Why does my body feel itchy just thinking about it?
February 5, 2010 6:57 AM Subscribe
If my mind is not occupied with something else, I find that I become annoyingly aware of various sensations in my body (including some that are no doubt hallucinated). What is this?
I'm trying to figure out what to call this thing. I have noticed over the years that, during times when my mind is idle, I start to perceive different sensations (particularly itchiness) throughout my body. For instance, if I'm sitting around and for some reason the back of my throat (or my leg, shoulder, etc.) comes to mind, I will perceive that it is itchy and, until I scratch that itch, it won't leave my mind.
I'm positive that this is some sort of psychological issue, but I've done some digging around with no luck. Do I just need to go talk to a doctor about it? Has anyone else had this experience?
I'm trying to figure out what to call this thing. I have noticed over the years that, during times when my mind is idle, I start to perceive different sensations (particularly itchiness) throughout my body. For instance, if I'm sitting around and for some reason the back of my throat (or my leg, shoulder, etc.) comes to mind, I will perceive that it is itchy and, until I scratch that itch, it won't leave my mind.
I'm positive that this is some sort of psychological issue, but I've done some digging around with no luck. Do I just need to go talk to a doctor about it? Has anyone else had this experience?
This happens to me all the time, too. Especially during seminars about the neural basis of itch. (Seriously, I hear a couple of these a year, and if you look around, half the room is scratching themselves.)
I have learned to train my mind to think about other things when it starts doing this; it is hard (impossible, actually) at first, but if you persevere, you will be able to stop that particular mental loop where you make yourself itchy and retrain yourself to instead think of future plans, how much you like sunshine, who will win the Super Bowl, etc. Just tell yourself to stop and then deliberately make yourself start thinking about something else. Practicing meditation might make this easier, if you're the meditative type. (I am not the meditative type, so I just make myself think about other things instead, if that makes any sense.)
posted by kataclysm at 7:43 AM on February 5, 2010
I have learned to train my mind to think about other things when it starts doing this; it is hard (impossible, actually) at first, but if you persevere, you will be able to stop that particular mental loop where you make yourself itchy and retrain yourself to instead think of future plans, how much you like sunshine, who will win the Super Bowl, etc. Just tell yourself to stop and then deliberately make yourself start thinking about something else. Practicing meditation might make this easier, if you're the meditative type. (I am not the meditative type, so I just make myself think about other things instead, if that makes any sense.)
posted by kataclysm at 7:43 AM on February 5, 2010
This very phenomenon was referenced several times in Mark Twain's books. I can't cite the exact text but I remember that at one point when Tom Sawyer or whoever was hiding (and couldn't move lest he be found), he immediately started itching all over his body. I've noticed it happen to me once or twice before, so I'm voting perfectly normal.
posted by Phyltre at 8:05 AM on February 5, 2010
posted by Phyltre at 8:05 AM on February 5, 2010
Hallucination is not equal to the interaction between the thoughts you have (like a less-than-conscious idea that you're going to start itching) and your actual, physical body. A somatoform disorder is real, not hallucinated. (I don't think you have a somatoform disorder, I think you just itch sometimes because you expect that you're going to itch.)
posted by so_gracefully at 9:00 AM on February 5, 2010
posted by so_gracefully at 9:00 AM on February 5, 2010
This used to happen to me as a kid and it was refferred to as "being fidget-y". I think its just a normal reaction to boredom / an unoccupied mind.
posted by WeekendJen at 9:01 AM on February 5, 2010
posted by WeekendJen at 9:01 AM on February 5, 2010
Echoing the others: it's normal. But I'll disagree with royalsong in that telling myself in no uncertain term not to scratch only increases my focus on the itch (and makes it worse). Better to find something to distract yourself with. Go surf the web or work out or watch TV or something. As soon as you forget about the itch it'll go away.
Also, thanks a lot for posting this AskMe. Now I'm itching uncontrollably. Argh.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 9:30 AM on February 5, 2010
Also, thanks a lot for posting this AskMe. Now I'm itching uncontrollably. Argh.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 9:30 AM on February 5, 2010
Yeah it doesn't sound too serious, but it's all about how much it's bothering you and/or interfering in your daily life. It's not clear whether this is a big problem in itself or you're worried it's a symptom of a more serious condition.
If it's the first but not bad enough to seek therapy, an intermediate approach would be some kind of mindfulness/meditation practice.
posted by pete_22 at 9:39 AM on February 5, 2010
If it's the first but not bad enough to seek therapy, an intermediate approach would be some kind of mindfulness/meditation practice.
posted by pete_22 at 9:39 AM on February 5, 2010
Just a thought, and maybe an irrelevant or unhelpful one, but: change your detergent.
My whole life I had low-level rashes, and also always had an itchy feeling whenever I paid attention to it. Various doctors were uninterested in the rash, or recommended things that didn't really work. For some reason I never thought the itchiness was related. Just assumed it was normal.
One day I asked a doctor about my rash. He raised his eyebrows and said "you use cheap detergent and too much of it". I switched to one of the 'free and clear' things and cut the dosage to half of the recommended amount. A couple days after laundry day my rash disappeared and never came back. I've never been as itchy since.
So it's possible that you actually just have very sensitive skin. (Though I guess this wouldn't explain your throat itching).
posted by Erroneous at 12:22 PM on February 5, 2010
My whole life I had low-level rashes, and also always had an itchy feeling whenever I paid attention to it. Various doctors were uninterested in the rash, or recommended things that didn't really work. For some reason I never thought the itchiness was related. Just assumed it was normal.
One day I asked a doctor about my rash. He raised his eyebrows and said "you use cheap detergent and too much of it". I switched to one of the 'free and clear' things and cut the dosage to half of the recommended amount. A couple days after laundry day my rash disappeared and never came back. I've never been as itchy since.
So it's possible that you actually just have very sensitive skin. (Though I guess this wouldn't explain your throat itching).
posted by Erroneous at 12:22 PM on February 5, 2010
This is very common in meditation practices. A stilled mind will always try to find something to do.
posted by desjardins at 3:08 PM on February 5, 2010
posted by desjardins at 3:08 PM on February 5, 2010
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I think it's normal. It's a mind over matter sort of thing. You're thinking about it consciously, so it itches.
Tell yourself, under no certain terms, that you will not scratch that itch.
If you have the means to have a family doctor, bring it up casually next time you see him. He'll probably send you to the a dermatologist before a therapist though.
posted by royalsong at 7:09 AM on February 5, 2010