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Raleigh
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23 Aug 2014, 6:51 pm

Had an epiphany this morning.
When I'm stressed I lean on things - walls, tables, backs of chairs etc
I realised I'm sending out the wrong message with my body language. People think I'm bored or uninterested when I'm actually anxious.
I find leaning on inanimate objects comforting.
Does anyone else do the same thing, or is it just me?


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calstar2
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23 Aug 2014, 10:18 pm

I usually stick to wall or edges of the room when anxious and will sometimes lean depending. I don't think it's the wrong body language for me, though. It sends a "Don't bother me" and that's exactly what I mean :lol:



Raleigh
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23 Aug 2014, 10:51 pm

I'm more worried about leaning at inappropriate times - such as in meetings, while talking to the boss (leaning on her desk in her office!) in class (leaning on the blackboard, on chairs, on the desk, against the wall)
I've never realised how this must have looked before.
Quite unprofessional, I imagine.
It's like I'm not aware of what my body is doing - I need to see myself doing it before I'm aware of it.


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little_blue_jay
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23 Aug 2014, 11:20 pm

Yes, when I feel tense.

I had to fight the urge to lean on the creamer machine at the coffee shop where I worked. There was a supervisor there who would say 'if you have time to lean you have time to clean' (yes, a la Sheldon!) When my POTS got bad I'd lean because I was tachycardic but at that point I didn't care who saw what.

Even at home now, I still find myself leaning harder than necessary against the counter when doing the dishes. My feet will be further away then they should be from the sink, and I'll actually be pressing my abdomen into the counter edge by bracing my legs harder than necessary. I can't really explain it. It seems to relieve tension by creating tension (?) (or pressure?)


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IncredibleFrog
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23 Aug 2014, 11:55 pm

I sometimes lay my head on tables or chairs or any other surface in front of me. But that is due more to my being perpetually tired than it is to my being perpetually anxious (I think).



YellowBanana
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24 Aug 2014, 1:39 am

Yes I lean on things. I like the pressure. My favourite thing to lean against when stressed is the floor ... lying on the floor provides good pressure and feels secure. Unfortunately it's not usually an appropriate thing to do so I have to wait until I'm alone (if I can) or lean against something else (usually a wall, preferably in a corner so it is on two sides of me).


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AmethystRose
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24 Aug 2014, 1:44 am

Raleigh wrote:
Had an epiphany this morning.
When I'm stressed I lean on things - walls, tables, backs of chairs etc
I realised I'm sending out the wrong message with my body language. People think I'm bored or uninterested when I'm actually anxious.
I find leaning on inanimate objects comforting.
Does anyone else do the same thing, or is it just me?


. . . . I do that.
And I hadn't even considered the body language implications. O.O



Raleigh
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24 Aug 2014, 5:06 am

I hadn't either until today. Now I'm thinking back to interactions I've had and I'm doing the whole face-palm thing.


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dianthus
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24 Aug 2014, 5:20 pm

I lean on things because I will start feeling very tired if I don't.



Awiddershinlife
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24 Aug 2014, 5:59 pm

Raleigh wrote:
Had an epiphany this morning.
When I'm stressed I lean on things - walls, tables, backs of chairs etc
I realised I'm sending out the wrong message with my body language. People think I'm bored or uninterested when I'm actually anxious.
I find leaning on inanimate objects comforting.
Does anyone else do the same thing, or is it just me?


sounds like you need the pressure from leaning on things to stay stable. That's a clever accommodation! I steal all good ideas so next time I feel like I am going to blow my top, I will try to remember to try it :wink:


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BeggingTurtle
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24 Aug 2014, 9:51 pm

I lean on anything no matter what. Not medical, but I have bad posture.


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olympiadis
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24 Aug 2014, 10:35 pm

I lean.

I hate when people think they can read minds.
I expect them to ask instead of "reading" my body language.
NTs misread me as often as I misunderstand them.