Body rocking

[Pauledh]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone could help me figure out something... Up until about 4 years ago I would body-rock. Im now 34, from the age of I realy dont know when... since my memory started at the age of say 2 i would body rock. I'd lie on the floor and rock for between a few minutes up to 6 hours or more. I'd rock on the floor and day dream and it seems that the rocking motion would help me day dream and I'd end up in almost in a trance. It completly messed up my education... instead of studying I'd body rock and dream whenever possible.... I mean I was totaly addicted to it, it may seam strange but it got worse from childhood. Im my teens and twenties i spent most of my spare time doing this, once I got to the age to start listening to music I'd body rock with music playing, with the different type of music depending one what i wanded to dream about or vice versa. It could be for the whole weekend and I've lost so much my life doing this.... You would'nt believe. I don't believe I'm autistic... i dont seem to show any other signs... I have a good career now and live a happy life but I'd like to understand what happened to me for all those years.

I'm not entirely sure this is the right forum, maybe it should be mental health but if anyone could help me understand I would much appreciatre your thoughts! If not i will try the other forums. Thanks for your time

[Trishagirl23]

What causes body rocking? I have a roommate that does this nonstop. And also watches animae and talk to herself.

[AntsyFanny]

I'm 50 years old and have always been one who fidgets. Mom was always telling me to sit still in church, etc. My friend growing up had these kitchen chairs that swiveled and I would constantly spin from side to side. I never thought it was more than just being an antsy kid, but a friend once told me to stop it when I didn't know I was sort of twisting from side to side gently in my chair - she said people might think I was mentally ill. I was about 35 at the time.I laugh about that now. We are all "abnormal" in some respects. Tonight I was feeling anxious and began to rock forward and back and it felt soothing and for the first time I decided to google this behavior. So there are lots of us! I find caffeine can make me more prone to want to rock, which is kind of expected. I'm comfortable in my skin, more so now than I was in my 20s and 30s, so I don't mind it. I also often bounce my leg or foot a lot, twirl my pen, crack my knuckles, bite my lip - a bunch of these sort of stimming behaviors. I agree with others who say it's better than drugs, alcohol, or really harmful habits. I exercise, which helps drain some of the nervous energy and that has really helpful too. So no advice for others other than to enjoy the rocking if you can, and if you can't, then visit a doctor for alternatives.  

[Akashi11]

Hi, I'm 19 years old and I body rock all the time.....
At first I thought it was something that everyone does. It has gotten in the way of somethings. I'll be sitting on my bed and all of the sudden I'll think of something that I need to daydream about and I'll have to start rocking. It's like I go to another world whenever I body rock. I was thinking about mentioning it to a doctor. But I don't know how they could help handle it. So far I have broken 2 toilet seats and my own bed. It kind of freaks me out if I were to be honest.

[Alzacher]

I have the same exact thing I don't body rock when I am in a deep sleep but I do know that if you are out for a while every day and not I your bed it helps a little and I don't do it as much anymore cause of being out in public so much

[ShoneOceanGirl]

Perhaps the physical action of rocking produces some feelgood hormone in the brain, which becomes addictive over time.  I strongly believe that rocking is more common than you think.  I used to think there was something wrong with me, but the dream state felt so good I was hooked. I am 58 and have not done it since I was about 42, the compulsion can diminish for some people. Many, many people self soothe by rocking.

[metoo11]

Wow I never comment on the internet, but this is the first time I've discovered a whole bunch of people that are just like me when I thought I was the only one!  I've been listening to music while bobbing my head/ upper body/ rocking in a rocking chair ever since I can remember for relaxation, a sort of high, motivation, and help focusing. My family has always teased me, but I always did it around them at home anyways, but no one else! I was always so embarrassed when someone not in the family would come over unexpectedly and see me!  I did it a lot when I was younger sometimes for hours and my neck would get sore or my head (because I used to bang it against the back of my seat.  I remember my grandma thinking there was something wrong with me at a young age, but my mom is an occupational therapist and she always seemed to think it was okay, but possibly a slight autistic trait even though I'm not autistic.  I am 22 now and I still do it, but not as much as I used to, especially because I get busy and I live at college.  I do need to remember to do it sometimes for stress relief and keep me from being depressed. I also do it in the car even when I drive, and I comfortably do it around my boyfriend now.  I think it's healthy for me to do it because it helps me a lot and doesn't control my life.  I'm a very good student, but I have serious procrastination issues, and music and head bobbing can either help me focus or become a form of procrastination depending on the day; but I feel like being the procrastinator that I am is due to the stress of work and I need my head bobbing to de-stress.  It seems like generally it helps me do math or draw, but if I'm writing a paper or reading it is distracting.