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caThar4G
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01 Jan 2017, 10:18 pm

What are examples of stimming?
I just have been diagnosed, and I am still learning.

It happens when overloaded, right?

When I'm overloaded, I might sing for 2 hours in my room, pace, walk, or draw a lot using same styles. I used to chew my fingers a lot. Are those stimming?



EzraS
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01 Jan 2017, 11:02 pm

Basically any activity an autistic does to cope with autism is a stim. That could be rocking back and forth, pacing, chewing on things, vocalizing, watching something spin, whatever. It's not so much what's being done, but rather why the person is doing it.



caThar4G
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02 Jan 2017, 12:11 am

When I used to chew my nails and fingers as a kid, I did it when there was too much going on around me (like family gatherings) and I needed something to focus on something. I also would lie on a bed and stare at a fan when I got upset. Now I do something over and over like singing. Or isolate because now I feel self conscience for pacing or chewing at home (I got scolded for it). When, im alone it's not so bad.
So, its more of just trying to cope with having autism in our society, if I understand correctly? I had thought it was just because of sensory overload.



EzraS
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02 Jan 2017, 12:29 am

caThar4G wrote:
When I used to chew my nails and fingers as a kid, I did it when there was too much going on around me (like family gatherings) and I needed something to focus on something. I also would lie on a bed and stare at a fan when I got upset. Now I do something over and over like singing. Or isolate because now I feel self conscience for pacing or chewing at home (I got scolded for it). When, im alone it's not so bad.
So, its more of just trying to cope with having autism in our society, if I understand correctly? I had thought it was just because of sensory overload.


Stimming is often due to sensory overload. Society has nothing to do with it, other than that being around people can cause sensory overload. Sometimes it's more a matter of sensory uneasiness rather than overload that triggers stimming. Or seeking sensory satisfaction.



caThar4G
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02 Jan 2017, 12:38 am

That makes sense. Sensory overload, and sensory satisfaction especially.
What about overwhelming feelings too? Like say it started out as something sensory overloading, and the person that caused that at times won't stop, and I get really angry which leads to stimming or something else like flight or fight.



EzraS
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02 Jan 2017, 12:59 am

caThar4G wrote:
That makes sense. Sensory overload, and sensory satisfaction especially.
What about overwhelming feelings too? Like say it started out as something sensory overloading, and the person that caused that at times won't stop, and I get really angry which leads to stimming or something else like flight or fight.


Both being happy and unhappy in a situation often triggers stimming. Textbook stimming for someone with autism who is happy and excited over something is what's known as hand flapping. Someone with autism who's upset by someone often stims by biting themselves (like biting or chewing on a finger), chewing on objects like a pencil, wringing their hands, pacing and stuff like that. When by themselves an autistic person will stim by rocking back and forth, making repetitive gestures or sounds, watch things spin like a ceiling fan and stuff like that because it's calming and feels good. Any types of stimming can happen for any number of situations. It's all pretty interchangeable.



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02 Jan 2017, 1:20 am

Thank you. I feel like I understand stimming better.
I haven't been happy a lot recently, but I know when I was a child I would hop up and down when happy or run around. I still do sometimes except not as extreme. And my hands get animative in conversation when I am happy.



EzraS
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02 Jan 2017, 2:28 am

caThar4G wrote:
Thank you. I feel like I understand stimming better.
I haven't been happy a lot recently, but I know when I was a child I would hop up and down when happy or run around. I still do sometimes except not as extreme. And my hands get animative in conversation when I am happy.


That's very common behavior in little kids with autism. Some might say all little kids do that. But there's just something very distinctive in the way autistics behave along those lines. And there's the whole package of behavior and traits that spell out autism, rather than just one aspect of it. I've known about my autism my entire life and I'm still puzzled over it one way or another.



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02 Jan 2017, 2:50 am

caThar4G wrote:
my hands get animative in conversation when I am happy.

Pretty much every autistic I know does something with their hands. Especially me. ;)
EzraS wrote:
I've known about my autism my entire life and I'm still puzzled over it one way or another.

I never realized I was autistic until I was 11. I remember being in a speech/therapy session and my neurologist explained it to me, who was starting to speak and learn why I guess. Honestly, if I stim, I am either completely oblivious to it or just obssess over it.


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EzraS
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02 Jan 2017, 3:16 am

BeggingTurtle wrote:
caThar4G wrote:
my hands get animative in conversation when I am happy.

Pretty much every autistic I know does something with their hands. Especially me. ;)
EzraS wrote:
I've known about my autism my entire life and I'm still puzzled over it one way or another.

I never realized I was autistic until I was 11. I remember being in a speech/therapy session and my neurologist explained it to me, who was starting to speak and learn why I guess. Honestly, if I stim, I am either completely oblivious to it or just obssess over it.


Right my experience was pretty much the same as you are describing. But of course there was being aware of being different and hearing stuff said about me before then.