Does rubbing on the head calm you down?

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SpongeBobRocksMao
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12 Jan 2010, 5:38 pm

It may seem strange, but whenever I get angry, occasionally my parents will rub my head in a massage-like way, and strangely it always calms me down, no matter how angry I am. However, I seem to be the only person that this method works on, so I was wondering whether it could be related to AS and other ASDs, and whether it works on other people here too. :?


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jamesongerbil
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12 Jan 2010, 6:14 pm

Hehe, in my freshmen year in high school, the eco-club would be all up on giving head massages. It was some members' vice; they loved it. You're not the only one. It's quite relaxing. Nice that your parents will do that for you.



12 Jan 2010, 6:28 pm

Yes. I always have my husband rub my head. I joke to him about "petting the aspie" because he once said it felt like he was petting a dog. I have always loved getting my head rubbed. I think this is a sensory issue.



millie
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12 Jan 2010, 6:30 pm

No. I HATE being touched on the head. It has been known to trigger an extreme "fight" response in me.

Cannot stand being touched on the head at all.



buryuntime
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12 Jan 2010, 6:45 pm

I'm cringing just thinking about it. Top of head is too sensitive. Just like my fingertips. ughhhhhh



conan
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12 Jan 2010, 8:46 pm

rubbing the head releases serotonin as far as i'm aware. it does indeed feel nice.



cosmiccat
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12 Jan 2010, 10:03 pm

I almost hate to admit this, but yes, having my head stroked in a gentle, loving way always calms me down. Also helpful is rubbing/stroking my shoulder or my upper arm. It works like magic for me. It makes me think and feel that someone cares.

I know that a lot of people hate this. I don't know why this calms me down, but it does. It prevents escalation that could lead to a meltdown, or it stops a meltdown in its tracks.



Last edited by cosmiccat on 12 Jan 2010, 10:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Xelebes
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12 Jan 2010, 10:20 pm

I don't know. I don't do it often enough to remember whether or not it brings about any benefit.


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ColdBlooded
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12 Jan 2010, 11:00 pm

I DON'T like for other people to touch my head. But i find scratching at the skin on my head to be very relaxing.



veiledexpressions
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12 Jan 2010, 11:01 pm

I love to have my head rubbed. It's relaxing and feels nice. It calms me when I'm extremely upset.



Danielismyname
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12 Jan 2010, 11:17 pm

Totally. As does rubbing someone else's.



Who_Am_I
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13 Jan 2010, 12:12 am

It has a calming effect on me.
My cousin, who is severely autistic, loves having her head stroked. She'll grab someone's hand and place it on her head to indicate that she wants the person to stroke her head.


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13 Jan 2010, 12:17 am

Danielismyname wrote:
Totally. As does rubbing someone else's.


I sometimes like to feel my husband's hair on my hands. To him it feels good because I am stroking him. I did the same to my ex's and then they get frustrated I would stop and start again.



blue_bean
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13 Jan 2010, 6:48 am

I wouldn't like someone else to rub my head if I was trying to keep my hair neat, but other than that I'm open to it. I pull my hair out from the top of my head which is a feeling I find soothing, so I guess the sensations of that would be similar to sensations from headrubbing.



lithium73
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13 Jan 2010, 8:08 am

I find rubbing my forehead (hard) and sort of smooshing my eyebrows around with my palms really calms me down.



Ambivalence
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13 Jan 2010, 10:02 am

I like having my head scratched, it's very nice. (I've seen a fiendish looking device somewhere with a load of copper prongs for scratching your head - called an "orgasmatron" or something similar! :lol: I won't google it at work.)

What I do often, which I think is more unusual, is not to scratch my head but to put a lot of pressure (well, about bruising level) on my temple using my knuckles and focus on that for a minute or so. Though I wouldn't call it relaxing as such. Pressure is a thing of mine, I guess.


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