Rocking

[Jumpinbare]

I shake my leg when I'm sitting. But I've seen non-autistics do that too. I think rocking and hand-flapping is the least common stim among NTs.

I also shake my leg(s). I also curl my toes - sometimes both feet, sometimes one foot then the other. If I try to consciously curl them, it doesn't feel right. I'm never thinking about it when I start doing it, but once it starts, I do notice. As a young child, I used to stim audibly, but my brother made me stop because it was "stupid".

 

[Levitat0r]

I heard the r-word endlessly as a kid, but I never had a point of reference to compare whether it was just me. Also endless repetition of the f-word, because being uncoordinated and spacey makes you look vulnerable, and they're just projecting their own dysfunction on you.

 

[Levitat0r]

I think I actually did used to stim. In addition to the ritual involving the silly imaginary self-absorbed character, that character was sort of an outgrowth of a facial tic I had, and I don't really want to go into it because it's embarrassing. But, yeah, I think it's basically the same thing. Where the face thing was a release of tension and frustration, and then the character routine grew out of that as a way to characterize where the stress came from. I eventually gave up the entire mess as ugly and unpleasant. The other possibility is that it was OCD, but I'm not sure where or how they draw the line there.

 

[SusanLR]

Always had to have a rocking chair.
Except for when I'm eating at the table, if I'm sitting, I always had to be rocking in a chair. Finally, in my 60's, I found myself breaking the habit when I started living with someone who thought it looked silly.
I can watch tv sitting on a sofa now although I am quite fidgety. It wasn't easy to get used to and I still sit in my rocking chair quite a bit.

 

[FayetheAspie]

I rock often while sitting and while standing.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

For the first time, I've managed not to open a new thread on impulse, but look for an existing one that fits the topic. Yay!

Anyone else doesn't rock when they're upset, but on the contrary, only rocks when they're calm and happily immersed in something? For months now, I have started more and more to rock, and it's become more and more subconscious. I often don't notice when I start, but just at some point notice it.
I just find it funny because I have always thought of rocking as something autistic people do mainly when they're upset or even in a meltdown.
For me, it seems to be the opposite: Body gets rigid and hands fidget more and more when I get upset or even meltdowny, but soft rocking back and forth or from side to side when I'm calm and relaxed, reading, watching or writing something.

 

[Judge]

I just have two known stims. I pace, and I sway back and forth quite often if I stand in the same place without moving for very long.

Quite often in front of my tv set in the living room. I just seem to involuntarily begin to rock back and forth...

 

[FayetheAspie]

I pace, rock, and jiggle my foot frequently. If stressed I tend to rock harder than normal. If excited I often will gallop.

 

[RemyZee]

For the first time, I've managed not to open a new thread on impulse, but look for an existing one that fits the topic. Yay!

Anyone else doesn't rock when they're upset, but on the contrary, only rocks when they're calm and happily immersed in something? For months now, I have started more and more to rock, and it's become more and more subconscious. I often don't notice when I start, but just at some point notice it.
I just find it funny because I have always thought of rocking as something autistic people do mainly when they're upset or even in a meltdown.
For me, it seems to be the opposite: Body gets rigid and hands fidget more and more when I get upset or even meltdowny, but soft rocking back and forth or from side to side when I'm calm and relaxed, reading, watching or writing something.

I think that's one of the things about autism that can be isolating--that I do some things I like or enjoy, but people can think it's because I'm upset when I'm really just doing what I do. I find myself rocking my head back and forth at night and it just helps me go to sleep and be calm. I was irritated the other day taking a class by a non autistic person. There was a guy there who was actively rocking and the teacher was like: "sometimes when people are nervous they rock and there's no need." The guy who was rocking stopped completely and it just made me sad because of all things he was being pointed out.

 

[Cutesie]

Anyone else doesn't rock when they're upset, but on the contrary, only rocks when they're calm and happily immersed in something?

All of my stimming is done when I'm excited in the literal sense of the word - not calm. I stim when anxious and when happy. Unfortunately, I'm more often in the former state, but my moods swing wildly.

A really amazing thing occurred a few weeks ago (September 16): As I was walking, anxiety caused me to start clapping. Now that only happens when I'm really excited - especially if I'm in public. As it happened, something in my head said, "Clap because you're happy." Instantly, my mood shifted. Not only was I now clapping joyfully, I also started to skip. I remained anxiety-free for a couple of hours.

In answer to the thread's original question, I rocked constantly as a kid, whether standing or sitting. At some point, this stim disappeared, but it's recently made a comeback. It's the only stim that I actually feel what it's doing, that I feel the comfort flowing through me. And yes, I do it in both up and down moods.

 

[pinkyponks]

i find, for me, it’s triggered by anxiety (either low level or acute high stress) - it made me laugh to see in the observations of my assessment that i was noted to be rocking a noticeable amount and i hadn’t even realised i was doing it !!!!