Walking/ Pacing

[HappyKoi]

Do you find yourself walking around a lot when you're anxious?  I have a bad habit of pacing and not being able to focus on anything.  Sometimes I will plan to go for a short walk, and then I will start thinking about something that makes me anxious, and I find that I've walked a lot father than I meant to!  This is a problem in social situations because I feel like people expect me to sit down and stay still, but I just can't.  It helps a little with anxiety, but I think my restlessness makes other people uncomfortable, and it's hard to focus while I walk.  I have the same habit when I'm on the phone.  Talking on the phone is really anxiety-provoking for me, so I will pace quite a bit when I'm on the phone.  Does anyone else do this?

 

[CT422]

I am a total pacer, especially around people I've just met. I also tend to stand when I'm expected to sit, and I've had many people tell me it made them uncomfortable and tense. If I'm having a full blown anxiety or panic attack, I walk around because I feel like if I stop, even for a moment, something bad will happen. If I'm anxious and not walking/pacing, I'll be tapping my foot, it's almost impossible for me to stay still when I'm anxious.  

 

[Choochoo]

I do this whenever I feel drowsy or absent minded. This happens especially more often for me during mornings and even more so if the night before was tiring or if I just need some recovery time, in general. I tend to pace back and forth not really knowing what I was about to do or what I should do but most of the time after an hour I am able to stabilize. 

 

[Alex]

I do like to pace, but sometimes I can't leave the house for whatever reason and I walk around in circles, and up and down the only free space in the house. I'm sure if people saw me they would think I was nuts, but it helps me to think.


Sometimes when I have no energy I will just sit or lie down, but pacing does make me feel better and sometimes I have small bursts of it where I will stop and start.

 

[fuzyon]

I don't pace/walk around only when I'm anxious, for some reason I do it even when I'm waiting for the bus to arrive. I can't just sit straight and wait for it to come, I pace back and forth even though I'm really calm. When I'm anxious it gets pretty bad, but at least I'm getting some cardio in, haha! With the way I walk back and forth when I'm stressed you could say I've been running marathons.

 

[Panic57]

I pace when I'm severely agitated and restless.  It's usually because I've been tied up that I couldn't do all the things on my list so I'm deviateing between going to bed or to stay up and complete everything.  If I do it at home, it annoys my family so I've gotten in the habit of just going for a walk outside.   The walking and fresh air helps dim some of the agitation and calms my mind so I can make a clear decision.

 

[sidney]

Yes I tend to walk a bit when I'm anxious, but that's mostly when I'm inside the house. In public I don't really do that. When I'm anxious I tend to be more "tap-oriented", and I tap my hands or move my fingers back and forth. I also do that when I'm feeling impatient.

 

[hades_leae]

I'm actually not like, if I ever get anxious I just sit down and think about what is making me feel that way so I can get over it by doing something that I know will help me.


I don't like pacing, it makes me think something is wrong with me because I control my actions and pacing doesn't help me with anything. Maybe it works for you, but try sitting down and understanding what's going on with your mind.

 

[misszerable]

I'm an impulse pacer. I rarely sit long enough in one place. It gets worse when I'm anxious and I would often walk around a place unconsciously. I think and feel a lot better when I'm moving or pacing around. I guess it has helped me maintain my body throughout the years. I know that some people do notice that I'm agitated and I really don't care. Pacing is so much better than smoking.

 

[Jester85]

I go for walks, even in the middle of the night sometimes. I'm an impulse pacer and can't sit still for long. I think I'm also a bit ADD.