Stim?

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That's something I haven't really gotten. Let's see...I have a REALLY hard time sitting still. I work at a computer, but I'm always moving my legs, kind of like...as if 'bouncing?', well, back and forth. I also don't feel...good without having something in my hands, whether I'm sitting, walking, whatever. Like playing with my badge, I keep flapping, or just flapping my hands. I don't know if it's actually stimming, but if it is, how does it like stimulate the senses? It rather gives me a feeling of...well-being? I have a hard time describing anything like how something feels.

Not sure if I'm alone or if this is common, but the definition is a little unclear to me. I have some things I do that I might associate with the general idea of stimming: While sitting an urge to move each leg up and down by pushing the front of the foot downwards (I'm doing this right now...), rubbing the index fingers of each hand together (mostly when reading), rocking back and forth heavily at certain times, rubbing fingernails across each other, and tapping fingers against surfaces in specific orders (typically when sitting).

I'm guessing that the definition of this is vague to begin with, but to compound the confusion of what stimming encompasses I assume that some things would instead be considered symptoms of OCD; however that's not to say that anything is mutually exclusive to either or that anything must be black or white in their categorization.

I'd just mention that because I have OCD tendencies that put anything of that show "Obsessed" to shame, and am interested in knowing if there's any strict categorization.

Wow, seems a lot of people rub their fingers on stuff.



I think everyone loves the smell of books. As a teen who probably brings more books to camp than clothes, I know I do.

I like rubbing my fingers, but I do it so much it's not even a stim anymore. it's just something that I do.

I also like to touch things in certain ways (depending on the thing, and which fingers i choose to use, and how I feel) and I like to look at something go in front of another thing in a certain way. I also do this with my hands, and sometimes if my hand or an object goes forward, I want it to go back in the exact same pathway, and if it's a little bit off I want to keep trying until I get it right, which can get annoying if I don't stop myself. but it's one of my favorite things to do. I like looking at colorful shiny reflectey things, pretty combinations of colors, unusual shapes or patterns, and flowers, especially if they have bees on them. I just stare at things and imagine a tiny world inside it.

OCD co-occurs often with tics. These are more complex and ritualised and are not 'stims' nor should they be confused with 'obsessional interests'. 'Stims' and 'obsessional interests' involve volition. OCD and tics do not (even though one may enjoy or be amused by some of them at times, though mostly they are exhausting, annoying and invasive). They are involuntary and compulsive and like tics, if suppressed OCD rituals often become entrenched and more severe.
See: ASD Co-Morbid Disorders and Tourettes's Tics and OCD Should Not be Mistaken for Stims

I don't involve my fingertips in my stims, as I really hate for them to touch more than they have to.

I actually flex my fingers back (straightened out), so they're not touching, and tap the top of my palm on things, or press it against things.

So this is an example of OCD?

Haven scent topic

Certain odours do the deja-vu thing for me. Associated with memories.

Great stim.

If I have a clicky pen in my hand, and I'm not actively writing with it, you can probably hear it across the room. I have also made people dizzy with my swiveling back and forth in my chair at work.

Speaking of smelling books: You can tell a book by its smell, scientists say

My hands are almost always in motion. I often rub and pull at my hands and fingers. I crach my knuckles and hyperextend them as far as I can. I scratch at my face and body because of frequent itching sensations. I pull at my ear lobes and squeeze them hard. I pull on my toes and squeeze them. When I bathe I do no use a wash rag but rather scratch the dirt away with my fingernails sometimes cutting myself. I pick at my skin all over my arms and shoulders and leave marks which heal into rough feeling scars. I pull the hair out on my head, face, and entire body. When I was a teenager I used to lightly burn my arms and make long shallow cuts with a razer blade. I frequently twist my body from side to side while grabbing at my shoulder. I find rocking the most comfortable act of all as it calms me greatly while simultaneously energizing me.

Just curious if anyone else does t is one that used to freak my brother and dad out - rolling your eyes back. It feels like you are stretching the muscles that pull your eyes down.

I did the same thing when I was a kid and just thought I was weird, and it wasn't something I ever tried to describe to anyone. I also fold up pieces of paper and rub the point across the creases of my fingers. I would say that's my most prominent stim. When I'm in public I'll do it when I put my hands in my pockets, but I try not to look like I'm playing pocket pool lol.