Rhythmic Movement Disorder, Can't take it anymore

[suziecue40]

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!

[ill13632]

I have this terrible PLMD diagnosed at the lab and couldn't sleep for 4 years now.  klonopin helps a lot with my sleep or ambien less.  is there another cure because it is really impossible to get klonopin from my doc

[avan_xo]

I'm 20 and I've been "rocking" ever since I was a baby. My mother says that I would never let her rock me to sleep and I would just lay down and bang my head until I fell asleep. When I shared a room with my sister she used to yell at me and throw things at me to get me to stop and I would for a couple minutes but I'd just start right back up again. I also do it a lot when I'm fully awake. I either sit and rock back and forth or lay down and bang my head.

When started grade school it started to be a bit of a nuisance to the people around me. My teachers thought I was autistic, or had OCD. I was always pretty bright so mental retardation wasn't brought up, except by my peers =/ I learned how to control it much better by the time I got to high school. In my case though when I start head banging, instead of using a pillow or the mattress, for some reason I use the back of my wrist which has caused a dark mark to develop both on my wrist and on my forehead going down between my eyes. I first noticed the mark developing around fifth grade. I really need to stop, I don't know why I can't.

Music hasn't helped, neither has waiting until I'm exhausted to go to bed, and sheer will power hasn't either. I tried to just stop when I got to college so I wouldn't disturb my roommate but she woke me up once or twice out of genuine concern because I started to do it unconsciously at night (which was really embarrassing).  I can control it when I am sitting down in public, but still feel that urge and the only time I didn't really feel as much of an urge to head bang at night was when I was cuddled up with a guy as I fell asleep.

If anyone has any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated because I hate feeling the need to rock and I hate having this mark in my face.

[Jonsey2013]

I'm 16 and always wondered why I roll my body back and forth (smoothly) till I was to tired to. I never really think about it when I do but, I can stop I just like to it sooths me. My parents tell me that people will laugh at me when I move out. I think I may have a disorder. I don't know if I should be worried but, I would like to stop.

[Jonsey2013]

I'm 16 and always wondered why I roll my body back and forth (smoothly) till I was to tired to. I never really think about it when I do but, I can stop I just like to it sooths me. My parents tell me that people will laugh at me when I move out. I think I may have a disorder. I don't know if I should be worried but, I would like to stop.

[Kivv]

what i use to do is to exercise untill i get really tired and cannot even move my muscles... i mean to do push ups and stuff like that then take a shower and then go to sleep... most of the times it works... you also want to be in a place where it is neither cold or warm, sometimes listen to music as well but keep listening untill u get tired.... it had worked for me... the trainning but im not sure about the music sometimes it helped

[jdgary]

It would be great if a doctor would post something on here. This is something that obviously affects so many people in so many different ways. Perhaps a calling for some of the younger sufferers.
Anyway my case is much like every other I have read on hear with the exception that as a child I would rock,bang, kick to fall asleep and it wouldn't wake me during the night.
I am 34 now and have mostly kicked the pre-sleep movements because I try to completely exhaust myself to the point where I just pass out. However I can't get more than 2-3 hrs of sleep before the movements start and it keeps me in a mind racing state, half asleep until I drag myself out of bed for another grouchy, sleepy day. Everyday......
Has anyone tried hypnosis? I've been prescribed klonopin but it doesn't work and has seemed to adversely affect my memory. Or perhaps that is the result of 3 yes sleep every night.
I truly hope someone reaches out with some helpful insight for the sake and well being of everyone on here.

Goodnight all, kinda....
Jeremy