Twitching Arm

[Justmehere]

I had a somatic experiencing session a few days ago. I have done almost 20 sessions of SE work. It helps a lot. occasionally I will feel "twitchy" for a short while after the session. It has never lasted longer than 10 minutes. At this last session, my arm started twitching towards the end of the session. It was related to the trauma I was processing. The session ended and all of me felt great, except my arm had this funny twitch in my bicep. I figured it would pass like other twitches from before, but it has not stopped twitching for 4 days. It is a small but almost constant twitch. It's similar to the eye twitch people can get under stress, only it's in my arm.

I have been consuming extra electrolytes to see if that would help - but no success. I have tried taking a warm bath, no luck there either. I have no idea what else to try.

Does anyone get a stress related or trauma-processing related twitches/spams that lasts for awhile? Anything that helps?

 

[KwanYingirl]

Can you reach out to your provider? If it were me, I'd get an adjustment from my Chiropractor. It sounds aggravating. I hope you find a resolution soon !

 

[Biz]

Is there any chance this could be a medical symptom? From meds or caffeine? About a year ago, I tore my bicep climbing. It hurt in one spot and then I had constant twitching (3 weeks ish) and ongoing tension for multiple months.

Could it have started as a psychological/physiological release and become medical from the muscle strain?

 

[Chava]

I had more spasms and muscle locking before and still outside of therapy. I take prescription muscle relaxants (chronic pain I've had since before SE but am working on in some ways through SE). But if it's one-time tightness, possibly take some magnesium (and less calcium for a day or two). And plenty of water. Also possibly myofascial release, compression, and/or gentle movement to remind your arm that it can move...maybe imagine arm biking, rowing, swimming, qigong movements...

I get more shaking with my SE...also usually leaves after session but I have some of that hanging on a bit in one of my arms.

 

[WhisperingUnicorn]

Magnesium deficiency can also be a factor ..

 

[Hope4Now]

I get all kinds of shakes and twitches and body jolts. Sometimes they go on for a long time. I've been working on mindful movement and breathing, and it does help things settle. I breathe "through" the part of my body that is symptomatic...gently...and not with the intention of making it stop, but with the intention of inviting it to relax or speak to me in a different way. And gentle movement of your arms too...lift them as you breathe in, gently lower them as you breathe out....

Maybe worth a try. I think, if the issue is a somatic "part" from trauma, "speaking" through your body, the key is not to try to shut it down, but invite it into your system mindfully.

Not sure if this will resonate or even makes any sense. It's such a normal part of my life now to do this stuff and think this way that I don't know how to explain it. I hope it calms soon for you.

 

[Dana1010]

My bodily reactions started just as I set out on the SE route. I was literally reading the book Waking the Tiger for the first time and my left arm started jumping. During therapy, I would start going nuts basically--more than twitching; there was violent elbowing of the couch behind me, running motions with my arms, flailing. I never had a constant, uncontrollable twitch though. It basically starts whenever I relax or ground, and it will be particularly violent if I happen to be triggered.

All I can assume about your case is that you may need to complete the processing for it to run its course. Try meditating and going into your arm and allowing whatever's there to be released.

 

[Justmehere]

Can you reach out to your provider? If it were me, I'd get an adjustment from my Chiropractor.

My therapist is out of town. The Chiropractor is a great idea! I'm long overdue.

Could it have started as a psychological/physiological release and become medical from the muscle strain?

Good thought! I think caffeine might be playing a role as I did consume it on Friday after not consuming it for awhile. It may now just be twitching because it's an irritated and exhausted muscle.

@Chava and @ptsdspouse2b - thanks for the suggestion of magnesium. I actually took some this morning after you recommended it and it significantly improved!

@Hope4Now - mindful movement sounds like a good option. I have done it before, and it does help, all of me. It does make a lot of what you describe. I tend to be so hard on my body, rather than invite it to do what it needs to do. Eh, it's a constant battle actually.

Maybe worth a try. I think, if the issue is a somatic "part" from trauma, "speaking" through your body, the key is not to try to shut it down, but invite it into your system mindfully.

All I can assume about your case is that you may need to complete the processing for it to run its course. Try meditating and going into your arm and allowing whatever's there to be released.

I think this might be true that my body may need to process whatever that arm is holding on to (if that makes any sense at all.) I have been playing around with focusing on it a little for moments at a time over the past hour. The second I really focus on it, I become a little dissociative, so I think it might be connected to a big trauma. Argh. I want it to stop twitching!

Thanks for the really good and helpful suggestions everyone! Hopefully my arm will relax and fully let go soon...

 

[Chava]

Some of my pain/spasm stuff is likely protective and not stuff I'm just going to release in a few sessions. So I focus on the regular self care, like you are doing with some of these suggestions, but also seeing what feels helpful for you. I can't make my body let go of anything if it's not ready. I had a really good massage to loosen some knots in my upper back a few years ago...they really did loosen. But not many hours later, I woke up from my sleep wanting to totally destroy myself (called my doctor to leave a 2am message). Not saying that's how it is for you. But shaking tends toward being a release or a freeze and needing release. Tightness might be similar (like holding back a fight response for some reason) or it could be protective. So be gentle and safe.

 

[Dana1010]

I had a really good massage to loosen some knots in my upper back a few years ago...they really did loosen. But not many hours later, I woke up from my sleep wanting to totally destroy myself (called my doctor to leave a 2am message).

Wow. How about after the freak out subsided? What do you think the massage actually did, and did it leave you better off in the long run? Getting massages would certainly be a convenient way to rid yourself of trauma.

 

[Chava]

I survived but that massage wasn't worth it. I've never gone back either. To me it was probably like having my defenses ripped away from me. Little bits of myofascial release on my own = okay. It doesn't resolve my trauma though because I have to get at the source, why I keep locking up anyway. And that's just taking lots of time.

But it makes a lot of sense that a good massage can alleviate general stress...the muscle tension and mind stuff seem to go hand-in-hand. I just have to do little bits. The massage guy noticed how horribly tight my muscles were and I believe his goal was to totally work it all out and that was simply TOO MUCH. It was like he ripped off my shell and I felt all f*cked up in my body.

 

[Dana1010]

@Chava, interesting. It sounds like in smaller doses spaced out over time, it has potential as a therapy tool. The best part is you don't have to talk about that...and that and that and that. Too bad massage therapists don't take insurance.