Stimming

Hey, I was just stimming away and wondered if anyone else has any weird stims they do? Even without realising? Here are some of mine: 

  • I rub my fingers on my eyelashes constantly. I’ve done this since I was a baby. I love the feeling of it on my fingers and  knuckles, but also the slight pain I get in my eyes and eyelids! 
  • When I’m walking anywhere I will tap my fingers to my thumb one by one really quickly. 
  • I will often sit in really weird positions so that I can feel my joints being stretched to their limits (when I’m really stressed it feels as though it’s to the point they could break). This could be sitting with my leg over my shoulder, laying over the end of my bed so my back is arched with the back of my head on the floor
  • Rubbing my hands on things like carpets, brick walls, hot radiators
  • Purposely causing my body to cramp for the pain release when it eases off 
  • Tapping my fingers on walls and doors as I walk past

i sound a bit of a weirdo really...

Parents
  • It's really interesting to hear other people's stims :) Here are some of mine:

    • Rubbing my hands against fabric, especially if it's soft/fluffy (e.g. clothes, carpets etc.).
    • Skin picking/biting - I tend to attack my thumbs and my lips the most, and it's worst when I'm nervous (this isn't a very good stim; my thumbs and lips get sore and bleed sometimes).
    • Flexing my hands as I walk.
    • Messing with things like elastic bands, fidget toys (especially the Tangle) and putty.
    • Rocking (I reserve this one for when I'm on my own!).
    • Hand flapping (also when alone).
    • Jigging my leg (e.g. when sitting at a desk).

    There are probably more, but I don't even realise I'm doing these things most of the time :)

  • crossing my legs really tightly (more like wrapping them around each other), sitting with my toes folded right under my feet (this one really creeps people out for some reason, maybe because I am hypermobile and my toes bend further back than people think they should??), rocking, pulling hair, and when I am really concentrating I put my hair across my face above my mouth like a moustache apparently! I don't notice I am doing it, but my work colleagues know it as a sign that I am really absorbed in something and they are therefore unlikely to get any response out of me!

  • Oh wow - I do the moustache thing too!

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