Published on 12, July, 2020
Rhythmic, repetitive behaviors are a hallmark of autism. Hand-flapping, spinning in circles, body rocking, vocalizations such as grunting and muttering, and other habits can be disquieting to people unfamiliar with them. Scientists and clinicians have long puzzled over what these behaviors mean — and how to respond to them.For many years, experts thought repetitive movements resulted from deprivation or even trauma, and that they hindered learning. Psychologist Ole Ivar Lovaas, an early autism specialist, reportedly referred to them as “garbage behavior.”1 He made suppressing these habits a priority. Lovaas and his followers electrically shocked, screamed at, shook and slapped autistic children2. Others prescribed antipsychotics and other stupefying drugs. Even in today’s sometimes gentler treatment paradigms, therapists often train children to have ‘quiet hands’ as opposed to freely flapping ones3.But growing evidence suggests that repetitive behaviors have been misunderstood — and that they may in fact be incredibly useful.
For many years, experts thought repetitive movements resulted from deprivation or even trauma, and that they hindered learning. Psychologist Ole Ivar Lovaas, an early autism specialist, reportedly referred to them as “garbage behavior.”1 He made suppressing these habits a priority. Lovaas and his followers electrically shocked, screamed at, shook and slapped autistic children2. Others prescribed antipsychotics and other stupefying drugs. Even in today’s sometimes gentler treatment paradigms, therapists often train children to have ‘quiet hands’ as opposed to freely flapping ones3.
But growing evidence suggests that repetitive behaviors have been misunderstood — and that they may in fact be incredibly useful.
www.spectrumnews.org/.../
Technically - EVERYBODY stims in some way. All stimming is is "self-stimulating behaviour" I.e. wobbling your leg, rubbing your face, tapping things constantly, flapping hands etc.
Difference is autistics can sometimes have atypical stimming behaviours or need to stim to much different scenarios than neurotypicals.
A neurotypical might stim in a state of large stress or sadness for example, an autistic might need to stim when they get overwhelmed with excitement, anxiety, stress, sensory overload in a much smaller situation to other people.
But everyone stims, autistics can just do it differently, or even much more often and commonly as a coping mechanism.
I personally never actually recognised/noticed my stimming until EVERYONE pointed it out to me.
It is often a result for one of the following reasons
Overstimulation: When there are too many sensory inputs, focusing attention away from overwhelming feelings
Understimulation: When there is not enough sensory input or feeling, stimming can allow stimulation of the senses and creating pleasure
Reduction of pain: Engaging in a different activity causes the body to relax.
Self regulation: Overcome anxiety, express distress etc
https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/autism-stimming-causes-management-and-types/
Sending you good wishes / vibes. Hope it turns out ok.
Stimming is essential.
I've got a rather unpleasant medical procedure coming up in a few weeks - the results of which could seriously affect my life.
I'm a little stressed.
On a scale of 1-10, I'm at 50.
I'm basically stimming all the time to try to burn off the stress. I can't think of any other way to dissipate the intense energy without heavy medication.
I'm jiggling a lot. Bouncing my knee like I'm drumming for Anthrax. Scratching myself until I bleed. Rubbing my hands together until they burn. Having a little difficulty functioning.
Only 6 weeks to go.
Thanks for posting this. I am upset now, but I'll get over it.
Uncontainable emotions. That's what it is.
Thanks.
I'm not aware I've ever stimmed .