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An adult shaking when excited

I'm 21, but since I was a child I have had urges to shake my hands and legs vigorously when I get excited. It is controllable and I do it to a lesser extend than when I was a child but I wonder if this is some kind of medical condition?

I read it is possibly a symptom of asperger syndrome?  
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Avatar universal
My 10 year old does this :) Flaps his hands in excitement sometimes with his mouth open also. He's been diagnosed with ADHD however these symptoms are traits of Autism :) I have read through all the comments and i can say very openly that you are displaying the term called "flapping" :) it's a trait of Autism
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I'm 28 and have dealt with this since early childhood.  I have never saw anyone else, besides my twin brother, that seems to deal with this.  Its great to hear that I'm not alone but I'm wondering if anyone has gotten answers as to what this is and how to explain or treat it medically.
I'm 28 and have dealt with this since early childhood.  I have never saw anyone else, besides my twin brother, that seems to deal with this.  Its great to hear that I'm not alone but I'm wondering if anyone has gotten answers as to what this is and how to explain or treat it medically.
I do this at age 68. Even when I’m not excited about anything. I did it as a child too. My body would go rigid and shake. I get these rushes through out my body. I would feel the need to move and expend energy. As a child it seemed like it related to excitement now I’m not so sure. It’s weird
Mine might be related to a diagnosis of restless legs syndrome. I think if I don’t get enough exercise it’s some type of release.
Anyone test for seizures?
mkh9
Avatar universal
I experience as well. I kind of put my fists up by my face and shake and tense all over. It feels like excitement and release. To this day when I am in a public place usually when I go into a bathroom stall I do this. I try not to do it in front of people because they usually have a confused or negative reaction (I just say I'm excited if I accidentally to do it in front a friend or family member because sometimes it's hard to control). I think it's stress excitement and emotion built up and it's released all at once (I think caffeine makes it happen more). I have no idea if it's a symptom of a disorder but I too have concern for my heart because it's like a little adrenaline rush and sometimes I do it multiple times a day. (I'm 26 and healthy. I also have hyperhidrosis and my resting heart rate has always been a little high-  around 88 bpm) I must say I'm happy that if I'm different I'm not alone :)
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My 10 year old does this :) Flaps his hands in excitement sometimes with his mouth open also. He's been diagnosed with ADHD however these symptoms are traits of Autism :) I have read through all the comments and i can say very openly that you are displaying the term called "flapping" :) it's a trait of Autism.
Avatar universal
This post will be almost 2 years past the last post but still wanted to post.
I have the same “issue”? “condition”? whatever it is.
I’ve done this since childhood and I think my dad had a part in it. He would rub his hands together really fast when he was excited and say “Cookin with heat!” I don’t know if I picked it up from him socially or hereditarily.
One thing I didn’t see from this post was the fact that it feels mighty good to shake and rub my hands together. It’s like I’m trying to shake the air between my hands fast enough to feel the molecules bouncing off my hands.
It’s very annoying sometimes and I worry that one day I will shake my child too hard (don’t have kids yet). I sometimes find myself rubbing my girlfriends hands really fast or shaking the air around her out of excitement of love.
I think it makes a part of me me but also would love to learn how to control it a little more.
Any advice on how to slow it down or have the urges happen less?

Thanks in advanced.
Cheers,
Matt
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Avatar universal
I do the same but also when I’m nervous or thinking about something. I rub my hands together or shake them violently. If I’m in public or at school, I shake my feet. I’m in middle school and just randomly started happening. Could it be a disease or disorder?
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Avatar universal
I'm so glad I managed to find this page having been searching for years about what causes my excited episodes. It dates back to remembering my Grandad having his mouth unusually open when concentrating or when getting excited. I do the same, except I also play frantically with my hands whilst switching off from the outside World. My brother had similar symptoms and now looking at my 6 year old daughter she seems to do it all the time with the exact same symptoms - Mouth wide open, playing with hands, thinking of something exciting and switched off from the outside World.

My heart feels like it's racing afterwards, it can't be good for my body. I've learnt to control it more as I've got older but it's definitely still there, every day. In fact, I'm alone at home today working on my laptop and I've done it at least 10 times. I'm worried about how often my daughter does it as she always switches off during an episode, like with me, which means learning can be a problem when the episodes are happening so frequently.

