Rocking back and forth - any rockers here?

[blackemerald1]

Yes @Sweetleaf I rock back and forth hugging myself. I also pull in my abdominal muscles at the same time. I recently tore a muscle whilst doing this...it is still mending and it hurts.

I do this when in a state of heightened anxiety; when I am 'not there' or 'in myself' or when feeling in a position where I cannot mentally defend myself.

I have no idea when I started doing this...it could be a very old habit/behaviour...I just don't know. And I am not sure why it should help either.

It is something I am unaware of most of the time. I catch myself doing it and try to stop.

I think it flags to people who notice this rocking that I am 'different' and I don't like doing that. I've had strangers walk up to me and ask if I am ok...bc of this. That's not ok...

A counsellor once tried to help me reverse this 'habit' by squaring my shoulders and doing a breathing technique. And that is great while I remember to do it. But a lot of the time I am not conscious of doing it.

 

[VanVonNocturne]

Hej Rapunzel!

Interesting you asked, and it's interesting to see other people stating they rock as well.

I won't say that I make a rocking motion, per se. Similarly though, I sit on the swings with my musikk on. (FYI I have a record of 4 hours!) When I was a kid I had this habit of bopping my head on my pillow to the beat of musikk while lying on my stomach, and I did this since a few years ago. I can't do this anymore because I get headaches and my Tourettes becomes aggravated. (Also, for obvious reasons, it's not safe.) But when I used to do this I'd feel like I was floating in air, and it would help me fall asleep.

 

[Victory]

Yup, me too. Then one day it stopped and hasn't come back. I don't know why and I'm okay with that.

 

[ladee]

I 'rock' to self soothe. It helps me relax, it helps me feel safe. And if people look at me strange, oh well, I know I am capable of really putting on a show for them they would not soon forget. People are going to think what they think, so, who cares. People are going to judge with out any facts, so who cares...

I will continue to 'rock', as it is a simple and very soothing thing to help ground me... I am on this earth to heal, not answer to anyone about my 'habits'...

 

[blackemerald1]

I know I am capable of really putting on a show for them they would not soon forget.

You make me laugh @ladee :laugh::hug:

 

[Mach123]

One of my autistic daughters was a real rocker, especially when she was younger, now we see a hint of it. There are a lot of behaviors we have in common. Her personality was very dominant and worked presumably on traits that were already there in some of the rest of us. Rocking and other self stim feels good. I think I flap my hands in the gym when they are sweaty.

 

[Abstract]

Yes. Another rocker here. I do a little selection of variations.... Do less as symptoms go down and more as they go up.

 

[New]

I’m a rocker. I don’t usually notice I’m doing it though until it’s pointed out to me.

Seems to be when I’m stressing or have high anxiety.

 

[Nessamichelle]

I started doing this 3 years ago after my dad had committed suicide. I would sit on my bed and just rock. I wouldn't even know i was doing it at first. It would comfort me though. I would do it for hours.

 

[ImSad]

This is something I’ve done since childhood. I’ll randomly notice myself doing it, whether it be alone, in class, at work, etc. usually dissociated while it’s happening. I also have tons of other repetitive behaviors. Whenever I wear my hair down I play with it constantly, always fiddle with my ears, shake my legs frequently, bite my nails, etc.

 

[blueangel371115]

^^ Yup so me. I do the same thing all the time.

 

[Changing4Best]

I do this a lot as I am falling asleep. I have wondered how it would affect a mate sleeping with me, if I were ever to remarry.