Rocking back and forth - any rockers here?

[willing]

Interesting about the reaching up and the umbilical cord. I never noticed that but I do that too. I don't twist my hair but when I am a passenger in a vehicle I freak when there isn't an oh shit handle. Amazing. How did you find out about that?

 

[Portabella]

I am a rocker, when triggered, sad/upset, or in pain. I rocked my way through childbirth every time.

Bec, I rub my feet together too, drives Ed nuts....

 

[Makingitthrough]

I am defenitly a rocker. It's a great relaxtion tool. My last psych tried to make me stop. I myself found it scary I assoiciated it with "crazy people" and as a 13 year old that was terrifying. My newest psych I have now said that its perfectly fine as a relaxationtool as long as I can identify time and place. Basically do not go in a mall sit on a bench and rock. It's been 3 years now and rocking is still the most effective ( healthiest at least) thing I have done to calm myself when I am anixous or triggered.

 

[CaptainR]

Apparently being a "rocker" is not a lonely business, there looks like a lot of us around, me included. I don't ever realize I'm doing it until my wife points it out, and then I usually move to another room where it won't drive her crazy. Always happens when I'm extra anxious or extra stressed and my mind is far away. It's kind of weird that no matter how many times she points out that I'm doing it, I never notice it myself until after she says something. I'm always surprised that I can never notice this myself, no matter how many times it happens.

 

[wildfirewildone]

:eek: I really tried hard today to get out of my apt. and go to the Good Friday Mass....I did get up and shower and dressed....when it came time for me to go I just started shaking and so I chose to go to bed instead...completely dressed and with my shoes on...shook and rocked myself with my leg in bed till I finally dropped off to sleep....got up about 4 & 1/2 hours later....ate a couple of my favorite treat...banana popsicles!! Then I watched a couple of programs on Animal Planet as I rocked back and forth in my rocker/recliner... Yes.....I am a mad rocker at times but I know that my body is trying to soothe itself in the process....CRAP!!!!! I had this recurring bout of fear!!:eek: I was getting out at least 3 times a week other than dr./therapist appointments.....I need to wash dishes and do a load of laundry....I think the big problem is that I run out of ALL my meds [15 of them] on Monday morning....I tried the last 2 days to find papers at home stating my monthly income so this community agency can decide if they will help me with all of my co-pays.....No Luck!!!! So Monday morning I will have to ask my building manager to copy out of my files the page from my rent review that states my income.....I was going to do that Thursday....she just didn't show up....NICE:angry-fla I am to see my psychodoc Monday AM so I'll have to hustle Monday am to get the paperwork then off to see my psychodoc....then back here to the agency....So back to rocking myself to sleep again tonight....Thank god for that ability!!!!....STANDING FOR PEACE AND NON-VIOLENCE

 

[willing]

Sorry for your overwhelm Wildfirewildone hope the rocking just keeps you calm. Know My thoughts are with you.

 

[pandora]

I too also do this and it just started in the last 6 months, it is just like the comfort a baby gets when they are rocked to sleep. i am amazed by how much I am learning from this site and all of you.
Thank You, everyone.
Wildfirewildone, i hope things settle down a bit for you and things start to go more smoothly, remember take it one day at a time. i know you have probably heard that before but that is how I get through each day right now and I am not dreading each and every day, just some.
Take care all

 

[dremoney]

When I was a kid I rocked back in fourth and hummed. I was scared of the dark and I wanted my brothers to wake up so I could fell safe and fall asleep. I'm 23 now and I rock back and fourth to relive stress. I'ts like I escape to a different world. It also gets my mind off of your troubles and helps me fall asleep. I just wonder sometimes if I'm autistic or weird or something.

<Edited by Amethist to capitalize I's throughout post>

 

[OKRADLAK]

Yes I do it but not a lot. I try not to do it around people but sometimes I do. It does indeed comfort.

 

[Sazza]

Just to say another rocker here to, when i get agitated and anxious i tend to rock and when im really upset to try not to do it arond others if possible but not always possible. I particularly do it when waiting for appointments get really stressed out to stupid level and sit fidgeting and rocking working myself up.

 

[Deaf Global Nomad]

And one more rocker here :whistling:... I rock when I'm anxious, nervous, stressed in any way. My rocking is usually back and forth, which is safer for me as I don't have any balance. I can end up in quite funny scenarios anyway. Side to side I absolutely cannot do. Rocking I can only do if I am standing or sitting on a chair with a hard back.

I also do a number of additional self-stimming behaviors, (e.g. flapping my hands, hand rolling: moving my thumbs along the top of my fingers of the same hand, rubbing my hands together, and the most obvious of all spinning). Flapping and hand rolling are usually a sign of flashbacks or trying to concentrate extremely (e.g. trying to walk through a store).

The stares I sometimes receive are priceless. If I snap out of it in time, I usually grin at the starers and sometimes even wave. Since Bright and I usually go to a few stores and other public places where the staff already know Bright and me. Once people realize that we are actually quite social with the regular staff, then they come up and ask questions about Bright and complement him on all of his skills.

Quite a few friends were embarrassed by it, but despite trying I can't turn it off. If all my energy goes into stopping a behavior I usually just let the trying to stop it go. I know I'm not "normal" and it is ok. I have a much harder time if I can't complete certain tasks than completing the tasks while looking "silly." At least for now I accept the self-stimming just as one of the many quirky things about me :p.

 

[Froggie]

I guess I would come under the heading of compulsive rocker. I have always done rocking but reading this post makes me realize that I'm doing this almost constantly. And yes it is a comforting feeling. Guess I alwaysed rocked because it was not a family thing to rock the children, there is something instinctual about that gesture.