My Dad and Brother's zoned out flapping and humming sessions.

by Christina
(Warwickshire, England)

I've wrote this on another page.

My Dad paces while flapping his hands and makes a noise like a bowling kettle- a pitched hiss, he does this when he is excited or on the verge of a tantrum. My brother does exactly the same but not when angry- he does it when he is pleased with something or relaxing. He would smack the back of his head repeatedly for 10 seconds, when he's in his room he holds toy soldiers and flicks them in his hand and makes a distinct hum for minutes at a time- the longest episode being half an hour. My Dad is 51 and my Brother is 17. They never do it in public, so it doesn't interfere with daily life, but strangers may be disturbed.

Recently my mother came down stairs one night and caught me doing it too, and I never realized I did it or how manic I looked, I pace, jump and do very violent looking swings with my arms, often when I've read a story or watched something I'm into. My mother calls it 'A mad moment'.

My family have a history of problems, I have a sister with learning disabilities, so far I thought my mum and I were relatively normal, until my mother discovered me. What is this condition called, does this mean it's hereditary?