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Understanding Stimming

Cat_lover

Hello, I’m new here, so apologies if I’m doing this wrong. Recently diagnosed so still on the journey. Trying to make sense of what stimming means. I’m a teacher and I see lots of children spinning, rocking, flapping etc. However for me, it includes other stuff. When I was young I would repeatedly touch things that I didn’t like the feel of. I don’t know why I did this. I would touch and lick the carpet or the settee, despite hating the texture. I would also constantly toss things in the air like pencils, and watch with fascination as they spun in the air. I’ve had loads of motor tics throughout my life - are they also stims or is this something different? At the moment if I’m feeling anxious or worried I pull my lower eyelid down. Once the air hits it it feels cold and I get a sense of relief and feel calmer. Is this a stim?

  • in reply to Glitter

    Yes, Stimming can be anything that helps or feeds the desire. I find vivid colours fascinating, whoever designed the NAS logo got it so right with the colours, I can watch a sand timer and just find it mesmerising. I said in an earlier reply that I notice my wife stims, she never realises that she does it. She goes dog walking with a village group, she came home this morning after a walk and explained that she walks behind them now as all the conversation is inane and boring, “ they never say anything that interests me, they are too noisy and boring” She explained that she would rather be in the woods with no humans, the dog is company enough. I think there is hope for her yet, I never realised why we are so the same.

  • I've recently been thinking about stimming and I think the simplest way to put it is, stimming is anything that uses sensory feedback to express or regulate emotions.  There are the noticeable ones that have become the stereotype like you mentioned, but there are as many stims as there are people.  I like pressure stims- crossing my legs tightly or tucking my fingers in; I like visual stims like sparkles and glowing things and liquid timers.  I fidget a lot. I tap and pinch my lip.  I flap after stressful situations to spend some adrenaline and revover.

  • in reply to Ausomely Autistic

    My favourite was, “My Days are never the same”, the story of Peter Street. To go through so much and be treated so badly was heartbreaking. I’m dyslexic, not of low intelligence. When he spoke of how his teacher made him stand in a rubbish bin, I immediately got the, “you are a piece of rubbish, so you should be in a rubbish bin. I think I was more angry than sad. I did also like the episode with Fern Brady, I have pre ordered her book as an audiobook.

  • in reply to Roy

    ‘When I first realised that I’m autistic I listened to a series of podcasts on BBC sounds it’s called 1800 seconds on autism’

    I listened to this podcast too and I thought it was great, I really enjoyed the humour that came from how well both the hosts knew each other. It’s a really  positive podcast and very funny.

    Do you have a favourite episode?

  • When I first realised that I’m autistic I listened to a series of podcasts on BBC sounds it’s called 1800 seconds on autism. The two people who host it have more needs than me, they openly talk about stimming. I then got imposter syndrome, I’m obviously not autistic or so I thought. Fast forward and I started to remember how as a child I loved to bite myself and shake my hands, I think it’s part of unmasking, I stim at home now and know that my wife doesn’t fully understand, but she is learning with me. It’s often as if I have too much energy and anxiety at the same time and need to get rid of some of it. When driving, my wife will often twirl her hair and rub one ear lobe, she is unaware that she even does it, the odd time I’ve mentioned it, she has  just said that it’s comforting. It’s a neurotypical stim, or is it?