Is this just a ME thing, or..... ??

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I was just wondering about this earlier.... Ever since I was little, whenever I am in any sort of situation where I feel overwhelmed, uneasy, scared, panicked, anxious, etc. I always need to be holding something in my hands to make me feel "safer". For some reason, holding something solid helps me feel more myself & helps me to feel more "real" & calms me down. When I'm at home, it's usually something solid like a the tv remote, or my phone, or even a glass. Just basically anything that feels real & tangible, & solid (if that makes sense). But when not at home, I clutch onto my purse or anything else I happen to have with me, like my phone, or an umbrella, etc.

I was wondering if this is just a ME thing. Just something I do to comfort myself, or if it is something that other people with ASD's find themselves doing when feeling overwhelmed, etc.
So, does anyone else here with an ASD do this or anything similar?

I've never had a desire to grip things. Except handlebars and a steering wheel.

I do that, I have to have something to hold. Its a safety thing for me. For some reason I feel less vulnerable if Im holding something, otherwise I clutch at my arms or grab onto something like a chair.
I think I need something to do with my hands and arms or I feel like a flailing.
I remember the first time I took that Aspie Quiz online and it asked that question "Do you ever not know what to do with your arms?"
I got all excited and was saying "YES" out loud. At that point I never knew that anyone else had that problem, I thought it was just me.

I don't clutch things, but whenever I'm someplace where I feel uncomfortable. like in a therapist's office, I tend to stare at random objects looking for some kind of comfort from them. I turn them around in my mind, sometimes trying to "correct" them. (For instance I had a therapist who had an office chair with five spokes, and I thought it should have four, so kept trying to reshape it in my mind has having four spokes.) I don't do it intentionally, but it's something I always do.

I grab stuff too. Yesterday when feeling freaked out in a group conversation I was holding an empty coffee cup before I finally just reached over and got my Tangle (and then I twiddled it under the table). When I don't have something to hold I end up sort of squeezing my fingers. I have this Tangle here, and I really like it Especially because if someone asks me what it is, I tell them it's for carpal tunnel (instead of "I need to hold on to something or else I feel weird"): http://www.tanglecreations.com/product_ ... 115750aca5 it's not huge, but it's squishy and wiggly and therefore I like it. (There are non-squishy ones too, and smaller).

I think this is completely normal. Most people get comfort from holding on. Holding a hand, holding a rosary etc or if all else fails, wrapping their arms around and holding themselves.

An interesting but slightly different reaction. When going out I feel much better if I am carrying something, either a carrier bag in my hand or a sports bag over my shoulder. Walking down the street without baggage feels very weird.

Vanilla_Slice