Favourite stim :)

Fingers tapping 

I'm not so sure that I would consider it a 'favourite' stim, but for as long as I can remember, I have found it impossible to leave skin blemishes alone (mine, not other people's, in case you were wondering). If I get dry, cracked lips, I find it difficult to resist the urge to pick at them. Whilst I may have other stims that I'm not aware of, picking at skin blemishes seems to be what I do most often.

Edited to add: It's just occurred to me that stroking soft fabrics is another stim. If I'm in a clothing department, I have a tendency to pick up items made from soft fabrics and rub them against my cheek.

That's the one! I'd love to know how they turn out if you do any! I have a feeling I might not be able to wait til I retire! The written words inside the book are lovely too. I remember one bit about the crocheted pieces being used as teaching aids for surgeons to demonstrate how skin 'knits' together. (Hope I've remembered that right!). It was a fascinating read anyway! Enjoy

I have just looked this book up and put it on my wish list!

Is it this book?

en.wikipedia.org/.../Crocheting_Adventures_with_Hyperbolic_Planes

"Adventures in Crocheting Hyperbolic Planes..."

That. Sounds. Awesome. 

They look great! They've reminded me of a beautiful book I have by a Latvian mathematician called Daina Taimina. The book is called something like Adventures in Crocheting Hyperbolic Planes. I'm thinking I might get time to look at it when I retire. Might start with these Mobius strips in the meantime. Thanks for mentioning them.

I stroke my face, particularly if it still feels smooth from shaving. I play with my fingers when socially anxious. Probably move hands and feet around a bit, but I feel self-conscious about doing that for some reason and try not to. Occasionally, I pluck at the small hairs on my ears. I probably have others I can't think of. Strangely, I don't think of myself as someone who stims, but clearly I do (repressed ableism or just lacking self-awareness?).

In the Jewish community, it's considered normal even for allistics to rock back and forth during prayer or religious study, sometimes quite violently (called shockling). It's supposed to aid concentration, although I think most people do it more or less unconsciously. I do that too, although, again, I often try not to, as I don't think it's actually that appropriate during prayer, even if more or less 100% of religious Jews do it and have been doing it for centuries.

I do something similar with my thumb and index fingers.

I want to see if I can figure out how to crochet this:

https://www.shapeways.com/product/Z7WHBVNL9/round-mobius-strip-large-variant

The link has a 3d shape you can turn around, but I haven't looked at it enough yet to fully understand it. I must not look at it now just before sleep time...!

I remember the first time I was introduced to a mobius strip in school and it was amazing.  Weird stuff like that is very satisfying for me.

I also get the brain trying to work things out in the small hours.  Brain, you need sleep!

They really are. Very satisfying. Quick to make and can be made in different textures of yarn, I made a fluffy one which is a fave. I was using them in my pre-assessment and she was quite interested in them too.

Plus I went down a fun rabbit trail of looking into mobius stuff which is quite interesting, and I invented variants, although my brain waking me up at 2am to crochet for 3 hours was not ideal as I got a headache the next day!

I just had to look up how to make those.  They look super fun!

Flapping my hands when i'm excited about something 

For me it is the edge of a piece of cloth like a ribbon, I find the sensation of the cloth edge under my fingernails very soothing and I still use it to get to sleep. Have done this all my life and I will be 57 next month. 

I have recently discovered crochet mobius fidgets which are very enjoyable both to make and to play with. 

Unconsciously, I bounce my legs when sitting and jiggle my feet when lying down. Consciously, I fiddle with small objects, especially mechanical ones that pivot, slide and/or click - ballpoint pens Swiss army penknives etc. I also have a favourite pebble, that is just the right size, shape, weight and texture, which I rub between the palms of my hands, or I squeeze it between the fingers of one hand until it shoots out, and I then catch it with the other hand, and repeat.

I love, love, love those little candy tins with the hinged lids, like Altoids come in. Given one, I will sit and pop the lid open and shut over and over.  Best to stay away from them around other people, as the noise drives other people bonkers :) 

I have a good few, though my very very favourite is sitting cross legged on my bed, listening to a favourite song that I sing to with eyes closed, rocking back and forth and doing a finger play, alternating with each hand. It looks like I'm playing invisible castanets. 

I have so many I enjoy! Visual stims, like those 3d magic eye pictures.  Soft stuff.  Deep pressure.  

I have several with my fingers. Lining up my fingernails and rubbing my thumb back and forth over them.  Tucking my index finger into the skin between it and my thumb.  A new one I discovered recently but really enjoy the feel of is I make an O with my index finger and thumb, then put my middle finger on top of the fingernail of my little finger, and then move both pairs in circles like they're pedaling a bike.  I just discovered I was doing it while walking one day and it feels strange and good. 

I took a picture as it's hard to explain!