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Rhythmic Movement Disorder, Can't take it anymore
Hello,
Is there anyone, I mean anyone, out there that has rhythmic movement disorder? I have been violently thrashing my body and head, laterally while asleep or mostly somewhat asleep since I can remember. I am 30 now. It use to consume maybe an hour or two a night but now it is getting drastically worse. I find myself doing it or am told that I, "rock", 4-5 hours a night. Apparently kids grow out of this and the remainder that carry this disorder into their adult lives are autistic or mentally challenged, which I am neither. My doctor prescribed me clonazepam, which does not work and I'm not taking an addictive, benzodiazepine for the rest of my life.
Does anyone relate to my problem and if so what treatments have worked for you? I'm going to go insane!
Is there anyone, I mean anyone, out there that has rhythmic movement disorder? I have been violently thrashing my body and head, laterally while asleep or mostly somewhat asleep since I can remember. I am 30 now. It use to consume maybe an hour or two a night but now it is getting drastically worse. I find myself doing it or am told that I, "rock", 4-5 hours a night. Apparently kids grow out of this and the remainder that carry this disorder into their adult lives are autistic or mentally challenged, which I am neither. My doctor prescribed me clonazepam, which does not work and I'm not taking an addictive, benzodiazepine for the rest of my life.
Does anyone relate to my problem and if so what treatments have worked for you? I'm going to go insane!
I am 52 and I have been rocking myself to sleep as long as I can remember about age 5. I rock my whole body from side to side. If I am worrying about anything I tend to rock faster and wake up looking like I have been dragged through a bush backward. I am able to control it at times only tend to suffer with the problem when I sleep alone that's my assessment over the years. Neither of my girls suffer with the problem. On a good note think it's helped me to keep the weight of a none stop work out.
Wow, didn't realize so many others had this. I'm 48, and I rocked my head side to side in bed to get to sleep, preferably with radio on, until it tapered off in college. I would only do it when my roommates were out for the night. After college it picked up again for a couple years since I had my own apartment, but I stopped immediately whenever I had a girlfriend over and, eventually, live in girlfriends, due to embarrassment if anyone ever found out (I figured I was the only one in the world who did it).
In my early childhood, I used to bang my head back and forth in the car and on chairs while watching television. Parents were not happy about this and often tried to correct me as I reached about 7 or 8. After that, I quit on my own because it was too embarrassing to do it in public.
I had a normal childhood, no mental or physical issues to speak of. Sometimes I wondered if I had a very low level of autism or something, or just an obsessive compulsive thing going on. It was very soothing and definitely helped me get to sleep when I was younger; the thought of not doing it to get to sleep seemed incomprehensible to me and I did have some anxiety when I went to college as I wondered to myself, how in the world am I going to quit cold turkey because there was no way I wanted anyone to know.
In my early childhood, I used to bang my head back and forth in the car and on chairs while watching television. Parents were not happy about this and often tried to correct me as I reached about 7 or 8. After that, I quit on my own because it was too embarrassing to do it in public.
I had a normal childhood, no mental or physical issues to speak of. Sometimes I wondered if I had a very low level of autism or something, or just an obsessive compulsive thing going on. It was very soothing and definitely helped me get to sleep when I was younger; the thought of not doing it to get to sleep seemed incomprehensible to me and I did have some anxiety when I went to college as I wondered to myself, how in the world am I going to quit cold turkey because there was no way I wanted anyone to know.
My husband of 15 years also bangs his head violently. Needless to say, we have never shared a room. I am a person that needs sleep.
We have a daughter that does the same thing. But her rocking affects her capability to function during school and has a very negative affect on her academic achievement.
Has your husband sought a second opinion?
We have a daughter that does the same thing. But her rocking affects her capability to function during school and has a very negative affect on her academic achievement.
Has your husband sought a second opinion?
Anyone who struggles with body rocking, rhythmic leg movements, head movements, etc. ...I've had it my whole life. I just made a video about the treatment that I have crafted for it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4Wkie62R04
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4Wkie62R04
I'll tell you my short story hell....
