Published on 12, July, 2020
I’m very stressed, constantly, harmfully. I’m 56 and stopped stimming as a child because I was told not to by my mother. I only remember rocking and eating toothpaste off a tissue. I feel I would benefit from letting myself stim but can’t think of the ways I used to do it. Can people please tell me how they self soothe so I can try different things? Thanks Steph
I was also denied these pleasures and did them in private like a criminal or just went numb
I Enjoy very much to
rock
smell everything
taste metals (not swallow)
throw things - not in a angry way, well maybe in meltdown.
stroke tree bark (my fav), also velour and other textures
fold paper
jump
clap
slam flat hand on table for the sound
swing my lower legs while in a tall enough seat or chair
sing and talk out loud to myself
recite
raise and lower my arms
dance, a lot
gaze at rhythmically moving lights and objects like spangled water or flags in the wind and dance with them.
I don't think I do anything that could be called stimming, do all autists stim?
My list is by no means exhaustive! (haha, exhaustive)
I am very happy to hear you are not punished for it! that is awesome! Let it all hang out!
I had been speaking of my childhood when I mentioned being "denied". I was a run away for a reason.
it is part of you so do not worry just don't hurt yourself
I also do some things from your list! And I do them not only in private. No matter how many times I’m told to stop. I stop it for a minute and then subconsciously start again. The people who try to stop me get fed up. My granny tells me that I behave like a psychically sick. I stopped caring about it. It’s better for me to stim and regulate than having meltdowns on daily basis, for the witnesses the first option is also better. My stimming does not hurt anyone except lip picking. Sometimes I do it to the point of bleeding but since I know why I do it I started controlling this stim to change it into something safer.