The Physical Aspects of Asperger's Syndrome
10. Movement Disorders: Tics and Stimming
A lot of children and adults with Asperger's Syndrome have a hard time just
being in their skin. It's not that they don't like their skin, it's just
that they feel the need to move, and it's a strong feeling. Stimming is a
common form of movement in Aspies and those with autism. Stimming can take
many forms, such as finger movement, rocking, leg shaking, pacing, or playing
with hair or a pencil. These movements are part of an autistic person's
way of soothing themselves. Stimming can be done consciously or
unconsciously. There may be times that the person doesn't realize they're
doing it. Usually this isn't a problem.
Other times the need to move is stronger. The person might have a tic, a need to move that is almost uncontrollable. This is usually brought on by fatigue and by foods that can't be tolerated, such as gluten, nitrites, fake sugar, or preservatives. If the person is intentionally preventing themselves from moving, the need to move will usually build up. The person will need time later that day to relax, be alone, and be allowed to move in ways to make themselves comfortable. Some forms of autism are accompanied by seizures. The electrical activity in the brain uses a seizure as an opportunity to balance itself when needed. These conditions are collectively referred to as Movement Disorders.
Movement disorders and their accompanying unbalanced electrical signals in the body's nervous system can cause stress to the individual who must live with them. In the daytime, it leads a person to be jittery, unable to sit still, and uncomfortable for no visible reason. At this point, symptoms of ADHD as well as general impatience and impolite behavior will surface. Sometimes, when I feel like this, I am tempted to be mean to others because I am mad at them for not helping me to feel better, or because I'm jealous that they are so relaxed and comfortable and don't feel like I do. I know this isn't logical, but that's how it feels. The feelings cause an unreal sense of urgency and hurry. Being patient and polite makes the feelings much worse. To get the feelings out, the person, especially if it's a child, may "overreact" and act out.
In my experience, there are some solutions that work very well in comforting a person with nervous build-up. First, if possible, get out and move. Let the child run and play for a while, if you're an adult, go do something physical. A child will also benefit highly if their caretaker gets the nervous system build up of energy out for them. This is done by gentle "play wrestling" mixed with vigorous rubbing of your hands on his arms, legs, and back. Kids love this anyway, but for a kid who's prone to throwing fits, it can be essential. For babies and small children, you can carry them while moving around a lot. Their excess energy can be funneled out and used up in this way.
These things work very well. However, it's not always
time to go, sometimes it's time to be still, or to rest. Again, I must
recommend the GFCF diet. For myself and for my nephew, our quantity
and level of "bad
nerves" went way down within only two days of beginning the diet. It was
as if the gluten and casein actually created the awful feelings within us.
(And, given the knowledge that our bodies turn gluten and casein into opium when
they enter the brain, it makes a lot of sense.) This is why I refer to
"comfort" so much, because it feels awful to always have that nervous energy
about you! It was an incredible, life-changing event when my new diet made
that feeling almost go away. I was so grateful for it!
This is the reason why I want to share my experiences with parents who are
concerned that their child can't live a normal life and be on such a restricted
diet. I really would like to tell them that allowing their children to feel relaxed
and not feel the "bad nerves" and the jitters in their bodies every day and
night is essential, and is the only chance the child has to be a more normal child and
to act most
normally around peers.
In addition to diet, the amino acid taurine helps a great deal in lowering the frequency and severity of tics and other uncomfortable movements. 5-htp is also helpful in changing the body chemistry to allow the individual to relax.
For more on this subject, see the section in this report on
Insomnia, which includes
more information about tics, stims and how they affect sleeping. Also see
the section on Supplements,
which includes a detailed list of herbal remedies that can help with calming the
body and mind.
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