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I need information about stimming?

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UDAspie13
Deinonychus
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16 Aug 2012, 9:32 pm

Willard wrote:
A stim is a constant or near-constant repetitive motion occurring unconsciously to diffuse immediate anxiety. It is not a 'nervous habit' Stimming is something you do in order to avoid letting stress build up until it causes a physical or emotional outburst. Its a direct reaction to overwhelming hyperstimulation. The only times a true Autistic stim stops is when you are focused on another task or activity and attention is distracted from causes of the stress. If you can stop doing it for more than thirty seconds without going into a panic attack, then it's not an Autistic stim. Its something you have to do, because you'll explode if you don't.

Constant rocking, swaying or hand flapping are classic Autistic stims.

Hair twisting, nail biting, nose picking - all nervous habits, but not Autistic stims.

I disagree with the last part - a stim is just a form of stimulation (hence 'stim') that we use to help us not melt down or shut down in social situations. There are classic stims as mentioned above, but just because it isn't a classic stim doesn't mean it isn't one.
I tried to stop picking my nose once and it stressed me out.
If I don't drum or take apart pens during class I space out more.



TyeDog
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16 Aug 2012, 10:40 pm

Coldkick wrote:
I thought I had the idea of stims down but maybe not. Here is my list, you can quote it and change any autistic stims into bold. Thanks.

Tapping fingers
Tapping feet
Constantly changing sitting posture every 15-30 seconds
Rubbing hands together, and clenching
Twirling hair
Chewing inside of cheeks
Chewing my clothing enough that they stretch
Swaying left to right while standing
Hand flapping while excited
Constant jumping while excited
Punching self etc. while angry or upset

I actually change sitting posture all the time. I hate sitting on the floor because I can never get comfortable :O
Being a drummer, I tend to desk drum to pass the time when I'm bored or nervous. I've picked up hair twirling recently, possibly because I've been growing a curly mullet of sorts. :P haha

I think that's my list.



seanpary
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22 Aug 2012, 6:04 am

We all do stimming at some point of time when we are nervous or over excited. Don't make it an issue and try behaving normal the next time it happens. Slowly it would vanish and You won't even know.



UDAspie13
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22 Aug 2012, 6:32 am

VolcanicEruptions wrote:
I don't think I've ever done this until yesterday, but during a large thunderstorm, I was extremely excited and kept jumping up and down and shaking my fists at every lightning bolt; the thing is, I was doing it without realising and I couldn't help it as I couldn't contain my excitement.

I was happy or thought something was funny and suddenly I just started doing this weird arm movement I do it a lot when I am just walking too. I don't really notice it very much anymore. I also snap my fingers in one rhythm. Also when bord or nervous I tend to twist from left to right while standing.



blast335
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19 Jan 2015, 4:16 pm

I didn't even know stimming was a thing till I saw this post, are these things considered stims?
I pick at my lip or hangnails to the point where my fingers are scarred
I click pens literally nonstop till I'm told to stop or till i put the pen away to do something else (putting the pen down doesn't help)
I tap my fingers to my thumb in a cycle, it also bothers me when they brush together when I'm doing it and have to make the rest of my fingers brush together in the same way.
tossing things into the air and trying to catch them.
I also clench and unclench my lower torso muscles.


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alomoes
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20 Jan 2015, 8:54 pm

If it fits the definition, then it is. Personally, I notice people stimming all the time. I do it. Scratching my neck. It is a habit that will never go away. Caused by a skin issue. Either that or it caused the skin issue. :S

On a lessor note, tapping your foot is something I've seen others do as well.



Feyokien
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26 Jan 2015, 3:38 am

Trichotillomania is the official name for when one extensively pulls or twists their hair, I did this really bad about 2 years ago to the point that I had the beginning of a bald patch on one side of my head. I still do this in high pressure situations, really screws up my bangs.



CreativeUsername
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04 Feb 2015, 5:03 pm

Kat15 wrote:
can, anything happen if you DONT stim?

I've had some pretty bad experiences with this, so I guess yes, although I can't speak for everyone. Sometimes my dad forces me to stop stimming, which either makes me feel really stressed and withdrawn. In other cases it has even caused me to shake incontrollibly by the huge amount of stress, make my face completely red and even burst out in tears.



Girlwithaspergers
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13 Feb 2015, 1:13 pm

I think this is stimming.


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