Is it ok to stim heavily as a mature adult?

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My stereotypies (I don't like the word stim) happen automatically and I am not aware of it most of the time. Mostly repetitive hand movements and some other movements like head nodding or rocking. When I realize that I am doing it I try to make it less obvious, but I know that when I stop thinking about it I will start doing it. I used to be totally oblivious to it unless someone brought it to my attention because they got annoyed or people made fun of me, but still I didn't know it was something that wasn't normal, and I didn't think much of it.
I am more aware of it since learning about it. I don't do it for any conscious reason, it's just my natural mode and it is constant, either a purposeless perseveration or it's related to sensory processing disorder or sensory integration. I don't know if it relaxes me but I am uncomfortable if I try to stop it.

I already knew what stimming was because my autistic son does it a lot. But until I was diagnosed with apergers last month I didn't realise how much I did it myself, knee bouncing being the most obvious thing ( I lways took it to be an uncontrolled nervous tick) I don't think I do the arm flapping thing, or at least I'm not conciously aware that I ever have.

If I don't do something to stimulate myself my body becomes very tense like a spring needing to be released, and the tension gets greater till I give in and do something to release the physical tension. I can relate to the stretching till it lt hurts thing, I have done that on many occasions (again never really thought about it till now, I'm still learning lol)

My opinion ims that if you can't do what you like at home then its a travesty of personal freedom. In public I guess you have to be careful, so as not to attract unwanted derision, but the knee bouncing thing seems to be ok (again I just tell people its a tick and they accept that)

Remember your stims are NOT HARMFUL to others, so its not really their business. If they are freaked out by some of your mannerisms, then that is a problem with THEIR inability to cope with the real world, they need to get a grip and stop being upset over trivial things.

Unfortunately we don't live in a utopian world so there will always be small minded people who will use your mannerisms to be cruel to you, but the problem is with them not you!

I stim (or rock and bob) when listening to music, I let it out when alone and sometimes when around others. I'm mainly at Uni at present and the other students don't interact beyond study/nice-ities really, so I think no one's bothered.

I bounce my leg incessantly when sitting. I don't usually notice it. I can stop, when told to, but I don't like to. People comment on it often. I don't feel that it's something that is inappropriate though or that takes away from my credibility (like twirling in circles would at my age).

Since self-diagnosis, I've realized how much I clap and flap my hands when excited, too. Fortunately, I don't think I get excited enough to do this unless I'm around close friends and family. I'd be embarrassed if someone at work commented on it.

One that bugs me because I never realized that I do it... my husband says that when I'm concentrating hard on what someone is saying that I move my lips like I'm talking, too. Not sure if that qualifies as a stim since I don't think that I get any release from it... but it really can't help me out when trying to blend in... Anyone else ever been told that they do that?

I'm a nailbiter and a leg bouncer

my newest one is tugging on my eyebrows. I find the tug pleasing, although my brows are getting a little thin

Hi,

I have had a relationship with rhythmic movement for years as a musician, but it wasn't until reading this thread, that I realised my so called "fidgeting" and "incessant tapping" is probably a form of stimming too. It definitely distracts/stimulates me in a way that allows me to feel more mentally relaxed.

An interesting aspect to this, is that I consciously play with the rhythms to address the feeling I desire - for example: "complex" and "compound" time signatures can add a funky oval lolloping feel, or a sense of urgency, whilst a "simple" fat back-beat can be equally satisfying in a more brute-force manner.

I stim in several of the other ways that people here have mentioned too, and for me tapping of drum patterns can definitely have a similar urge to these activities. I'm particularly satisfied by odd meters. Does anyone else have a take on this?

btw: On reflection, I think this may be to do with "control"; To take events, and stipulate exactly where they fall. The more acute the implementation is, the more satisfying.

Leg rocking you can get away with body rocking you'll get ridiculed for in my experience . In private go for it . I wonder if leg stimying is bad for my knees they get sore sometimes so I have to mix it up.

Heh if you're alone what's the big deal x) I am most comfortable when I am alone with my obnoxious habits

When in private, it's okay to be yourself, as long as you aren't hurting anyone. I don't stim as much as some others on the spectrum, but do have to suppress myself somewhat in public occasionally. Doesn't always work though. Was in a waiting area at a business recently, and a couple of other people were waiting there too. Had a nice tune going thru my brain. Couldn't shut it off, and couldn't stop moving my hands or nodding my head to the beat. At least I looked like I was peacefully having a good time. Was waiting for a relative to finish his business there, and I am always stressed by being with relatives, so I guess that's why I was having trouble controlling the stimming that day. I live alone, so I am able to stim all I want when I am at home. I don't stim much away from home, but it helps to know that I will be able to do it once I get home. This helps me control most of it when I am away from home, although I will still twirl utensils and pens anywhere. None of my stims hurt anyone, and they seem to relieve stress, so it doesn't bother me, as long as I don't look too weird in public.

IMO, yes, it is ok. I have autism and tourette. I can't even stay still in my sleep. I do a wide variety of really noticeable stims and tics, and nobody says anything. Leg bouncing, bobbing my head as if listening to music, twitching or twisting my head to the side or on an angle as if to pop my neck, staring off into space even though I'm paying attention, finger tapping, finger fanning, finger danging, flapping at the wrist, popping my knuckles, rotating my arms, tugging at the collar of my shirt, humming, blinking overtly, twirling pens between my fingers, shifting in my seat, sitting in odd positions, etc etc... I might briefly stop moving for a minute, but usually at any given time I'm doing at least any two or three of those things, of not more. I don't make enough noise to disturb anyone, and my movements stay inside my personal bubble. Haven't had any problems with it that I'm aware of.

I started to write a reply, then I had a doubt and went to check what "stimming" means. How smart was I! It prevented me from posting a big text on my masturbation habitudes.




Now as to stimming, I do a bit of it on my desk, everything should be at its place or at least at an interesting angle with other objects around. But I don't care what people think of it, it's quite soft I think and did not increase in life fortunately. I also do those things with my fingers, my hands and my jaw but I believe no one really pays attention to that so I feel OK with it.

My ankles/lower legs/knees are often intertwined, sometimes with a foot flapping too. I need to shift in my chair a lot, I hold my wrists or slowly wring my hands. I'm barefoot usually but socks must be arch support for the squeeze, I sometimes wear a tight tank top under my clothes if I need to focus a lot that day.

I stim nonstop 24/7 even in my sleep, to the point I've needed medication for self-harm. I don't hide it at all any more because I think I'd go out of my mind without it.

I was stimming before I knew what it was and knowing I was autistic.My is pacing had it for yrs some people can't even tell when doing it in front of them.