Why do severe autistics hit themselves?

Post Reply New Topic

While the cause self-hitting certainly could be frustration or self-punishment, I think it is an error to assume that this is always the case. I suppose it depends on the type of autism and severity.

I repeatedly hit my head in a manner almost identical to that shown by Danielismyname in a recent video related to stimming. (My head rapping is perhaps more rapid.) Of course, I only do this when there are no witnesses because it would appear very strange and inexpicible to the uninitiated. The thing is that I don't do this out of frustration or self-hate - it merely feels good. I think I tend to do it when I am mildly excited by some thought or idea. I don't do it hard enough to harm either my head or my knuckles. It is probably just another stim.

I am on the mild end of AS, hitting isn't restricted to the severe end of the spectrum, though like others have said, I tend to keep my hitting private.

I occasionally hit myself on the head, usually when I am in OCD mode and I need to snap myself out of it. I have the compulsive checking version of OCD and can spend hours looking at a door or something trying to convince myself that it is closed or locked or whatever. After a bit, I have the habit of hitting myself on the head. The shock factor tends to focus my attention so that I allow myself to talk myself away from the checking.

I also have the habit of punching walls and other inanimate objects. The effect of the hitting is almost always increased focus, though sometimes it is just a stress release.

I do it out of frustration, and often so I don't end up hitting something else, but usually I don't hurt myself that badly unless I'm extremely frustrated. Today, I wasn't doing it hard, but I hit the end of my kneecap really hard and boy I didn't want to hurt myself that badly!

My father when he was unwell.

But otherwise, it is quite a common 'stim' amongst even the higher functioning autistics. I do it when I am feeling understimulated and it helps. It is also something to do with frustration. I usually hit myself when I am trying to communicate something and the other person doesn't understand for some reason. Maybe that's why severly autistic people do it more because it is often the only way for someone NV to get attention. I also have Tourettes which doesn't help because it just whacks me for the heck of it! In fact it's doing it now because I am talking about it!

Most likely, it's an anxiety-producing situation.

I am not severe, but I hurt myself. I have stopped, for the most part. I pull my hair, or scratch, rather than hit.

I hit my head against walls rather than hit myself with my fists. I do it when I wanna take it out on someone but no one's there or I otherwise can't.

. at least you didnt throw her. once i was really really angry because id gotten in a fight, and i was holding my snake at the time. i actually went and smacked his head enough to scare him. i felt so sick with myself...i started crying and like...begged him for forgiveness. it was terrible...and strange.
now i moved onto hurting myself. i think i stifled my habit of cutting...but i do punch the concrete wall/wardrobe until my hand is swollen and bruised....i also hit my head, and smack myself and stuff..

dont NTs hurt themselves when they get frustrated as well, though?

im not severe but i do it because of frustration

I don't really understand it myself. Heck, I was hit enough by other people. Why would I go and do that to myself, too? That would really hurt. I don't understand it and never will. Sensory sensitivity thing too I guess. Just the slightest pressure on my skin feels like pain to me. I'm not going to beat myself in the head in any way, shape or form. It makes no sense to me.

My son is 8 years old and AS. He has banged his head against hard objects since he was days old. He says it makes him feel better and he does it for a variety of reasons - frustration, anger, happiness, excitement, change of routine and so on.

I have read that some people hit themselves because their sensory processing difficulties mean that it can be hard to locate their own body in space (can't remember the term for this, sorry) and hitting themselves helps them locate themselves.

I if I'm really agitated , overloaded, or frustrated. I will also pound my legs if I am sitting.

I agree. Its a way to localize the pain. To gain control of myself by focusing on one particular sensation.

I've done it throughout my life. I don't know exactly why... probably frustration with myself is the biggest reason I guess. But I've always kept it secret (along with a lot of my meltdowns) - I don't hit myself in public.

Hypo-sensitivity perhaps?

Actually, I only have AS and I've hit myself quite a few times. I've bit myself too. I think it's a bit like stimming. I feel overwhelmed and the physical sensation helps somehow. I mean the physical sensation of letting frustration out, not of pain. Actually, it doesn't usually hurt, which might also have something to do with it. I, like some other people on the spectrum, have a reduced sense of pain; maybe some of us don't feel the pain very much so all we feel when we do it is the sensation of releasing frustration.