Pacing - a rare form of stimming?

Post Reply New Topic

I pace so much, that a co-worker of mine once took it upon herself to tie my feet together while I was helping a customer, so that once I became uninvolved, I wouldn't be able to move my feet.

If I have to stand and I'm not actually doing anything, I will pace non-stop, or shift my weight back and forth. Actually, to stop myself from pacing the other day, I stood at the desk at work and rotated my hips from side to side, like when an athlete stretches, and when I was asked what the heck I was doing, I was able to use stretching as a reasonable answer.

I used to pace when doing things like brushing my teeth, or having a drink, but for some reason now, I just seem to slowly spin in circles when doing such activities.

Pacing is common, but it depends on how you pace what could be unique to Autistics.

I often see someone pacing up and down when waiting for a taxi or a bus, especially if it's late, or if they're meeting somebody outside a shop or somewhere, or if they are smoking sometimes they may move about a bit. I mean, people don't always stand stock still. But I heard it is common in Autistics to pace about quickly, repetitively, for hours, maybe twich their shoulders or flap their hands or whatever, and, like the original poster said, listen to a same piece of music or something.

So yeah, pacing excessively cannot be a rare form of stimming in Autistics, but a rather common stim in Autistics. I tend to pace about a lot, from the kitchen, to the living-room, to the hall, and back again. Sometimes I even do it talking loudly to myself (only if nobody else's home, of course).

Anyone that takes care of three autistic kids is a SAINT. God bless you!
Now back to your current program, er, thread.
Pacing may be near number one on Stims actually.

Sincerely,
Matthew

My son paces, and it really helps him focus. It seems to help him collect his thoughts.
If I want to have a "serious talk" of some sort with him I try to catch him after he's been pacing. He seems more approachable and stays interested longer.
Some times.
Some times it means he's processing something unpleasant.
Every day he'll pace, some times for an hour or more. Some days more than once.
I've always assumed it is a trait of his condition.

I'm another pacer... Love dong it. If I can't then life builds up.. Sometimes I even talk to myself as I pace. Its not unusual to do it and not be aware..
I do sligthly adjust my circles to not wear the floor or grass..

It does look starnge when I see other people pacing and talkign to them selves...Guess I do to...

I agree with pacing as stimming, I do it alot for alot of different reasons not quite your own. I guess part of it has to do with detachment and breaking a routine or activity for a different line of thought.I do it alot when I come up with good writing ideas.

What bothers me is that people associate it with mental illness and don't respect it for what it means to me.

I used to pace in my bedroom when I lived with my parents. It drove them mad because sounds travels like crazy in the old house. My bedroom in the apartment I live in now doesn't have a layout conducive to pacing. There isn't enough free floor space. Kind of a blessing when you live on the 3rd floor and have wooden floors.

I pace constantly, for various reasons. This includes when I have a meltdown, when I'm excited by an idea, when I'm thinking deeply, or when I am frustrated. Mostly it is to block out all of the sporadic movement with a more consistent patternize movement so I can concentrate. Often I don't realize I'm pacing either. I do it everywhere, and usually don't notice until somebody mentions how "nervous" it makes them. There have been times when I've had horrible anxiety and meltdowns where I had to walk around in circles for hours. The only other "stim" I do is tapping. This happens when I am overwhelmed in group social events. I either tap my hand on my shirt or I tap a pencil/pen. Anything that has a pattern that I can focus on is nice.

Wow, people can be so cruel about anything that's different from the norm, even when it hurts no one.

I've paced since I was 5 years old but I somehow knew that it was unusual and never let anyone see me do it. My grandmother almost caught me when I was 10 years old and she walked in on me and I sat down in a hurry so she wouldn't see me pacing. She was like, "What are you doing? Why did you just sit down like that?" I lied and insisted I wasn't doing anything.

I still do it a lot whenever I'm excited, bored, daydreaming, or listening to music. If I'm over someone's house for a long time, I excuse myself and go in the restroom to pace in private.

excellent observation!

I never knew/considered it stimming, but I pace all the time. Since like 5-6 years old, I'd ruminate over ideas in my head, whether they be weird inventions, stuff I'd read, whatever, I'd pace forever, usually I pace about 2 hours at a time, and yeah, been doing it since I was a kid. When I have enough stimulants and everything feels awesome in the world, I pace even more, usually pacing is done later at night, though, like past 9-10PM. It's pretty great, and it gets the creative gears going.

I *NOW* can work it in to my current job, which requires walkng up & down store aisles to some degree. That & the rubberband(s) in my pocket or hand, keep away any sensory overload (99% of the time.) for me.

Sincerely,
Matthew

Hoo yeah, I pace like a motha fucka sometimes. I walk in circles around lamp posts and all manner of things. I spin sometimes when I'm waiting and I walk around and back and forth while talking on the phone. Pacing helps me soothe tension in my brain while being 'patient' and helps me keep up with my thoughts or concentrate. Similarly I doodle while listening to lectures also. I go to my happy place often while walking.

I usually pace when I am stressed, Anxious about something, or sometimes when I am really hyper other times it is when I have something on my mind and I am thinking. When I am very hyper or excited I will pace in small circles real fast and sometimes spin and flap my arms.