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Stimming

NAS18453

I was told, by someone on Twitter and who is autistic, that all autistic people stim. The thing is, I don't, unless talking to yourself, is considered stimming. I occasionally scratch at my psoriasis, but I don't do that on a daily basis, or to calm myself down.

Is it possible to be autistic and to not stim?

Parents

  • I thought I didn't "stim" as such because I didnt see myself as doing anything particularly unconventional. Turns out I'm always swaying or wriggling my legs, and actually I mainly do it when I'm relaxed and concentrating on something rather than always doing it because I'm stressed. I love knitting and I can't keep my legs still when I'm doing it. It drives my husband insane, but it's like I'm at my happiest and my legs just want to jiggle haha.

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  • I thought I didn't "stim" as such because I didnt see myself as doing anything particularly unconventional. Turns out I'm always swaying or wriggling my legs, and actually I mainly do it when I'm relaxed and concentrating on something rather than always doing it because I'm stressed. I love knitting and I can't keep my legs still when I'm doing it. It drives my husband insane, but it's like I'm at my happiest and my legs just want to jiggle haha.

Children
  • in reply to M

    Hi Michelle,

    I'm just thinking.... could the  knitting itself be a form stimming? My late mother (who I'm sure was  ASD, undiagnosed or maybe 'closet') knitted for the sake of it, she very often knitted items and gave them away. It  was clearly repetative and comforting, and I would say she needed to do it. Do you count when you knit - rows or stiches - knit one pearl one etc?

    Just a thought,

    Ben