I need information about stimming?

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Just give me all the information you can.

I tap my feet, and twist my hair in uncomfortable situations. is that stimming? if so, can, anything happen if you DONT stim? I would not know because not a day goes by where I dont do those movements.

I have not learned much about stimming. So all the information you have about it will be great.

thanks.

Well, when I'm nervous, excited or worried I tap my feet/tap my hand against my side and wring my fingers if that's 'stimming'. However, while at school - I'm always tapping my feet.

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 also twist my hair. I don't even notice when my hands are doing it. It damages my hair. Years ago i was biting my nails and now i twist my hair. I wonder what will be next. Quite Scary. I twist my hair almost all the time at home. When i am not at home then i bite my lip, twist my fingers or tap with my leg. I have anxiety problems. At least i don't bite my nails anymore But i don't want to lose my hair in the future. I am afraid it might get worse. Something with the 'i wonder what will be next' thing.

I also bite my lip, when I'm nervous - but I bite my nails for no particular reason. When I was younger, I used to chew the bottom of my hair and my teacher used to tell me off - but I believe she just didn't like me. Maybe I was too 'quiet' for her. However, that was also the time when I was often late for school as my brother was being diagnosed with LFA at the time.

Not stimming won't do anything permanent, but it might stress you out not to stim.

There is a thread on this site about "midlife Aspergers". A lot of the people in that forum have chronic stress-related diseases from trying to pretend to be NT for too many years.

Also, don't assume you can't stim. Some aspies are totally unaware of it when they are stimming.

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 pierce my lips together.

I've only ever had to truly stim once. I tap. I tap my hands really really fast. I was told to stop so I had a meltdown. All my emotions just went rampant. Hasn't happened again though.

I don't know what would happen if someone didn't stim because for me, most of the time, I can't control it and as for the other times, I just don't know that I'm doing it so I wouldn't think that there was anything to stop doing in the first place.

I remember once when I was at school my teacher told me off for doing it but I continued to do it, even though I didn't want to get into more trouble because it was just something that I'd do automatically.

Ok, so could you help me sort this out:

I've been trying to determine whether these are stims or just very, very odd habits.
Very frequently, I rub my thumbnail along my index finger or lower lip. This habit started about two years ago (I was maybe 10 or 11). I do it to calm down.

Although I started it recently, I have done something very similar up until the age of 9. For as long as I can remember, I had a 'special' toy. I never played with the toy proper (it was a stuffed animal) but I'd rub its tag along my index finger. I've had the toy(s) since I was under a year old, so I'm not sure when this whole habit started. I have many memories of doing this, but the first one I can date is from kindergarten. I'm sure I did it before then, but there are no dating markers on memories from before 2000 or so. I have had three of them, all completely identical when bought, since I did this so frequently I literally wore the tags away on the first two.

I can stop rubbing my index finger on my thumbnail for a few minutes, but it makes me very uncomfortable to do so. I do it more often when I'm overstimulated, for example at camp or in drama class, but I frequently do it when I'm fine, too. Pretty much the only time I go without doing it for a long time are when I'm sleeping, eating, or my hands are both occupied (typing)

Another odd habit is my 'squishies'. They can be pretty much anything pliable. I squish them back and forth in my hands, and I've found that they really do help me postpone freaking out (I suspect meltdowns, but who knows?). Past squishies have included modeling clay, blue tack, silly putty, flour-filled stress balls, and silly putty-esqe goop, siphoned out of my hairbrush.

The only time I've avoided playing with them was this September, when we moved. All my squishies were back on the other side of the planet, and I hadn't had anything to squish in a week or two. It ended with me screaming on the floor because I didn't have any squishies.

Mom handed me an unused earplug.

So, in closing, I think these are things I have to do or I'll explode, but not within thirty seconds-more within a day or two, max.

Thoughts?

Personally, I think that these are just tactile stims.

I stim all the time. I walk on my toes and twist my arms behind my back.

Whenever I'm nervous I'll pinch my fingers and chew my nails, but when I'm at school or doing something where I'm sitting down, I cannot stop moving my feet! I will tap my toes and wriggle my ankles, but at the moment I can't move one of my feet coz I sprained my ankle so that gets me really freaked out coz I HAVE to move my feet otherwise I'll die. My mum got me this suspended ball on a keyring to play with when I get nervous, and I have one for school and one for home, which has really really helped.

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 think that's my list.

My stimming includes flapping my hands while excited, rocking back and forth when listening to music, or when bored, and biting my lips.

I have bitten my nails since I was about six or seven.
I twist my goggles before a swim meet.
I rub my fingernails against my lip.
I Doodle the same shape over and over at homeschool group.
I take apart pens.
I tap my hands and feet.