Rocking, head banging

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I just found out with autism that older children will rock, bang their heads, hit themselves in the head, etc. to calm themselves if upset. I use to do all this and it made me feel crazy but only just now read that it's associated with autism. I still rock alot when highly emotional or upset or even sometimes for no apparent reason. And (though very rarely) still feel compelled to hit myself in the head when highly agitated/upset. Is this as much a part of Asperger's as autism as I kept reading it mostly associated with autism. I didn't have any of the delays as required for autism diagnosis and in fact talked early in complete sentences with big words. I just recently found out i have asperger's.

Do alot of you guys do these things or did you when you were young? Are they as common with Asperger's as autism?

I rock a lot and only on extremely rare occasions do I bang my head against things. I used to headbang and freak out as a Freshman a lot more often but now i'm a Senior and only rock, hand-flap and snarl to express my outbursts.

and your an aspie?

I hit myself on the head a lot.
I try not to though.
Usually when I'm angry or frustrated.

43 year-old aspie who definitely rocks when in meltdown mode.
Have never banged head or hit myself, though.

i'm a head banger/puncher

Yes, lots of aspies do it too.

It is called "stimming" and is actually one of the required traits for an AS diganosis. Rocking is very very common. Self injurous behavior usually not so much...

I don't do that, but I fidget a lot. Move my feet around like I can't stand still. Often at work or other situations I force myself to stand still, which requires either crossing my arms or putting my hands in my pockets.

I like to drum my fingers. Also, playing with my hair.

is that another aspie/autism thing? playing with your hair?? i'm constantly either playing with my hair or picking at my nails and can't seem to NOT do it without intense effort!

wow -my entire life I felt like a freak anomoly but this site is the greatest. I learn something new about asperger's and myself everyday! It helps coping and feeling more "normal" when you know there is a reason for the "crazy" things you do and that there are other people like you out there!

I rock when listening to music, when I'm around others I try not to, my family knows I do since I've done it from a very young age. My mother still gives me greif for it.

that's too bad - she should not do that.

that's too bad - she should not do that.

i use to smack myself in the forhead when i was a teenager, i liked the way it felt for some reason. i know that sounds wierd but it is true

hit my head alot. with thing some time when i m mad. rockeing when a lot of times.

I used to bang my head on the pillow when I was a kid