Stimming?

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Joined: 10 Jan 2012
Gender: Male
Posts: 1

11 Jan 2012, 3:31 pm

Hey I feel a bit rude posting this on this forum because I'm not autistic but I literally couldn't find any information about this anywhere on the internet, autism forums kept coming up. So recently I keep catching myself rocking back and forth or side to side and I don't realise that I'm doing it and I'm just wondering if anyone knows why I keep doing this?

Dunnyveg
Deinonychus

Joined: 5 May 2011
Gender: Male
Posts: 370
Location: Deep in the heart of Texas

11 Jan 2012, 4:19 pm

lemon11 wrote:

Hey

I feel a bit rude posting this on this forum because I'm not autistic but I literally couldn't find any information about this anywhere on the internet, autism forums kept coming up. So recently I keep catching myself rocking back and forth or side to side and I don't realise that I'm doing it and I'm just wondering if anyone knows why I keep doing this?

This kind of thing is a frequent symptom of autism, but I have AS and never did these kinds of things--at least not beyond a normal level. It sounds to me as if you are describing fidgeting, which is common to lots of people.

DaBeef2112
Snowy Owl

Joined: 18 Dec 2011
Age: 54
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Location: Toronto

11 Jan 2012, 5:17 pm

I read somewhere that a significant percentage of non-autistics stim as well. I find it relaxes me, the more stressed i am the more i do it. My own stims are rocking side to side any time I am standing still, swivelling my office chair back and forth and when i am alone i pace.

Radiofixr
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 60
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11 Jan 2012, 5:19 pm

I have AS and I do rock and do complex hand motions and hand flapping and arm motions and I will do it without realizing it.

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Atomsk
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11 Jan 2012, 5:22 pm

Stimming like that happens among many groups; not just autistic people, but groups such as the blind, or even neurotypicals. It's nothing to worry about, really. And no need to feel rude .

Cringe
Tufted Titmouse

Joined: 26 Dec 2011
Age: 33
Gender: Female
Posts: 36

11 Jan 2012, 5:35 pm

I think anyone can stim. And anyone can be socially awkward. Autism is just a certain combination of all these traits in certain degrees. I rock when standing, from one foot to the other, and before bed. I never thought much about these habits.

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Aiming to see a clinician in 2012 to get some answers.

lilbuddah
Deinonychus

Joined: 9 Dec 2011
Gender: Male
Posts: 331

11 Jan 2012, 5:39 pm

I wouldn't say I stim a lot, it's the one symptom I don't present. Although I am liable to making weird and pretty involuntary hand motions and gestures when I talk to, one, make sure I stay calm and don't weird out the person I'm talking to too much and, two, sort of help me describe things. Not sure how the last one works, that's just what I say to people. Not quite stimming but complex and weird enough to certainly be part of my AS.

Matt62
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11 Jan 2012, 8:13 pm

Yeah, I do do this. It was really bad as a kid (though that was decades ago). It got better in college (besides they thought I was odd enough!) partly because I took up running, which seemed to help. Something with the endorphins I think. It used to be with string or cloth strips.
These days its rubber bands, which fortunately doesn't earn me too many odd looks at work. Besides, if I get busy I don't do it. Since most people do a bit of it anyway, with stuff like rubber bands & worry stones. However, if I'm not careful I can almost space out a bit.
This is the first time in my life I've actually talked about this with ANYONE.. LOL

Sincerely,
Matt

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