 min read

I believe underwear should be a second skin, never a distraction. By removing wires and using soft, stretchy materials, we ensure every piece provides gentle support that adapts to your body, not the other way around.

Our Founding Principles

At OUTCÆST®, we are guided by three core values:

• Sensory Freedom: We design for comfort. If it’s not soft, stretchy, and wire-free, it’s not OUTCÆST®.
• Authentic Confidence: We empower women and AFAB people at any place on the sensory spectrum to feel at home in their skin, whether they are lounging or lunging!
• Active Enrichment: We believe in self-care that builds you up. Whether it’s a focused yoga flow, a mindful walk, or a peaceful moment of forest bathing, OUTCÆST® is designed to move with the body.

“Underwear should be a second skin, never a distraction”

Designing for the Sensory Spectrum

The first two values stem from my own experience choosing clothing throughout my life. As long as I can remember, I’ve always prioritised comfort over style. These days I can choose both, as more and more brands opt for soft, stretchy, and wearable clothing. This shift may be down to current fashion trends and the prevalence of working from home, but it benefits people with sensory sensitivities too.

I was diagnosed with atypical autism in my early thirties, which confirmed that I don’t just have a preference; I have a need. While it’s easy enough to find everyday clothing that suits my sensory needs now, underwear remains tricky. I found very few brands that I liked, ones that felt good against my skin and made me look good while being fit for a functional purpose. This is why I decided to create OUTCÆST®. I believe we need more brands that truly serve people like me and if you’ve made it this far, perhaps they serve you, too.

“I don’t just have a preference; I have a need”

Movement as Active Rest

Active Enrichment is important to me as someone who has battled my mental health, on and off, since I was a teenager. Although it’s not the whole solution, I’ve reaped so many benefits to my physical and mental health from getting active, whether it’s been resistance training, yoga, trail-walking, or even kickboxing!

Self-care goes beyond those days where you treat yourself to a full day of rest and your favourite show. This is why all our underwear is designed to be suitable for most low-impact activities; it's about active rest and actively enriching your mind and body.

“I’ve reaped so many benefits to my physical and mental health from getting active”

Mindful Consumption and Longevity

Last but not least, I’ve been focusing more on mindful consumption, particularly in the area of clothing. At the end of the day, this is a small, independent business run by me and produced in small batches with my manufacturing partner. Having previously worked in the fast fashion industry (as well as being the occasional consumer of it), I’ve seen first-hand how wasteful it can be.

Although there’s no one easy fix for the environmental challenges our world faces and the pressure to make changes can’t just be on individuals, there’s no denying each choice we make can make a little bit of difference. With this in mind, I selected a recycled nylon fabric blend to balance sustainability with comfort and durability. Our garments are designed to be washed, hung, and worn for years, not seasons.

“Each choice we make can make a little bit of difference”

The process of creating OUTCÆST® was born from my own experiences and motivations. It’s been a simultaneous process of accepting myself as I am, as well as continuing to grow into who I could be. In future blogs, I’ll delve more deeply into all of the above and more. So stick around, and if any of this resonates with you, feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with me.

Take care and see you in the next one,

Jazz
Founder and Director of OUTCÆST®