Friends

15 October 2017

TWITCHY FINGERS

Twitchy Fingers or keeping calm.What do you do if or when you are nervous? Do you have a twitch or continually tap your foot, do you have a nervous tic, or simply twiddle your fingers? I asked this question of a friend and she came up with no end of strange habits which included neck stretching and a twitchy eye, neither of which I had noticed.
My family members twitched, mainly the men and always in the neck area. One uncle looked as if he was trying to remove his head from his neck, so elaborate was his neck movements. As a young girl I mocked the action and my mother repeatedly told me me I would have a permanent twitch if I didn't stop. 
I also remember as a child doing things like not stepping on cracks in the pavement and, if I did, feeling compelled to do a twirl twice before moving on. Who the heck teaches kids things like that? Was it other kids, devising things as punishment or forfeits? Little did they know that things stick in minds enough to pursue them into adulthood. Yes, I still avoid a paving slab if it has a crack in it and look at the age of me! Why didn’t I forget about such things as I grew older?
I have seen the embarrassment in others when they realised people had noticed their funny ways. I wanted to tell them not to worry but that would have drawn attention to the fact that she or he was being watched … and would definitely make things worse. 

I look forward to your comments on this matter and I promise not to laugh at any strange habits.
Medical update: I am much better but still cannot sit for long in one position. Since the last scan, which revealed nothing, doctor has decided I should have a camera down the throat job to check stomach area. I don't fancy it - the very idea is enough to cure me - I'd rather keep burping!

31 comments:

  1. I'm glad you are slowly improving.

    I just rush to the loo the whole time when I'm nervous. I'll spare you the details.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm glad you're better. I don't twitch a lot but I do have my own little "idiosyncrasies". :-)

    Greetings from London.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just I twitch. I don't think my neck twitch is obvious to others but I jiggle my feet and hands constantly.

    Hope you don't need a thing down your throat! I've never had one and it would scare me!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello Liz. Believe me, I'm scared at the thought of having a camera down the throat. It's amazing how that thought makes me feel better! Tried to locate your blog, but with difficulty/ I don't understand your system but will try again.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cuban, and I gather you're going to keep your 'idiosyncrasy' under raps.

    ReplyDelete
  6. When I get nervous, my heart pounds. I don't think it's apparent to anyone but myself.
    I think they totally numb the 'path' for the camera, though just the thought of it makes me want to gag.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sharon, I heard that the patient is sedated but I think I would rather do without the whole thing. Am I a coward?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Cindy has a habit of tapping her foot when nervous and running to the bathroom like Joey, I'm not sure that I have any nervous tics although I do still avoid cracks in the sidewalk.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have the tics, especially the neck twisting and stretching. It was embarrassing when I was younger, I am better at disguising it now. It is Tourettes' Syndrome, and no I do not blurt out curses for no reason. People do not understand, and used to be a little mean about it, but I describe stopping the tics would be like trying to not scratch a mosquito bite.

    ReplyDelete
  10. My leg/foot start jiggling up and down very fast when I am nervous! If I'm aware of it, I can stop doing it. So glad you are feeling better Valerie. Wishing you calm with any further testing, and thanks for letting us know how you are doing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. My nervous habit is licking the lower left-hand side of my mouth along the edge of my moustache. In fact, I'm doing it right now as I type this comment - ha! God only knows why I do it but it kind of feels good on my tongue - isn't that funny and strange?

    "I also remember as a child doing things like not stepping on cracks in the pavement and, if I did, feeling compelled to do a twirl twice before moving on."

    OMG, I remember that one too! But I was so rebellious as a kid, because I would step on the cracks anyway - just to be defiant.

    So glad to hear that you're in less pain. Hopefully, the camera down the throat will give a better understanding as to what is causes you pain.

    Thanks for the update, dear friend. Have a lovely week!

    X



    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Ron, I can imagine you as a rebellious kid...lol. I have a distant memory of treading on a crack and being rudely chastised by othr kids. Oh happy days!!

    I have yet to decide on the camera job because I am a coward through and through. I will talk to the doc though, I promise. Wish me luck, my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Carole, it is interesting hearing about other people's habits.
    Thanks for your good wishes... I feel I need every one.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Jimmy, (laughing now) I must check my footing, I might well tread on cracks without realising. I could use that as an excuse for my present condition, couldn't I?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Joeh, Tourettes' Syndrome must be what my uncles had. All three had the same neck stretching thingy. Of course, as kids we used to laugh at them.... I wish I could take back those years.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm definitely a twitcher!!! Don't mind though usually, I think it eats up a few calories LOL.

    Glad to read you are feeling better Val. Hope it's a good week for you.

    ReplyDelete
  17. First, Valerie, glad to read that nothing distressing was found from the checkup, but still worrisome that you have an issue. My mother had a habit of always twiddling her thumbs, and thankfully I did not inherit it.

    ReplyDelete
  18. My dad and my uncles all had head and neck twitches. Now so do I sorta. However,nowadays they call mine"benign familiar tremors." That makes me feel a whole lot better about it....:)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Geraldine, you must be a fast twitcher if you can get rid of calories!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Glad you feel better Valerie. I'm trying to think of any twitches or habits but none come to mind. My mother was vry superstitious and birds scared her, especially if they landed on the windowsill.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Denise, no twitches, wow! that makes you unique, methinks.
    I'm better in one way but not in another!! Getting round to the idea of that camera insertion.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I guess "twitcher" is the wrong word. I meant more like tapping my foot repeatedly, always moving a bit, even when on the computer etc...that wasn't quite right. LOL And it certainly isn't a LOT of calories but I'll take it, even if it's a few.

    Hugs to you and charlie!!! Headbonks from the Chedster.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have to keep moving my head from side to side because of a trapped nerve in my neck, it gets really stiff and painful otherwise. I guess some would think it's a nervous twitch.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hope they discover what's ailing you soon but I am glad to hear you are feeling better. I pull the little hairs on the back of my neck when I get nervous. I am such a weirdo. Take care, Val.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I personally have no nervous twitches, really. But my husband is a leg wiggler and my daughter is a leg bouncer.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Pearl, that sounds painful. Hope computing doesn't make it worse.

    ReplyDelete
  27. kden, had to smile at your descriptions leg wiggler and leg bouncer. Don't tell them I laughed, though.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh, gosh ... the twitches I have developed as I get older! I'm pretty sure I didn't used to have any at all, but now I screw my mouth into odd shapes, chew my lip, twist my neck and my jaw, and hunch a shoulder, and I also do a kind of half wink/blinking thing. I'm convinced, actually, that most of these are down to genuine physical discomforts, because I have damaged shoulders and neck, and suffer from TMJ, which causes a lot of muscle tensions in the jaw and upper face. But some - like the winking and lip-chewing - are clearly caused by stress.

    I've always been quite amused at people who bounce and jiggle their legs, but I wouldn't dream of letting them know that I've noticed. After all, who am I to talk?

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm sorry to hear that you have medical problems. I've had the gastroscopy and the scans, and the result for me was a hiatus hernia and gastro-oesophogeal reflux. I hope they discover what is causing your symptoms soon, and are able to fix that for you!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Jay, now that the pain has lessened I believe reflux is the problem. Of course, I could be wrong ... tomorrow's visit to hospital will reveal more.

    ReplyDelete

If you're new to A Mixed Bag you might find something to interest you, a bit of mirth, a story or two, or some pictures. I'm so pleased you popped in, do leave a comment if you have time.