# why do I rub my head when concentrating/stressed?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-rub-my-head-when-concentrating-stressed/160142>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 9, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-rub-my-head-when-concentrating-stressed/160142 "2003-03-09T21:15:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-rub-my-head-when-concentrating-stressed/160142/1 "2003-03-09T21:15:43Z")

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Whenever I am concentrating hard e.g. playing chess or solving problems I rub my temples repetitatively. Its gets up my wife’s nose, but I am often unaware that I am doing it. I have seen many other people doing similar actions - but why? The best answer I can come up with is that I am trying to drown out distractions but is there a better answer?

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**Author:** ![puggyfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@puggyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puggyfish)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-rub-my-head-when-concentrating-stressed/160142/2 "2003-03-11T11:50:04Z")

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I’m no expert on this, but I know that blood flow to different regions of the brain varies with use and these changes could cause sensations that would make you want to rub your temples.

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**Author:** ![Qis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Qis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qis)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-rub-my-head-when-concentrating-stressed/160142/3 "2003-03-11T13:28:44Z")

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i’ve noticed when i stub my toe, walk into something in the dark, or just generally do something stupid, i -at least- say something like d’oh or for f^%\*s sake!.. .etc. Why? Its the middle of the night, no-one willl hear me ( if they do it means i woke them, which i dont wanna do) does it make me feel better, no. Does everyone on TV do it, yes.  
I think i’m just conditioned to react to those situations by making a given noise. Could be the same with stressfull/ high pressure/ mentally demanding tasks and rubbing temples. Rubbing temples being an easy way to emphasise thinking on tv/ in comics.  
completely a stab in the dark mind.

p.s i have a sore head just now, and rubbing my temples just accentuates it.  
So rubbing my temples seems to have some effect on my head.

- gives up \*  
Qis

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**Author:** ![blue\_poop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@blue\_poop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blue_poop)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-rub-my-head-when-concentrating-stressed/160142/4 "2003-03-12T18:47:22Z")

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Well I can answer the stressed part. During my Psychology course we learned that rubbing our heads, etc was a way of comforting ourselves, it’s soothing and helps us relax to a better state. It is sometimes said that we rub our heads, etc to simulate the way our mothers did when we were infants. Just a theory so don’t kill me if u dont agree!