What is stimming?

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Is it like an obsession but it is one that is not as disturbing? What is the difference between stimming and an obsession? There are a series of thoughts I want to get rid of and I am thinking of getting rid of these thoughts and any link to them. It doesn't make sense, but how do I put them out of my mind.

Stimming is a physical act associated with AS, such as rocking, tapping fingers, etc.

Tim

As best as I can describe it, stimming is a repeated, compulsive movement. It manifests itself differently for different people.

For example, I like to twirl pens and similar objects, bounce my legs or feet when I'm sitting down (especially to the beat of music that I might be listening to), or rock (both side to side, and forward and back.)

As far as your thoughts go, I'm afraid that I can't help you there, sorry.

stimming is not just an AS thing [so it cannot be based on being a stimmer or not],it's a characteristic of the whole spectrum,it's also an NT thing as well,it's more obvious in Autistics than it is in NTs.
its not something that is bad to the person,and should make person better.

Stimming is a repetitive behavior some of us exhibit when agitated,
or excited in some way or we might do while perfectly calm and contented. I am just as prone to rock back and forth
when calm as when upset.

Has anyone noticed how MUCH teenage boysand younger men bounce thier knees while sitting? What's the explanation with that? Is it stimming?

Don't think about elephants!
Don't think about elephants!
Don't think about elephants!

Did you think about elephants? Of course you did!

One trick I've picked up is to concentrate on those awful thoughts as hard as I can, to wallow in them.

You are having these thoughts for a reason, even though it might not seem obvious at first glance.

It's like if you were an accountant who was never taught that the number 2 existed. That one little piece of missing info will have profound effects if you try and balance the books, add, subtract, whatever.

So, what I do is think about elephants.

Are you comfortable saying what these obsessive thoughts are?

I think everyone stims from time to time I don't think there is such a person who doesn't stim I may be wrong there but everyone I know stims eiter slightly or alot.

Yeah, everyone stims.

Just with us, we do it more.

I don't know about teenage boys, but even wikipedia talks about this.

Stimming is not necessarily compulsive. A lot of us can choose not to do it in special situations, e.g. in public. Or make it lesser obvious, or even create surrogate stims.
As for me, I don't make obvious stims when in public, just when alone. Sometimes I'll feel like I would like to rock in public, if I sit still listening to a speech or lecture e.g., but then I may choose to do it very subtly or concentrate on my breath and on the movements my body makes while breathing instead. Or move my weight from one foot to another and back again when sitting (that's a bit difficult though, as my legs are quite short so it can be a problem to reach the ground with a flat foot, lol).