I am almost 41. Since I was 2-3 I have had the most severe form of this. Never bothered me because I would sleep better when I did it. From what I've been told it started when my parents first started fighting at night and then at 3 they divorced. As I got older I tended to do it more when I was cold at night. My body temp is always 1-2 degrees below 98.6 so at night when sleeping my body temp would drop more. As I got older into highschool I quickly stopped all sports because of the away games. All my life I always had girls women and even one of my female teachers....all women liked me and/or wanted to lay with me. I was always shy and moved around and was the new person at school/town/work. EVERY girl/woman I dated always loved me and then it would get to the point at every relationship of sex and spending the night. the next day was them leaving me. I would even tell them my condition before hand, but until they actually saw it, I guess it scared the hell out of them. the internet wasn't around then and I thought I was the only one. I decided to google it a few years ago not knowing it had a name. I was brought to sleep clinics and no one knew what to make I it, even my mom and step mom who were nurses. As it turns out...being from a typical dysfunctional family, since I was young all I wanted was to have my own family, not be divorced -"and to provide for them. I graduated 1.5 years early and started in my career. At 41 I still have no family, and after being in the Bay Area making &50/hour I found out with a single income I can't buy a house. So I keep moving trying to find where to settle and the curse has left me at about 36 years of age. I've lost friends and girlfriends and even 2 fiancés over this ****. Being 40 and not having a family my employer won't offer me any promotions because I'm looked at as something is wrong with me. I am always the best in any company within my trade and now it's the younger people with new families promoted. It's so bad now that I get 8 months per year of work an that's because I'm one of a handful of people that know how to do certain things in my trade. I am a union electrician, and they only call me in to do the main electrical rooms and generators and batteries for anything critical that must never go down. I have only worked for one company in the union but because I have no family I am the one who sits at home because they wouldn't lay me off. I'm too valuable. Needless to say I know that because of my looks, and what I can do, and how much I make, and what I'm needed for in my trade....I am only wanted for that, and I usually have to train my bosses or they dump it on me if they don't know. I should be working all year and be the boss but I have no family. The only reason I don't have one isn because of this sleep disorder. Any woman I dated loved me and I knew that there's nothing wrong with me. I have excellent credit, no debt, always help others, etc. but I know as soon asi would hear them tell me how "amazing" I was then as soon as we spend the night....they would leave. Now my dad died a few years ago and not only am single, no house, etc. my parents at least my dad, died thinking in a failure in life. I wouldn't wish this **** on anyone. The only thing I now have in my favor is that I will be 41 in July and I still look 30. As soon as I start looking my age then my career will be done because in today's safety culture and with the abusiceuncle idiots in management, I will get less hours. I been in my trade 22 years now.....I hate this condition and it sometimes comes back when its cold during my sleep.
I am almost 41. Since I was 2-3 I have had the most severe form of this. Never bothered me because I would sleep better when I did it. From what I've been told it started when my parents first started fighting at night and then at 3 they divorced. As I got older I tended to do it more when I was cold at night. My body temp is always 1-2 degrees below 98.6 so at night when sleeping my body temp would drop more. As I got older into highschool I quickly stopped all sports because of the away games. All my life I always had girls women and even one of my female teachers....all women liked me and/or wanted to lay with me. I was always shy and moved around and was the new person at school/town/work. EVERY girl/woman I dated always loved me and then it would get to the point at every relationship of sex and spending the night. the next day was them leaving me. I would even tell them my condition before hand, but until they actually saw it, I guess it scared the hell out of them. the internet wasn't around then and I thought I was the only one. I decided to google it a few years ago not knowing it had a name. I was brought to sleep clinics and no one knew what to make I it, even my mom and step mom who were nurses. As it turns out...being from a typical dysfunctional family, since I was young all I wanted was to have my own family, not be divorced -"and to provide for them. I graduated 1.5 years early and started in my career. At 41 I still have no family, and after being in the Bay