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Franklin
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21 May 2011, 5:13 pm

I used to bounce my leg up and down real fast, all the time, but my mom told me it was just something that happens when the ankle or foot or whatever is at a certain angle.



theslanket
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21 May 2011, 9:42 pm

So there is like no research of this on the internet so I'm going to keep asking. What I am trying to research here is what stimming does to people physiologically. An example would be Temple Grandin calming down in her hugbox.

Stimming during everyday activities is interesting because it affects the nervous system on a softer level. However...
If anyone has any experiences of huge emotional changes from stimming, such as falling into a deep relaxation or ceasing to be angry or anxious, that would be really fascinating to hear.

We know that neurotypicals "stim" too: bouncing your leg can be quite common in those who don't have AS too, for example. There's probably an effect on the nervous system too, but it's probably less noticeable as well.



Verdandi
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21 May 2011, 10:11 pm

draelynn wrote:
@Zen - I used to LOVE spinning on the swing set. I had one in my backyard as a kid and I would spin the chain so tight they'd bunch up on themselves so when I'd spin there would be a 'thunk' in the middle of the spin as the knots untwisted. I'd do that for hours. I'd also explore the physics of it - holding my legs out, pull them in, try all sorts of things to see how it affected the spin.


I used to love this too - I loved spinning in general, and swings in general, and both together were an excellent combination.



TheBicyclingGuitarist
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21 May 2011, 10:39 pm

theslanket wrote:
So there is like no research of this on the internet so I'm going to keep asking. What I am trying to research here is what stimming does to people physiologically. An example would be Temple Grandin calming down in her hugbox.

Stimming during everyday activities is interesting because it affects the nervous system on a softer level. However...
If anyone has any experiences of huge emotional changes from stimming, such as falling into a deep relaxation or ceasing to be angry or anxious, that would be really fascinating to hear.


Most of the time I am overwhelmed by sensory input of all types (light, touch, sound, taste, smell, temperature, humidity or dryness, etc.) In times of greater exposure (especially crowded noisy busy places), I become more and more zombie-like until I have to find a quiet comfortable place to sit or lie down before I shut down completely in public. My mind also races a thousand directions at once at light speed, sometimes anxious or worrying (although not so much these days as when I was younger; learning eastern philosophies has given me some coping skills).

The ONLY relief I have found in this life so far is bicycle guitaring, but I have to do both at the same time. On a bicycle without a guitar, I feel every stroke of the pedals and I am out of breath in a few blocks. With the guitar, my body goes on autopilot and my mind is full of the music flowing through me. I can appreciate beauty around me (such as scenery or birdsong) while still looking out for stop signs, pedestrians, traffic, mean dogs, etc. Sometimes I can measure my progress in songs per mile, sometimes in miles per song. It depends on the terrain, the song(s), and my mood.

Guitar by itself can soothe my mind somewhat, but if I'm not on a bicycle I feel the pain of sitting and even more when standing. I used to jump up and down, wave my arm like a windmill, and bang my head a lot when playing on stage. That was twenty years ago. If I ever play on stage again, I will insist on a chair or sit on the floor.

So bicycle guitaring is not only healthy for me in terms of exercise but also gives me some temporary relief from the physical and psychological stresses that have tormented me my whole life. It is better than sex, better than drugs. That is why it really sucks even more that this Spring, for the first time in thirty years, I have limited mobility in my right leg making it difficult and painful to even get on the bicycle.


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jojobean
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21 May 2011, 11:00 pm

Bicycle guatarist....that is sooooo freakin coool!! ! I used to ride without holding while playing with my pet ball python. I am sure I looked like a freak. The neighbors would all start calling my mom about me freaking everyone out, but I didn't care.

As for stimming:
I am a stim machine. There is not a moment that I am not stimming, and mom says I even stim in my sleep.

bouncing my leg
curling my toes
playing with my hair by twirling it around my finger
chewwing and licking my lips...which lead to constatly dry lips
tapping my fingers
playing with my bracelett by twirling it around my finger and shaking it back at forth
I also touch each of my fingers with my thumb
bobbing my head
playing with anything that I can get my hands on
rubbing my skin
popping knuckles
tapping my foot
shifting around in my chair
other various figity movements

I cant stay still for a moment cause if I do, I feel like I am going to explode.


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Cubits
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22 May 2011, 12:47 am

theslanket wrote:
Stimming during everyday activities is interesting because it affects the nervous system on a softer level. However...
If anyone has any experiences of huge emotional changes from stimming, such as falling into a deep relaxation or ceasing to be angry or anxious, that would be really fascinating to hear.


I have happy, and "desperate" stims.

My happy stims are just something i do when i'm not thinking. Leg bouncing, clicking things (tv remote battery covers are a favourite), running my fingers across different textures (i have a headphone cord which is great for that), and flicking the middle of my top lip.

I only reserve my desperate stims for when i can't escape a situation. My most useful one is humming a certain resonant note again and again. I try to do it as quietly as possible, but the louder it is the more profound the effect of just melting away stress.



BasilSquire
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31 May 2011, 7:25 pm

my stims include: tapping my foot rapidly; tapping and rubbing my head/face with my hand; fidgeting with my hands (usually with a paper clip or something else that I can easily manipulate); watching coloured lights (especially purple) or sparkly objects; and repeating noises (usually animal calls) or phrases