Does anybody cross there arms in public?

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Or in uncomfortable situations?

Usually when im in a grocery store or somewhere that is crowded I cross my arms as a security thing I guess. My mom is always like "Put your arms down" But she does not understand it makes me feel safer and it feels involuntary I cant help it. I would do this in school and I think that is a reason people would not approach me.

If not, what do you do ?

I do the knee tap, hair twirl, one hand on my shoulder rubbing it, piercing my lips.

I do not see how crossing your arms would ever warrant such a comment from your mother.

I do the same. It seems less awkward than to put my arms down at my side.

Crossing arms (but not really interweaving them together) is a good defense against a sudden punch in the face or stomach. However, it also brings your weight up to your chest, and negatively affects your balance.

I cross my arms when I walk!! ^^

i used to walk around with my arms crossed all the time. everywhere i went i'd have them crossed and i stopped because people told me how awkward and closed-off i appeared.

i keep my arms available at my sides just in case i have to defend myself faster than i could uncross my arms.

I cross my arms all the time if I feel the need to keep them still.

It's a body language thing, crossing your arms in front of you gives the impression of a barrier.

Then again, some people think that body language is a load of twaddle.

Vanilla_Slice

Those people would be incorrect. There's been tons and tons of studies done about body language and the role it plays in communication. People with Autism/Asperger's often have little understanding of body language and so to them it might seem like a load of garbage, but it's a integral part of communication between NT parties. Learning to understand and read body language can be extremely helpful to those with Autism/Asperger's, as it helps us pick up the social cues that we'd otherwise miss.

As far as crossing arms go, I used to do that a lot too, especially in public. If I was speaking to a stranger or someone that I wasn't comfortable with (like certain people at school) I'd immediately cross my arms in front of my body and if possible lean against a wall or whatever. It's an extremely defensive position and gives people the idea that you're closed off to them and what they say. In order to appear more open and sociable, it's worth trying to prevent oneself from doing this too much. There are some really excellent books (both hard copies and digital copies) that go into detail explaining how body language works. I'll post back later with some names.

I do cross my arms in front or holding them behind me. I feel my most relaxed and open when I do this. People tell me I always look upset when I do this but that is far from the truth. If my hands are at my sides or in my pockets thats when I am in my defensive position.

I cross my arms in public, all the time. It makes me feel safer.

Aha, here we are. The best resource I've found so far on body language is an Ebook called The Body Language Project. It goes into a lot of detail about understanding body language and though it mostly focuses on the dating scene there's some stuff that's invaluable in other situations.

Yes, according to my book of body language, crossing arms is a sign of discomfort or desire to hide something.

I sometimes cross my arms in stressful situations, and also when I'm feeling a bit cold.

I do it all the time, never got any problems from people. It looks funny if you're walking while doing it but just standing around, who cares. I do have a habit of putting my hand on my hip which I'm trying to fix.

I used to do it a lot (fully intertwined) but I got so many negative comments about it from people I stopped doing it to avoid the comments. I transitioned to hand hooked onto backpack (later purse strap when I could no longer pull off carrying around a backpack). If I don't have one of those I usually hook my hands in my pockets to keep from crossing them if I'm thinking about it. If it's cold you can do it though with the excuse of keeping your hands warm

I cross my arms a lot sometimes because it feels comfortable for me. I sometimes sit like that to. I have heard before that it looks like your being standoffish so I try to remember to put em behind my back in certain situations like job interviews or certain social events but that does not feel as comfortable to me.