Xanthic~Rain wrote:
When I first researched Asperger's syndrome, I was struck by the part about engaging in repeated, stereotyped behaviors. I thought about a perennial activity of mine growing up, which was the need to continually be moving without actually doing anything in particular. Sometimes I'd walk in circles around the firewood pile, or the wood chip pile, or a bush or mound in the horse pasture, just about anything suitable. The constant motion had a relaxing effect, and I also felt it stimulated my creativity. I'd almost always be making up a movie or a story or a song in my head. I found out years later that simply walking stimulates the cerebral cortex and therefore, boosts memory. My mom once asked me what I was doing when I did this and, although I don't remember this, my alleged answer was "resting." Even as an adult, I find myself still doing this, though now it's usually just around the couch, and my creativity has greatly declined since I was a kid.
Does anyone else out there have "stimies" like this? Can you relate? I'd like to hear your anecdotes.
Yes, absolutely.
I walk in circles (or other geometric patterns of interest) when I am in much distress.
Most recently (yesterday), it was because I had a toothache which painkillers weren't killing fast enough.
A few weeks ago, I had a disagreement with a friend which was mostly my fault, and I walked in a circle on the lawn outside my flat (around the clothesline) for 3 hours, wearing a patch in the lawn they couldn't even mow out.
It all started when I used circle-walking to calm down my anxiety levels, instead of letting it develop into a full-blown panic attack....walking just distracted my mind.
People also know that when I am circle-walking to avoid approaching me at all costs, or else I will overstimulate and break down into a screaming mess - because it's the way I cope with 'stuff'.
Sometimes people leave me alone saying 'yeah, do whatever you need to do and take your time' and other times they call Mental Health who usually 'cure' it with a couple of Valium.
It's the way I use up excess energy - like when somebody punches a punching bag or similar.
It can be quite unnerving for people who don't know me to observe me doing it and occasionally I have been told I am only 'seeking attention'...
...but if I am involving nobody and don't care if anybody is observing, how can it be?
Yep, I am guilty of doing it.
21 Jan 2015, 10:22 pm
