Have you ever experienced head jerks / tremor ?

I experience head jerks. I usually feel a lot of pressure and tension in the back of my head. In social situations I usually get a slight head jerk and even when I look at someone in the eyes. I focus so much on it now that I even get it when I'm by myself, but nothing compared to the fear/tension of having them in public.

I feel like when I pay attention to myself and how I'm feeling or when I'm nervous or high string is when I get these head twitches / jerks / tremors. But when I forget I have them and I'm not worrying or tense they usually don't happen.

I think it's a combination of social anxiety, internalizing and giving emotional reactions to all my thoughts/feelings/etc, and self consciousness. Mine is like a quick "no" head movement and it's so small it's barely noticable at all but it is still very embarassing and scary to me.

But I am wondering if anyone else has experienced these sudden head movements?

I have experienced this too, but not often.  It seems to be at times of high stress or if I am working really hard concentrating.

You have good insite into the causes.

Take care.

thanks for your posts guys, it really makes me feel a lot better knowing im not alone as i was scared of it being a nerve disorder or something like that even though my doctor said it wasnt lol

machelle: i will try out the magnesium recommendation. it makes sense because my doctor did recommend electrolyte renewal, im planning to drink powerade mix regularly even though it contains no magnesium but it does have most other electrolytes. how many mg did you take of magnesium? ill let you all know how this works out

skitt: thank you

zomese: yes i experience every single thing you described as well! good description with the deer in the headlights feeling and i also know that mostly no one can really tell it happens even though its still scary to myself when it does happens much less with one on one convos indeed. im going to be trying what i described in the reply to machelle above (powerade and magnesium) and im also going to be trying to exercise (jogging) more than i do (i already do weight lifting) to get rid of all the extra energy and adrenaline i might have. in the beginning my klonopin really helped it out a lot! but when i got into a very big social area (school) for the first time in a long time it ruined my confidence because it happened and then it got a little worse from there because of all the worrying, fear, and tension thinking about what happened.

keep eachother updated!

Hi not4sakn,

It seems to be the concencus that this is anxiety related. Muscle tension can build up to the point where random jerks and twithces can occur.

The less we pay attention to these things the better. (unless it becomes disruptive to normal/daily activity)

Stress relief exercises such as the ones found below should help.

Self Help sites with breathing/relaxation exercises instructions

Panic attack relief exercises:

 

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessons/

http://www.healthyplace.com/

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/

http://www.ehow.com/video_4405003_breathing-exercises-panic-attacks.html

http://www.psybersquare.com/anxiety/panic_relax_I

 

Post with us anytime for support...and consider starting a thread of introduction for yourself at anytime.:)

Scaredy Cat

I get these too. I've always got them, I'm not entirely sure why. Usually when I'm alone I tend to talk to myself because no one's there to judge me :/ it happens alot then too. My head tingles and then shakes, a bit like a cat's does when they have an itch or something, in a no action. I kind of wonder why I do this, and why it seems to happen when I am nervous. It also happens when there's a sudden temperature change which is very random and unrelated to the first reason, so I really don't know... It's calming to know others get this too, I've been researching it for a while and it seems to be heavily linked to anxiety, something I've never been diagnosed with, although there is a few people who think I have it. There's literally a teacher at school who never even asked if I had it, and assumed I did, and a therapist in training (met through an online game, but pretty sure he's legit) believes this too, but social anxiety. But hey, you're not alone, right? :)

Hi

Yes I can relate on this on as I get body jerks a lot especially at night when i'm in bed it is something I have just got used to over the years.

Hibee

I have had them when in work , usually when I'm sat trying to study or input info on the PC.
Weird as that's the only times but then again I'm learning about all these physical symptoms that come with anxiety so it shouldn't really surprise me xx
Hope all is well x

Denise,

Hello and welcome.

It is hard to answer your question, because without first checking with your doctor, to rule out a physical issue...

...and without knowing your history with anxiety...it impossible to say what the origin of your twitch/jerk.

Anxiety can certainly be to blame...so if you have had a history of anxiety and related symptoms...and have had a recent clean bill of health through a medical screening...than you can probably safely assume this is what you are experiencing...

...and continued use of coping skills and anxiety management will be your best course of action.;)

Wishing you the best!

Scaredy Cat

So glad I found this, I thought something was seriously wrong. I know this is an old post but does make me feel better. I thought I was the only one experiencing the head jerk/twitch. I get it alot when im sitting at my desk and makes sense cause my anxiety has been through the roof just recently put on celexa, and my neck muscles tighten up also.