I've never spoken about this before and I'm still not entirely sure what it is but, after reading all of your comments it seems, (a) you guys have the same thing as me, or similar and (b) there's still a lot of  uncertainties as to what it exactly is. It seems obvious to me that it is some kind of neurological condition but I'd be delighted to finally be properly diagnosed and prescribed medication which could control the symptoms. Both for me and my daughter.

Many thanks,

Graeme    
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Avatar universal
I get this  sit evening, I get exited and shake my hands. It's no big deal. Does me no harm. Nobody sees me. I've heard folk talk about in children and seem to get really concerned and worried. It's just excitement and certainly not a worry
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Excuse my typing errors
Avatar universal
Same- I am 35 and have had this, my hands rise up in front of my face and shake, my heart and breathing race. It's always when I am extremely excited, like when I play a video game or watch a movie with alot of action. I learned to not do it in front of others in around second grade because my teachers thought I was epileptic and my family and friends made alot of fun of me- I learned to control it. BTW, I was also the top of my class in school. One other thing, I was born with umbilical cord strangulation and 'blue in the face.' I have always suspected I have some brain damage. I like my alone time and have always had a "know it all" personality that has made it hard for me to make friends. Any information that could help me improve the quality of my life and my relationships would be appreciated.
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Avatar universal
Sounds like it might be Tourette Syndrome. It's characterized by repetitive stereotypic involuntary movements and vocals that are called tics. They usually occur more when one is nervous, anxious, exited, or drowsy. In other instances tics may be an ADHD symptom instead of Tourette's.
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Avatar universal
I have had this issue since infancy. My mother first noticed it when I was 2 months old. I have been extensively tested for epilepsy and the only diagnosis they can come up with is psychogenic seizures.  Normally, I just shake all over when excited or very happy. I was disciplined as a child whenever it happened and told I looked retarded, so I don't do it in front of others.  I still don't understand how I can control it around others but seem to have no control over it when alone. I documented it once for about a week and found that I have about 10-20 of these episodes a day. Rarely, I also get painful headaches afterwards.  I also rarely get an aura when around others, but, like I previously said, I can control it and not let it happen (not the aura, the shaking). When I was 16, I had a series of petit and gran mal-like seizures for almost a month, and that was when I was tested and diagnosed with the psychogenic seizures. I have never found a satisfactory reason for these shaking episodes (they happen every freaking day!) and have been basically blacklisted by many neurologists who are just passing me off as mentally ill. It's frustrating. I am glad to see that I'm not alone, though I'm not glad that others have to deal with this. It feels good, though, since I've been convinced my entire 37 years of life that I was some kind of freak.
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Avatar universal
I do this as well.. is there a way to fix it?
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Avatar universal
I do this as well.. is there a way to fix it?
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From what I understand, this is called repetitive stereotypy, and can be associated with aspergers, OCD, or some other conditions, but also occurs on its own in normally developing children. If this is the case (as it is with me, I'm now 23 and have always been social, and graduated near the top of my class) these symptoms are harmless.  
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I'm 22 and I've been doing this since my childhood. I almost always do it when I picture something exciting. What worries me is I cross my eyes when I do it and I hope thats not damaging it.
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I'm 27 and have the same sympton since i was maybe 6 years old my cousin same age has it too. Usually i shake and make lil noise twisting my hands, tighten all muscles, usually visualizing something exciting.  Usually gets my adrenaline going but i'm just afraid that i might be stressing the body or heart. I'd like to also find more information on this Please
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Avatar universal
It could be SMD. If anyone does know can they please inform us?

I don't know if Someonerather is the same but I don't share the same symptoms as asperger, just an urge to shake hands and legs when excited. It's as if I have excess energy I need to burn off.
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Avatar universal
I have the same problem. I'm 22. Always shaken my arms and legs when I get excited and have assumed it was a type of asbergers.
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368886 tn?1466235284
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello.

You need to check if you have other symptoms of Asperger's syndrome as well. Can you mention here if you have any other symptoms which you consider to be helpful ? Have you been diagnosed Asperger's syndrome ?

I am not aware of any other particular condition which causes such symptoms. It could be a conditioned reflex, formed in the childhood.

Regards
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