What's the cause and is it normal?

Post Reply New Topic

I know there are other people on here who have that thing where you tap things with your fingers, slide your fingers on thing, touch things in a way so you get a good feeling and move your muscles a certain way (summed up version, its all hard to explain). I've made a topic about it before. If you look at it you'll understand better.

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postp4663039 ... t=#4663039

First off I still can't tell if it would be considered a stim or tic or something else, but I do it to help myself with body awareness or if something feels weird on me.

OK, MAIN TOPIC:
Lately it has been driving me crazy. Mostly at night time and in bed. I still do it during the day, but it doesnt bother me as much. It seems to be getting worse at night and I had one night where it drove me to the point where I felt like I was going to go crazy and actually started crying and rolling around in my bed and throwing my head on my pillow and other stuff. I tried taking my clothes off (and just sleep in my underwear) because I thought would help but it didn't. It was pretty much like what has been described on this website as either a meltdown and/or when you get over-stimulated. It hard for me to explain. Eventually I put my head at the other end of my bed and tapped my fingers on the wood of my bed, moved some of my body to the beat of my music and tried imaging playing drums (which I actually play so it made it easier and helped) to the music and it kind of helped me with "organizing" my body movements instead of it just being chaotic. I really want to just be able to stop doing it, but then it builds up and I can't help it. I guess I just want to know if this is normal and if this all considered stimming and being over-stimulated to the point of a meltdown.

Psychomotor agitation? <-- Link to wikipedia

That sounds kind of similar, but it's not really caused by anxiety or anything. It's more like to many things are touching me and/or something is touching me uncomfortably. Like with my fingers, when they touch something it sometimes feels uncomfortable so I touch or tap until it feels better. Also the crying was more because I don't know why I'm doing this and I don't know how I could explain it to someone and wasn't like extreme crying. I've tapped and stuff since I was really young because of touch, but I think it might be because of the blanket on and I sleep in regular day clothes (I didn't take them off like it said in the description, I just know that clothes can be uncomfortable and it usually helps people to sleep in underwear or PJs.
I feel like its just kind of hard to explain.

There's this video on youtube of a kid and its the exact same thing as I did but without the laughing. I don't know if I'm allowed to post it, but you can just type in asperger's stimming and it the one with the kid in bed.

Last edited by chaines321 on 28 Jul 2012, 4:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

Overstimulated?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stimulation

I have at times been like that kid in the video, except unhappy, stressed, need to move.

Last edited by Cogs on 28 Jul 2012, 4:47 am, edited 1 time in total.

That sounds a lot more like it, pretty much spot on, I've just not been sure because I know over-stimulation can happen with ADD (I have inattentive type) but I wasn't sure how extreme or often so I haven't been sure if it's from that or not. I guess it is over-stimulation because I get that from sound which my mom understands, but the touching shows differently and I can kind of not do as much crazy motions in front of people especially since I'm older.

Thanks for replying to this.

Yes, it is overstimulation. Usually I have it about twice a week because of clothing, soetimes less when I have a good week. With this warm weather though, I have it nearly every day.

Its like the feeling of my clothes touching me is a constant annoyance and I feel increasingly hot, starting with my face and upper arms, and it spreads. I feel tingly all over and I can't stop thinking that I need to get it off. Sitting on a cold floor while focussing on my breathing or making some kind or rythem with my feet or hands helps too.

In the worst case I go into meltdown through this which make me go mute and unresponsive to anyone. I just need to rock in a corner for a while to reset myself. It it terrible and I wish I could do something against it. Even meds if I have to.

I hope you don't have it that often!

Glad you found it helpful, and to answer the second part of your question, I think it is fairly common that people with sensory issues, ADD, ASDs etc. can get overstimulated.

Thanks so much both of you. It makes me feel better to know what it is and that it is normal. I've wondering for while and just couldn't figure it out for sure.