How would you describe what stimming feels like to an NT?

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I do snap my fingers and pace as I find an interesting idea myself. I would have never thought of jumping on my bed though. If I were in better physical shape I might consider, although with how my bed is set up if I jumped on the wrong place the mattress might go flying off with me as well. I don't know, I guess I actually find the idea somewhat attractive. (For what reason, I don't know...)

(As far as the mattress flying off, I use a specialized bed for tall people, the frame is missing a cap on one end and the mattress is extra long.)

I like squishing foam too!

relaxing, calming, in a hypnotic manner. can stimulate the thought processes and focus the mind.

I'm sorry, but I'll take a massage chair to tapping my foot or staring at my hands anyday.

I tried a $7000 massage chair in a store the other day, and GOD did it feel amazing!! !! !! !! !

Haha. Tell him it’s the same high as winning a bet on a great football game!

I am NT and I “twiddle”. I usually wear a hair rubber band around my wrist in case I need to pull my hair back. I play with it a lot. I also bite my fingers, twirl my hair, fidget with my earrings or necklace, bounce my leg, pace my office (waiting for downloads or dealing with computer freeze), wring my hands, so many things I am not aware of (these have been pointed out to me). I don’t know if this is the same as stimming because I am not aware I am doing it until someone tells me to knock it off. But, I do it when overwhelmed, and at some level it must either relax me or take my mind away from my problems.

I would love to know what stimming is to AS. My bf does some finger flicking and throat clearing that irks me, but I let it go. I don’t say anything because I don’t want him to be self conscious or think I am “nagging”. When and why does one stim, and what is the effect?

Yes great question.

Stimming feels like

For me it's like putting shoes on, so I can run faster and protect my feet from ((sharp things on the ground,(the world around me)). I can run with out shoes but I run better and faster with shoes on. It hurts less,or doesn't hurt at all.

Like breathing fresh air after being stuck behind a diesel truck.

Like a massage after a stressful day.

Like a sweet song to put you to sleep.

Feels like waking up in the morning and knowing you have slept well, and your refreshed.

Stimming it like a drug,

Some you guys and gals said it just right. I could have put it any better.

Many have described the activity and effect of stimming as relaxing.

Similarly, those with varying degrees of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), from mild to very severe, say they do repetitive compulsions (checking and re-checking, repeating tasks, etc), because it is soothing, relaxing, and alleviates anxiety. For others, it can stimulate them, from a prior state of being under-stimulated (depressed, sedated, etc).

With those with OCD, the immediate gain is the soothing and relaxation. However, there will be an increasing, and continually increasing, need to do more and more compulsions after the soothing and relaxing effect fades away. After the soothing wears away, there is even worse anxiety (or whatever). This is essentially exactly like the process the use of addictive drugs and medicines. At first, a certain level of the drug is relaxing, or stimulating. But then, the relaxation or stimulation wears off, and then things are worse than ever, and then the person will need to take the drug sooner, and more of it, in order to achieve the relaxation or stimulation.

In autism or Aspergers, the stimming has definite immediate gain - soothing, relaxing, and maybe for some stimulating. But sometime after the stimming is discontinued, the person gradually falls into an even worse than before anxiety (or whatever), and will then need to stimm again sooner, and for longer. And this will get worse and worse.

As in OCD, a treatment is to learn techniques to prevent the degree and duration of compulsions. Cognitive interventions to intervene from re-starting the compulsions, or, to lessen the amount of time it occurs.

While things for those with autism and Aspergers would be worse in the short-term when limiting stimming, I think in the long-term things would be better overall, such as the reduction of overall anxiety etc. I think it may be of significant benefit to take measures to limit the degree or intensity of stimming, and the duration or time of it. The efforts to intervene may be very beneficial in the long term.

I have found this to be so from experience.