Is it organic or emotional?

[clytiek]

My 11-year-old granddaughter twitches or jerks fairly hard (like a startle reflex) over and over again just as she falls asleep and for a while after she falls asleep and also before she wakes in the morning. This seems to be increasing over the past months.
She does not recall having bad dreams even when she wakes herself up with a strong twitch - although she does have bad dreams sometimes. She does not twitch when she is awake. She does not have headaches or other signs of epilepsy as far as I can understand.
She is a very active gymnast and close to earning her black belt in karate. She is bright and confident and competitive. However she has genral anxiety/separation anxiety for very credible reasons. (Parents divorced when she was 5, (sees dad once a week) and mom deserted all five children in 1/05 -  lives far away and has been able to visit only three times since - and has another child now). Communication with mom is easy by their own cell phones but there is no question that mom could have custody again.
Our child fears being alone in a separate room, sleeping alone ( used to sleep with mom) and being outside alone. I really cannot know whether the twitching is a response to stress (life is fairly stable and positive these days) or there might be an organic problem. I don't want to neglect a serious problem but I don't want to overreact either. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Clytiek

[clytiek]

Thank you all for your well-wishes and more! I'll try to answer your questions: no, she does not seem overly aware of or concerned about the twitches but she does have a lot of anxiety about going to sleep - especially in a bed alone. She slept with me for two nights because no one was home but the two of us (shares a room with sis) then last night I told her she needed to sleep in her own bed. She couldn't go to sleep. Instead of letting her come in my bed I sat on the edge of hers until she finally fell asleep. I spent that time (from 9 p.m. until about 11:45) focusing on a meditative method I learned for healing us both. By the end of that time I could hardly think straight  but we got through it. I don't want her fear and need to sleep with me to be a habitual behavior but I don't want to reinforce any sense that she is not protected or that I would not be there for her when she is in need.
As for the twitches, well they are not always the same but generally will continue for some time after she goes to sleep. They are brief jerks of her body, occurring as much as 20 - 30 seconds apart, and she wakes from them sometimes but not usually. If I am nearby I will pat her back or stroke her head to reassure her in case she is having a fright response.
The twithces do not seem to correlate to physical activity. She has karate or gymnastics lessons on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. She swims in our above gorund pool or plays on the trampoline at home but very rarely anywhere near bedtime.  I thought about overstimulation too, but am not seeing any connection with physical activity, or even mental/emotional stimulilike tv or family dynamics. I do know that her anxiewty/fears are much greater when she has been incontact with her absentee mom.
Sorry to go on and on. I thought it would be worth a try to see whether anyone else had any similar experience. I don't check this site every day - raising the three remaining grandchildren at home and earning a living of sorts - well that's a bunch, and then there is my self/inner work.
I love your kindnesses in reaching out in thoughtfulness for my little loved one, thank you!

[MrGreen]

Think he is hoping you see God. Every forum has one. Meet ours.

[RichReligion]

My newborn does it, also. I stressed his mom out really bad while she was pregnant, and that could be the cause, but I dont want to sound wierd or anything but Google it and type spirit at the end..and see what you could see.

[cnote]

I can't tell you what the twitches are from. They could be nervous twitches... or they could be from being very active in sports.

If it doesnt bother her, then I wouldnt see a reason to see a Dr. yet. But if it makes you feel better, then seeing a Dr. might not be a bad idea.

Do you have a local hospital where you can call? Like a Nurses hotline?
They may be able to give you some ideas before making your appointment.

Good luck.

[MrGreen]

Forgive me for bumping this post back up from page 2. Just hope someone else might be able to help the writer. Call me soft hearted. But the age of the person involved. So sad to see such a young kid suffer.

[MrGreen]

Well twitching / twitches is a common part of anxiety. But like you, I don't want to say the child has anxiety because I am in no position to do so. That would need a doctor and maybe a few tests to determine the full causes of the twitches.

Shame to read about such a young talented person with any sort of anxiety at all. Does she talk much about anything concerning the twitches? Is she aware of them? Just asking a few questions so you may get a better answer from the next person in. Do they last long or are they just like a quick twitch and that might be it for a while?

Though it is no uncommon in such a young person, it is rare. Mainly would occur in an older person. I admit I did go do a bit of reading on the subject. Easy to do with google. Just write in the word and you will get a lot of answers.

Just hope you can sort things out for her. She seems so bright and talented and has a whole life ahead of her. Would be great to see things sorted out for her.