Rocking

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I'm talking to my husband now about rocking. I had always been under the impression that everyone enjoys it, but they just don't do it often. Otherwise why would there be rocking chairs? But he says that is incorrect that everyone in fact does not enjoy rocking, and that sitting in a rocking chair is different from rocking yourself as a stim. How is it different? =/ Well, it is different in some ways - I enjoy rocking myself but I get motion sickness if being rocked by a person or object, including rocking chairs. But how is it different for other people? He thinks I'm weird but I think he's the weird one! Rocking feels nice.

Also I have a theory - I rock when I'm around noises I don't like and can't get away from to change the noise (waving a hand in front of the source has a same effect.) Playing with the offensive noise in this way makes it slightly more tolerable. We are thinking that may be a reason why some low-functioning autistic kids rock who are unable to communicate. Maybe they're sometimes also just trying to change a sound or playing with it? I wonder if this theory has already been explored?

Tell your husband that your way of rocking is superior. It isolates abdominal muscles more effectively than rocking in a chair. You get a release for over stimulation you cannot escape, and exercise at the same time.

I don't claim to speak for the whole rocking world, but for me rocking myself, or rocking in a chair is all impelled by the same hypersensitivity to external stimulus. I sway side to side, or rock back and forth on the balls of my feet standing up, if I sit in a straight chair, my legs bounce, if I'm in a rocking chair, I rock (and I've worn out at least half a dozen rocker recliners over the years). I can't say why NAs (non-autistics) rock in chairs, I always assumed their motivations were similar to mine, but perhaps not.

I love rocking in a rocking chair.

I rock when I am tired and overstimulated...and other times that I am not aware of...but I neither like noe dislike it...it is just something I do...swings and rocking chairs are different...and I like those fine

I do rock sometimes when there is too much noise or if I need to relax, but I prefer to bang my head.

Rock on. Mostly Lab Pet stims when standing but I love swingsets....and rocking chairs too. Plus, stimming releases oxytocin - same hormone associated with love (ie: mating, bonding, maternal/paternal). For me, stimming also helps my balance so serves a functional purpose. And why I love my digital metronome which is like 'external stimming.'

Stim-ercise

Well I rock "only" on chairs, I think I've rocked "by my self" only a dozen of times in my life after melting down. I rock regulary on rocking chairs (I have one that I use as office chair).
And also NT rocks and I don't see that great difference. The problem is that they want to do it but they don't and also that we are usually more stressed and rocking is done when stressed. As I used to say, take an NT put it in a blank room with disco music for a week and you'll see him rocking/stimming/etc..

I couldn't imagine enjoying that, I would just go to bed or rest in the sofa.

I never thought I did it... then I relised I do it frequently, just without relising. What first madem e wonder was a caracatured impression of me a freind did.
it involved rocking back and forth. Then one day when I was on the computer I relised I was rocking back and forth:s

rocking is my major stim very rare ... lol
i agree that i think i, too, do it mostly to overcome having been overloaded, swamped. i also always loved swings! and i remember as a kid i insisted having a big rocking chair in my tiny room despite that it could hardly be used in that too small space at all i guess just looking at it was comforting ..
interesting about the oxytocin!

I love rocking. I have no theories, I just know that I find it relaxing, and it helps me concentrate.