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I don't stim, but maybe I should start

Nessie

I've read a lot about how stimming is a common—almost universal—autistic behaviour, but it's not something I've ever done (to my knowledge). Depending on the situation, either I get quite OCD about cleaning and tidying everything around me (it has to be absolutely spotless and aligned perfectly parallel), or I self-harm, but I don't stim in the traditional sense (or maybe I'm misunderstanding the term).

Given that my education, career and general life keeps getting interrupted with stress-induced illnesses, I'm wondering if I need to find a suitable stim to help me cope in daily situations rather than holding everything in until I meltdown, shutdown or completely burnout.

  • Can you remember a time when you didn't stim? If so, when did you start and how did you settle on the stim you now use?
  • Or, have your stims changed over time? If so, why did you choose one in preference to another?

Any insights and advice welcome. Thanks.

Parents

  • Personally, my ‘stims’ are things that I have always done, but didn’t used to realise that they were a stim, I just thought that they were odd habits. I hair pulled for years since I was a child, I’ve always head scratched too, if I’m going through a really stressful patch it’s not unheard of for me to scratch my head so much that it bleeds. Smelling random stuff is another odd habit that I’ve had since childhood. Another random thing which I do that I didn’t realise was a stim until recently, is when I cross my legs when I’m sitting down, sometimes I wrap my legs right around in a knot. I think, if you stim then it is probably something that you’ve always done. I’ve even read that chewing nails can be a stim.

  • in reply to Kitsune
    Kitsune said:
    my ‘stims’ are things that I have always done, but didn’t used to realise that they were a stim

    Agree - my wife was always telling me not to 'pick at my beard' - I'd pull individual hairs out and frequently give myself a bald patch (my dad also pulls his beard for what that's worth).

    When I was going through diagnosis I bought a cool machined brass 'fidget spinner' it helps a lot and stops me picking my beard. I particularly like to either spin it and feel it against my lips as it spins or blow on it so it make a noise like a hummingbird... yeah, I'm weird!

    Anything can be a stim I think. If you do it when you're 'emotionally aroused' (not sexual arousal) and it makes you feel good/better - it's a stim...

Reply
  • in reply to Kitsune
    Kitsune said:
    my ‘stims’ are things that I have always done, but didn’t used to realise that they were a stim

    Agree - my wife was always telling me not to 'pick at my beard' - I'd pull individual hairs out and frequently give myself a bald patch (my dad also pulls his beard for what that's worth).

    When I was going through diagnosis I bought a cool machined brass 'fidget spinner' it helps a lot and stops me picking my beard. I particularly like to either spin it and feel it against my lips as it spins or blow on it so it make a noise like a hummingbird... yeah, I'm weird!

    Anything can be a stim I think. If you do it when you're 'emotionally aroused' (not sexual arousal) and it makes you feel good/better - it's a stim...

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