Tics or stimming?

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Hi. I am diagnosed with Asperger's and Tourettes. I sometimes do the classic "rock back and forth" for several seconds rhythmically when I'm stressed. I also hop rythmically and "chirp" and flick my finger for seconds when I'm stressed. It relieves the anxiety, but it's more of an impulse.

I also tense my muscles to relieve stress.

I have some tics. Usually with tics you can have this uncomfortable almost painful building electrical or spreading feeling in the affected area or whole body before you can stand it no longer and have to jolt or breathe in suddenly and deeply or whatever it may be. One of mine doesn't really have this surging sensation. It just happens when I am trying to fall asleep. It feels really good while at the same time not being voluntary completely. It's like part stim and part tic: my head turns from one side to the other at certain intervals.

Being absorbed in some activity or absorbed in a TV show or movie calms them. Reading. Things that involve physical activity.

They seem to come in episodes and clusters too and can be triggered by some emotions. Some medications like Xanax seem to affect them. I have had years where they weren't bad or were nearly nonexistent.

I don't have Tourette's but some other tic stuff. Now I re-read your OP I see that I have probably told you a bunch of stuff you already know and are probably expert on

Is that what your tics are like, CryingTears?

Yeah. But my tics are usually in a pattern, though.

It is an "urge", but I can't tell if the feeling is general anxiety, or a tic.

I have tics and stim as well. I tend to categorize them in the way that... tics are uncomfortable NOT to do, I'm very aware of them, and there is an undeniable urge to do them. They happen all the time, even if I am not feeling excited or anxious, and they are not a way to release energy, but rather and attempt to satisfy an uncomfortable urge.

Stims on the other hand are usually a way for me to release energy or keep myself otherwise occupied. Sometimes I am not even aware that I'm doing them, but when I am, there isn't an overwhelming urge to do them, and I can control them if I want.

Hopefully that helps.