Why do people bang their head?

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My guess is extreme overstimulation. Crippling sensitivity and physical disability so that forming words is virtually impossible. Can anyone speak from personal experience?

When the neurodiverse community advocates for a new view of autism, that expands to them.... no cure! not a disease, a difference.... disability has to be included in that. We have to consider EVERYONE on the spectrum. Some people are really suffering. BADLY. Because of ignorance. People talk about people in terms of biological age, like "her son is severely autistic, at about a 6 month old level."

oh, really ? How the f**k do you know!! !! ! (sorry to those who cringe at cursing, sincerely. I curse when I need to) Can you read that person's mind?

We've got to include EVERYONE.

So, I need an education myself. I don't live with someone with disabling autism. I'm thinking of that Mom in California who put out YouTube video rants about how the government isn't helping with her son. Ok first of all, you're voice is too f*****g loud!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!at
Less stimulation, he needs the upmost MELLOW conditions with gentle stimulation like running water, plants, an animal. Get him a dog right this instant! Assuming he's not allergic. The best food money can buy. ORGANIC, pure food to soothe his nervous system. BE CAREFUL of pharmaceutical medicine!

This is where I'd start for advocacy for EVERYONE on the spectrum.

Can anyone speak to head banging?

Sometimes I head bang without even knowing I'm head banging, in the late phases of a meltdown. I sit in a corner and drift out of "real world", until I realise I've been hitting my head on the wall, quite hard. I couldn't really tell you why though, just a meltdown-y thing I think.

I do it when I am frustrated or when I am having a meltdown. I don't do it often and I don't do it too hard so I won't give myself a head injury.

Well i've hit my head on the wall in frustration and such before....then of course there are metal concerts and listening to metal, of course one can headbang with the music but that is not the same as banging it on the wall for sensory overload, or over stimulation or that sort of thing.

I somewhat agree with you. Some parents (I have no intention or right to blame them though) don’t sometimes sense that a lot of the behaviors are for internal and emotional reasons. They usually state, that stimming or self-harming is solely a reaction to sensory input or an action done because you are mentally “ret*d”.

Some of my stimming is purely an action to block the outside and “to get as in as possible”, some is just a reaction to some internal feelings, like excitement or anxiety, some is a reaction to sensory overload. Some stimming actions are there without a particular reason (or at least I can’t articulate the reason).

Some of my stimming is an attempt to relieve anxiety. I do not hit my head, but when I am overly anxious I hit my thighs (I remember reading that autisticnintendofan did the same stuff too) or sometimes I hit my hands together (a bit like clapping but with a force). A milder version is to shake my head from side to side while anxious. The reasons for anxiety can be very many and there are probably as many reasons as there are people, sensing isolation, being frustrated, being treated badly, being hurt, not being able to shift you focus elsewhere otherwise, selfhatred and so on...

I feel that when I was not talking, I was still the same. I think that ultimately that child didn’t change that much, when she learned to talk. All the emotions, all the human needs were there. And sometimes this thought makes me feel extremely sad, cause I know that very many of those who are nonverbal and living in horrible circumstances as completely misunderstood and forgotten, feel and have these same things inside.

Because Motley Crue really used to rock!

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I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
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The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WuPwLGy7qM[/youtube]

In my case, I bang my head when I feel bad about myself and like I deserve to be hurt, or else when I feel intense emotional pain and want physical pain to distract me from the emotional pain. Which are both pretty much the same reasons as non-autistic people who self-injure.

I become SO incredibly frustrated that I can't express it verbally. I feel that I need to release the tension some how, so I stomp, slam my hands, smack my head, or something of the like.

I do it intentionally when I'm angry with myself. Well, I kind of slap myself in the face, then if I do hit my head I yell things like ''yeah, take that, stupid f*****g brain, serves you right being wired this stupid way!! !''

The only head banging I've ever done is metal head banging.

I remembered reading something about this and went and found the link again. http://www.cracked.com/article_18404_6- ... of_p2.html

I know this is about baby-behavior, but I think it applies to anyone who does this.

(Quote from article)

I've knocked holes in two different walls from banging my head. This was due to extreme frustration. One incident was in the mental hospital and they strapped my to the bed after it happened and shot some tranq in me. I was upset that they weren't going to release me so I put a hole in their wall.

I do it. Seems to be due to too much sensory input (if I'm out), but I also do it as it feels good (when not out). Both are sensory.

I used to when I was a kid. Now I only do it when things get REALLY bad. The last time I remember doing it was in 2004 after my mom passed away. Anyway it was always done to soothe and calm. Did it hurt? Yeah, but not as much as what was REALLY bothering me. It was a way of distracting myself.

This is great information...

I totally missed the metal aspect of my question!

Ok, so the sensation of "pain" can feel good, be soothing.... I have to sit with that, along with other comments.

I always appreciate the openness on this board!