Stimming

Hi I’d like to ask a question related to stimming. Is it something you feel you consciously or unconsciously  choose to do? I do find myself rocking or stimming with my hands without even thinking about it, but also will reach for my favourite cuddly toy as the material feels so nice to me, and that one is definitely consciously choosing to do it. I know that I have always stimmed a lot but sadly mask when with others as it makes me worry what people will assume about me. No one thinks it’s normal for a 50 year old woman to suck her thumb but it just feels so good. As someone who isn’t diagnosed but I score very highly in every test I’ve done, this is all new to me as I just thought it was how I was, but adding a lot of things together and researching shows I am definitely on the spectrum and my mind has been crying out for help for a long time. 

Parents
  • Know that I know it, I regularly find my stimming unconsciously when I am in one-to-one situations with people - even just in regular conversation, which I often find very challenging.

    At home, I usually stim by touching the silky clothes label - something I known that I have done since I was a toddler.   I don't think I stim consciously in this case.

    At work, I usually have a small but  thick polythene bag conveniently located on my desk so that I can "look under it" for things I might need.  This I tend to do more consciously but not regularly.

Reply
  • Know that I know it, I regularly find my stimming unconsciously when I am in one-to-one situations with people - even just in regular conversation, which I often find very challenging.

    At home, I usually stim by touching the silky clothes label - something I known that I have done since I was a toddler.   I don't think I stim consciously in this case.

    At work, I usually have a small but  thick polythene bag conveniently located on my desk so that I can "look under it" for things I might need.  This I tend to do more consciously but not regularly.

Children
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