Area making &50/hour I found out with a single income I can't buy a house. So I keep moving trying to find where to settle and the curse has left me at about 36 years of age. I've lost friends and girlfriends and even 2 fiancés over this ****. Being 40 and not having a family my employer won't offer me any promotions because I'm looked at as something is wrong with me. I am always the best in any company within my trade and now it's the younger people with new families promoted. It's so bad now that I get 8 months per year of work an that's because I'm one of a handful of people that know how to do certain things in my trade. I am a union electrician, and they only call me in to do the main electrical rooms and generators and batteries for anything critical that must never go down. I have only worked for one company in the union but because I have no family I am the one who sits at home because they wouldn't lay me off. I'm too valuable. Needless to say I know that because of my looks, and what I can do, and how much I make, and what I'm needed for in my trade....I am only wanted for that, and I usually have to train my bosses or they dump it on me if they don't know. I should be working all year and be the boss but I have no family. The only reason I don't have one isn because of this sleep disorder. Any woman I dated loved me and I knew that there's nothing wrong with me. I have excellent credit, no debt, always help others, etc. but I know as soon asi would hear them tell me how "amazing" I was then as soon as we spend the night....they would leave. Now my dad died a few years ago and not only am single, no house, etc. my parents at least my dad, died thinking in a failure in life. I wouldn't wish this **** on anyone. The only thing I now have in my favor is that I will be 41 in July and I still look 30. As soon as I start looking my age then my career will be done because in today's safety culture and with the abusiceuncle idiots in management, I will get less hours. I been in my trade 22 years now.....I hate this condition and it sometimes comes back when its cold during my sleep.
Here's another 'rocker' with her story. I am 67 years old and have rocked myself to sleep ALL MY LIFE!!! I can remember back when I was four or five years old sitting upright in my aunt's overstuffed chair and bouncing my head on the back cushion until I went to sleep, too.
My rocking is mostly done subconsciously. If I think about it, I can control it. But if my brain gets sidetracked reading or watching tv, it kicks in automatically. The majority of time I am unaware I am rocking with such fervor and my dear, dear husband of 45 years occasionally will shout my name and startle me, and then I can stop. We have a very firm bed and usually my rocking doesn't bother him. But there are times . . .
I have tried sleep aids, both natural and Rx, pain meds, OTC and Rx, alcohol, food, sex, hot tub, constant movement, exercise or hard physical work to the point of fatigue and nothing stops it. The work and fatigue just makes the fibromyalgia flare up. I have found no cure for my rocking, but I can control it most of the time by being aware of the movement.
Strangely enough, the rocking is very comforting at times. I didn't read all of the comments above, so I don't know if anybody addressed the possibility of RMD being heriditary. I don't know that any of my siblings or parents had this quirk, but about four years ago I noticed one of my grandsons bouncing his head on the couch while he was watching tv. He and his twin both rocked when they were real little, especially at bedtime.
I guess it's just mind over matter. And like Maxine would say: Put on your big girl panties and deal with it!!! lol
My rocking is mostly done subconsciously. If I think about it, I can control it. But if my brain gets sidetracked reading or watching tv, it kicks in automatically. The majority of time I am unaware I am rocking with such fervor and my dear, dear husband of 45 years occasionally will shout my name and startle me, and then I can stop. We have a very firm bed and usually my rocking doesn't bother him. But there are times . . .
I have tried sleep aids, both natural and Rx, pain meds, OTC and Rx, alcohol, food, sex, hot tub, constant movement, exercise or hard physical work to the point of fatigue and nothing stops it. The work and fatigue just makes the fibromyalgia flare up. I have found no cure for my rocking, but I can control it most of the time by being aware of the movement.
Strangely enough, the rocking is very comforting at times. I didn't read all of the comments above, so I don't know if anybody addressed the possibility of RMD being heriditary. I don't know that any of my siblings or parents had this quirk, but about four years ago I noticed one of my grandsons bouncing his head on the couch while he was watching tv. He and his twin both rocked when they were real little, especially at bedtime.
I guess it's just mind over matter. And like Maxine would say: Put on your big girl panties and deal with it!!! lol
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