Published on 12, July, 2020
Can you explain what stimming is in a simple way?
I don't know if I stim
I know I make a noise with my breathing through my nose, but I don't know why I do it.
When I'm in bed I like to rub my foot on the sheets. I know this makes me relax and calms me. Is that a stim?
I used to suck my thumb and touch a cold pillow with the back of my hand when I was a child. I know this relaxed me when I was younger
What else could me a stim?
This graphic explains stimming beautfifully:
https://ausometraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Stimming-Poster.pdf
I hope this helps!
Great poster, thanks. I'd never heard of stimming before my diagnosis. Now I realise that I do quite a few. Lots of them are things my parents told me off for as a child and said I was weird and needed to stop doing it or I wouldn't fit in. Now I'm trying to accept that they are OK because they help my anxiety and it just feels nice.
You are so welcome! I have this poster up on my bedroom wall!
Little Owl said: Now I realise that I do quite a few. Lots of them are things my parents told me off for as a child and said I was weird and needed to stop doing it or I wouldn't fit in. Now I'm trying to accept that they are OK because they help my anxiety and it just feels nice.
I am so sorry that you were shamed for stimming. Please know that stimming is beautiful and in our autistic community we encourage you to embrace your stims! Free the stim! What are your favourite stims?
Cool!