Muscle Spasms

Recently, I have been trying to analyze myself when "switching," (by means of camcorder) and have noticed that when I "switch" that my muscles seem to spasm, ranging from a neck twitch, to full body. I was trying to identify if certain personalities twitch in a certain way, yet all the data (besides what I have previously typed) has been dealeted by Xana. My question is if this is a norm, if certain personalities do in fact spasm in certain ways, and what can I do to better regulate x's action?

From what I am told I do not spasm. I go anounce that I am going into the bedroom and that I am going 2 b back...but I change clothes and alter.
AS 4 X's actions hmm can she b distracted long enough 4 you 2 c the results of the video?

[color=#408080]4 the 2 last posts the color blue has been bing used. I usually use green but I see green but then when it is posted it is blue...hmmmm wonder if one of my alters is finally going 2 voice her opinion on here. This is what I have been waiting 4. I would like all of us 2 post on here.
Well now in the preview I see a whole different color.....this is alittle crazy. [/color]

I actually first thought I had tourette's syndrome, before I got diagnosed with DID, because I too experienced muscle spasms.

When someone was triggered, there would generally be some sort of 'involuntary' muscle movement.
It actually turned out to be my alters reacting to something.

Sometimes, if I didn't express myself, they would jerk, twitch, repeatedly flap, or get stuck in a specific way, to self soothe
or trying to get out. Also, to try and get my attention.

I found that certain kids did specific movements, and it helped as a precursor to know who was out.

I also used to take video of myself, to analyze, until I was told by my sweetheart that I am a person- not a test subject.
It's great to want to learn more, but it helps so much to normalize your experience as well.
However, I also had a third party to help me figure out what movements belonged to who- which a camera could be very
useful for.

Some things that I find are precursors to switching or 'tics' (involuntary muscle spasms):
Not saying what I want to say.
Waiting too long to do something I want to do.
Not dealing with anxiety or stress properly.
Being triggered, seeing or hearing something triggering.

I find my tics to generally be a release of stress, so try:
a) Grounding yourself... deep breathing... relaxing... take down your anxiety or stress
b) Say what you want to say... don't push yourself past your limit
c) Ask your alters what is bothering them, what is wrong, how you can help
d) Tell your alters to calm down, let them know you can handle it, and that you value their input

Also, maybe an alter is trying to wake up and say something, and you are suppressing them!
Let them know that it's okay to let you know how they feel, but it is not safe for them to suddenly come out and switch.
This isn't always possible early in the healing process, but it's important to set boundaries with alters,
just as it's important to set boundaries with children. It keeps them safe and helps them feel safe.

I find that I haven't had tics very often since I've been learning to release my own stress and to
help my alters with their stress as well.
The closest thing I get to a tic now is F randomly blurting something to let me know that I worry too much.

Hope this helps <3 Have a great day, don't get too frustrated with yourself, and have lots of patience

I have different physical sensations for each of the alters. I tap my fingers in a four-count pattern with one, tense my feet and ankles when another is showing up, have specific headaches that announce the presence of a couple others. No twitches, but sometimes I squint. Bottom line is I don't think you're alone, we all just have a different style.

epluribusunum wrote:I have different physical sensations for each of the alters. I tap my fingers in a four-count pattern with one, tense my feet and ankles when another is showing up, have specific headaches that announce the presence of a couple others. No twitches, but sometimes I squint. Bottom line is I don't think you're alone, we all just have a different style.

I have different headaches and tensing up in my body also.
We twitch a bit sometimes and other times the body completely spazzes out where it looks like we're just poppin our neck or back really quickly or something. -Lovely

The squinting thing is something that happens to me too!! I wonder why squinting is indicative of a switch sometimes?? I thought I was the only one who squinted while switching. It's all such a strange feeling and I still can't even quite feel it yet.
For me trying to describe how dissociation feels is like trying to say something that's right on the tip of the tongue but you just cant find the right word as much as you search for it.

how many times must a yearning heart thrust into starless skies? -Ophelia

LuckyOphelia wrote:I have different headaches and tensing up in my body also.
We twitch a bit sometimes and other times the body completely spazzes out where it looks like we're just poppin our neck or back really quickly or something. -Lovely

The squinting thing is something that happens to me too!!

YUP!

I used to get headaches..now my eyes do something funny..my daughter says that I blink,then roll my eyes and then blink and switch.