This is embarrassing... but sometimes I start rocking. I never let anyone see me do it. Sometimes even at work when there's deadlines and lots of pressure. Sometimes my thoughts will create the stress. Sometimes at night in bed. Like I said, I never ever do it in front of anyone else, and kind of reminds me of an autistic boy I know.
Does anyone else do this? Does anyone have any other suggestions for self regulation?
I think of it as self soothing, but yes, I sure do, do it! It reminds me of when my mother used to sit me on her lap and rock me in the old rocking chair. I have vague memories of this, but also I have a photo of it when I was maybe 3 yrs old, sitting in her lap while she is sitting in the rocking chair. I assume we were rocking....
These days, I have been between therapists. My old one left the practice I was going to unexpectedly, and the new one cannot see me for a few weeks yet. Adding to that is the fact that I had to find a new one, as the place I was going to had no therapist that took my insurance. What a hassle! While I was going through all that, I have been rocking daily, sometimes not even caring if someone saw me or not.
I have been doing some things to self sooth. I crochet, I paint pictures, I listen to music, but one of the things I used to do to self sooth I can't do, which is go out for a walk. The reason is that I just got diagnosed with a foot problem and I am supposed to take it easy and stay off my feet for awhile as they heal.
I have some fidget toys, they help too. I have also been journaling.
None the less, rocking seems to be my go to method of self soothing.
