What is it mean to stim?

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What happens, why it happens, i want to know what is all about!

It is something.. usually a weird thing with your body or hands that you do without being aware of doing it but it seems to make you feel better. Like chewing your nails or playing with little toys people think are annoying or making a specific noise without being aware. normal people do it all the time by chewing on pens or something.

i dont think i quite understand

does it have to be annoying to others, and/or does it have to be unnoticed by yourself?

either. It's just strange habits in general.

The only reason people make such a big deal of it here is because when you are on the autism scale you tend to do it more often than normal people because it is easier to get overwhelmed, and the sources of stress could be just about anything, not just one set cause

I'm very curious if anyone knows any neurologic explanation of why stimming is linked to Asperger's, or why it works.

From what I read, lots of NTs stim also, and things like nodding and rocking to music can be considered stims. Fidgeting may be a stim, but it raises my energy rather than calming me.

I didn't realize I did it, because I found socially acceptable ways to incorporate it. Then I remembered that I always 'talked with my hands' (even to myself) until 10th grade, when I got teased too much and made myself stop.

But the key aspect of stimming is that it's pleasurable and calming. Typical stims include rocking slightly; moving, rotating, or 'flapping' your hands or arms (I like the feeling of my finger joints in their sockets); pacing. There are visual stims like spinning things and the ultimate visual stim:
http://blueballfixed.ytmnd.com/

Whenever I launch it I get an instant euphoric rush, and break into a huge grin. I can't help it. It's hard-wired.

But physical stims are voluntary and are not part of a compulsive ritual. They can be controlled, and can be altered so they don't freak other people out. I have stim toys on my desk like a squeezey exercize ball, and a foam rugby ball. In public I massage my hands and wrists, and touch my fingers to my palms. I like contorted finger positions, but keep it very subtle in public.

For kids I think it's really important to let them 'stim out', because otherwise anxiety builds up. Especially at school.

I have a consistent stim of pressing my lips together over and over. I've been doing it for years and usually don't realize I'm doing it. I saw a picture of myself mid stim at a family wedding reception where I was staring off into space with my lips pressed together so I looked like I had no lips. Not particularly attractive. I have never flapped my hands but I tried it out recently to see how it felt and it felt good

I can't remember where I read it (probably here on WP) but I remember reading somewhere that there was a theory linking stimming to the production of endorphins, the "feel good" hormones. I can't remember if this was an ASD-specific thing or just a general neurological theory. I hope someone more knowledgeable than I can provide better information.

I know of one thing I am certain is a stim. I like to run my hair between my index and middle fingers, mostly with my left hand. I did it as a kid and remembered that I felt so much pleasure from it. I remember doing it so much my parents would yell at me. I got the impression it was "wrong." As an adult I decided to go to a buzzcut mostly because it was low maintenance but also to minimize this stim (though I didn't know what it was at the time). That was 14 or 15 years ago. In that time I occassionally found myself rubbing my hair with my hand, but it wasn't quite as satisfying so I didn't do it very often. Since my AS diagnosis last month I decided to let my hair grow out so I can start doing it again. One of the reasons I sought out the diagnosis was to find out why I was having meltdowns and learn to better handle the stress that leads up to them. Once I learned what stimming was and what its purpose was, I realized I did it as a kid to soothe myself. Now, with my hair noticeably longer, I can now do this stim again. However, I've found I do it nearly all the time, often without knowing I'm doing it, unless I'm focusing on a task or doing something that requires both hands. I really start going crazy with it if my hair is wet or cool to the touch. It looks weird, particularly at work, but I haven't been feeling as stressed as before or, more importantly, meltdown-prone since I've started, so I'm sticking with it.

I do a few other things that I've heard were stims, but they're more boredom/fidgety-related. Several months ago I realized I had started doing this thing with my left hand where I bend my thumb and then tap the top of it with my index, middle, and ring fingers in a rhythmic pattern. If you've seen the movie "Ben X" it looks similar to what he does with his right hand when he walks down the street. When I first noticed it I thought it was my mind subconsciously trying to play guitar since I haven't played in a while. I also have a tendency to pace a lot, at work and at home. Sometimes when I'm at home I play with a yo-yo, though I don't do any tricks; I just make it go up and down. It's relaxing for some reason.

Hmm...over-explanation?

ok i think i got the idea.

some of my stims are shaking my leg and biting my index fingernail or thumnail (usually left hand)

I twist my ring on my finger back and forth, I also pace, and chew my lip.

I don't have any conscious stims. My stim is unconscious - when I'm sitting or lying down my feet are in near constant motion, separately or together, doing various movements or a kind of 'handwringing' motion or stretching, curling, pointing, etc.

I discovered this when one time while watching TV, legs outstretched on an ottomon, I looked at my feet and noticed how active they were and I'm like "feet, what the hell are you doing?" After that I started trying to consciously observe them and noticed that pretty much, unless they're busy walking or something, they're "stimming" away. I have to consciously make the effort to make them sit still, or sit on them, lol.

I'd love to understand why they have a mind of their own like this 'cause I don't really get it. But I figure it may have explained why I became obsessed with dance as a kid and did all sorts of dance type activities for years. Happy feet wanna dance

Is unconscious stimming linked to endorphins?

I bite nails, bang my head, press left hand against lips, flap, as well as do many others. However, these four are my favorites.

me too! when i lay in bed reading, i cant help but move my feet!

Last edited by JasonG on 30 Aug 2009, 11:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

stimming is a coping mechanism for many helps to live in this world, a lot of ppl do it even NTs. autistics do it more often and their stims are noticable. my stims are basically my life, i stim 24/7, flap , rock, bite, etc. its also a way of expressing ourselves and also makes us stay calm and functioning. well thats my thought on what a stim is...

same here...and my cousin gets annoyed with it

I do that all the freakin' time. I don't even know why. But I'm a chick so people assume I'm vain and fixing my hairdo. It rocks to be me .