I haven't really talked about stimming here, but it's been on my mind lately, so here's a small (sort of) post about stims!
What is stimming?
1. "Self-stimulatory behavior, also known as stimming...is the repetition of physical movements, sounds, or words, or the repetitive movement of objects...most prevalent in people on the autism spectrum." - Wikipedia
2. Stimming is used often as a coping mechanism (such as to help stave off impending meltdowns), to display emotion, or for focus. It is also used when a person stims solely for comfort, often subconsciously.
Examples of stimming:
Snapping fingers
Tapping feet
Running hands along fabrics, especially textured ones such as corduroy or fur
Saying a word or phrase, often repeatedly
Flapping hands (typically when excited)
Curling fingers or toes
Excessive blinking
Tongue clicking
Pacing
Rocking to and fro
Organizing objects (i.e., by color, height, in a straight line, etc)
Playing with/Pulling on hair
Whistling/humming/singing
Examples of unhealthy stims:
Hitting oneself (with an object or against a hard surface)
Biting or scratching oneself
Tearing or excessive pulling on hair
My personal favorite stims:
Curling my toes around each other (apparently this is a hypermobility thing?). I've done this since I was very little, and have continued for years. It's a subconscious stim.
Placing my pinky finger atop my ring finger when holding a book or phone. Also subconscious.
Repeatedly making a humphing noise at the back of my throat. It's a bit hard to explain, but it reminds me of the cute sound that guinea pigs make. I often stim like this whenever I'm excited, nervous or deep in thought.
Swaying from side to side (when sitting down, especially on a floor) while listening to someone talk. For some reason, this repetitive movement helps me listen to, and focus better on, what someone is saying. If I force myself to keep still, it becomes harder to understand what the person is talking about, and I tend to instantly forget whatever they said.
Masking:
When an autistic person "masks," he or she purposely refrains from stimming (and suppresses additional 'telltale signs' of their autism) when in public - like putting on a mask to hide your true self. This masking is intended to hide what is normal to autistics, but what other people may consider strange or annoying. Masking is unnatural and exhausting. I mask a lot in public, but I allow myself more subtle stims like blinking repeatedly or tapping my thumb against each of my fingers. Swaying back and forth is the only overt stim I feel comfortable displaying in public. In louder environments, I will sometimes stim vocally (humphing or quietly humming) since no one is likely to hear me. Since these are fairly invisible stims, I can effectively mask without compromising my focus or comfort.
