Stimming. What does it feel like to you?

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Normal circumstances(most of the time): calming

When excited: lifts mood a lot

When stressed: helps keep stress levels down as much as possible.

I'm quite a noise maker; I beatbox, tap and drum on tables, click pens rapidly, snap when I walk and any combination of those. I lick my moustache a lot too. I'm aware that it looks weird to people passing me by, but I honestly don't care, it helps me think. Most of these I do at work since I'm always pacing about and looking for something to do. It is like background noise for my thoughts.

It's definitely a release for myself, as well. Like someone mentioned on the first page of the forum, it makes my body "feel right." It's like there's a pressure build-up throughout my body and when I begin stimming, the pressure leaks out and I'm calm again. I do this mostly with finger flicking or hair twirling, or tracing letters and objects with my eyes.

It doesn't feel like anything, it's just what I do.

I like the rhythm of stimming. I need to stim, It seems somehow linked to my breathing and heartbeat.

ahaha I used to beatbox constantly lol. In fact I was constantly being set to the headteachers office because I couldnt sit still and would be banging on tables. This turned into extreme teeth grinding when I realised I had to curb my excesses. Then later on the beatboxing started. I also sometimes do things like humming along to my piano playing - this is not an affectation though im sure some might assume so. I dont realise im doing it aha. I can relate to the moustache thing too lol I love the texture

It's kinda hard to say, since most of the time I don't realize I'm stimming. But when I am aware of it, it's kind of a release. I'll feel this buildup of...something, I don't know what...in my chest. When I stim, at some point I'll get this electric shock feeling and then a relax after. It's almost an orgasmic-type feeling, although not nearly that intense. But it's the same idea.

I'll get this same sensation when I have to make a decision on something...whether it's going to a restaurant or something as simple as drawing Scrabble letters. I know when I've made the "right" decision when I get that release in my chest.

I never realized I stim as much as I do until I started making myself notice it. I rock (standing or sitting) whenever I'm in some kind of negative mindset -- angry, anxious, impatient, afraid, irritable -- but that's FAR from the only thing I do. Bouncing my leg, shaking my foot, twirling my wrist, clicking my teeth, clicking my fingernails, wiggling my fingers, stroking my skin, chewing my cuticles...need I go on?

hi,
I will stim by biting my hands sometimes and rocking on my bed. it is a release to cope with school stress!! !

cheers

Last edited by magz on 22 Dec 2021, 3:34 am, edited 1 time in total.: Personal data removed

I'm not sure what constitutes stimming. I pick my lips a lot. Constantly being given out to for it by my family. I rub my neck or face or tap my feet, pace when I am alone mostly, the odd time I would rock. I am only beginning to notice these things now as I was only recently diagnosed so I am not sure in what circumstances I do it or the difference it makes if I didn't

Like breathing.
It's just something I do without thinking about it or trying most of the time.

I just do it. It's more natural for me to do so.

Not much, really.

It's just me being me.

My fiancé stims, especially at night in bed! He kicks and jolts. It wakes me up every time and I have to rub him so he will wake up a little and stop. He also stims with his fingers. He doesn't realize he is even doing it most of the time I think. I am surprised he doesn't wake himself up at night.

That's interesting that he stims when he is sleeping.
I wake up flapping my fingers all the time. I don't know whether I stim in my sleep, or start stimming upon awakening, or stimming woke me up. I didn't know if it was even possible to stim in your sleep.

Stimming just feels right. Like I'm stretching a taut muscle or scratching an itch. Not stimming makes me very anxious and just feels bad.