Stimming

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I've recently found out about stimming. I found it quite interesting really because I'd tried putting into words what I do and googling it, but to no avail. I've always done "weird things" and I never really knew why. I guess my mum must've told me off for doing stuff like this when I was little and now I am very aware of dong these things, especially in public.

A good couple of monthes ago, before I'd read up on stimming or aspergers for that matter, I posted this on a forum:

" Basically, I get this weird feeling and to relieve it, I tense up and flap my hands really quickly, sometimes I rock my head from side to side or back and forth, or some other sort of quick and repetative movement. When I get excited, I get a similar feeling, and I jump up and down and flap my hands about. I know this is weird behaviour because no-one else does it. In social situations, I supress it as much as possible, but when my friends notice it, they think I'm really weird (not the most socially competant anyway- and this doesn't help my case). This has pretty much happenened as long as I can remember, but very early on, I realises it wasn't normal and hid it!

I know the immediate response to this will be "just stop" but it's more difficult because it's driven by a need to do it. And basically- it just makes me feel better!!

I was wondering if anyone else has this feeling or has similar behaviours? Is this a common thing? And why does it happen? "I didn't really get any particularly helpful answers, mainly "go to your doctors"- which I really didn't need to or "this is weird".

I was wondering if this was stimming? It could just be general compulsive movement, or just me being slightly obscure. I also stretch my neck and arms lots and twist my wrists and fingers when I get anxious and sometimes just in general.

What do you think? And if it is stimming, do you think it's OK to do it in public when I need/ want to, or not? Oh and is stimming a specifically aspie thing to do/ do NT's do it too? Do you think an NT would find it calming/ a release of energy?

Thank you!!

P.S. I'm not officially aspie, neither am I sure that I am- infact I totally undecided so that's why I was asking about the NT thing.

Sounds like stimming, but such movement quirks are not necessarily because of autism. Is this something you have always done? Is it new?

As for publicly appropriate, that depends entirely on where you are, what is happening and who you are around. At an Aspie convention it would blend right in. At a meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff you would likely be escorted from the room.

I'm NT. Personally I think everyone does it, just to different degrees. I shake my foot, I incessently talk to myself just like my mom, ( which may or may not be appropriate depending on who you talk to, this may be a learned behavior), my NT sister rolls her eyes when she's nervous. I think everyone does it to some degree to relieve stress...unless they drink

Thanks for the answers so far! To answer your question, wavefreak58, from being very young I have done it. However, the behaviour has kind of evolved too. For example, when I was younger I did used to hit my head on walls when I got angry, but now I flap my hands/ wave my arms/ jump up and down on the spot, screw my face up (and generally do a little bit of an angry dance). That was just an example of how my "quirky movements" have changed.

Oh and MommyJones, I do the foot-shaking thing too!

Thank you!

I have a few different stims, but the only one I do that you mentioned is probably stretching my neck and arms alot. Besides that I pace ALOT. When I have long enough hair I will twist and pull on it constantly. I also tend to drum my fingers on things at random times. I do believe that alot of NTs have certain stims of their own, but there are certain ones that are more common among people with AS. For instance, I have met NTs who will pace sometimes, but never as much as I do. I have never met an NT who twists their hair around constantly, though I'm sure there are some that do at times. It may just be a way for people to get rid of anxiety. People with autism may get anxious more often than some, but anxiety is something that neither NTs or people on the autism spectrum are immune to.

Hand flapping is a classic stim, and one that neurotypicals don't seem to do much.

Yes sounds like stimming to me.
I've never heard of stimming not being a part of autism unless it's another developmental disorder.
ADHD have their fidgeting which isn't the same.

Me I shake, flap and twist my hands.
I'm a foot and leg shaker too.
I've started to rock a bit more.
I look up and around which is a sort of stim.
I move my head from side to side.
Scruff my hair up. This is probably close to a nervous act that an NT would do.
I also flick my tongue over my teeth til it hurts.
I get the desire to bang my head too but don't usually.
I get excited and punch my legs and jump up and down. And make animals sounds.
I also sing the same line of song over and over again.
And hum.
I think I pace but when I'm really bored, so it's more to do with hyperactivity.

Your stimming does sound like AS to me. Also, your social problems.
Are you pretty set in your ways? Do you hate change or have a routine without realising it? Got any intense interests?

It's your choice if you want to stim in public or not.
My stimming is hard to control so I try my best not to look at people.

Rocking when listening to music, waving my arms in the air when I'm nervous. I can't follow a set dance routine; when the music is playing, and I get excited, I feel the urge to move my body the way I sense. I wish I could stop stimming in public though.

I had this stimming thing I did up until about the age of twelve. I'd make this ridge in my pillow about half an inch high and thump it up and down with my forefinger. It drove my father crazy when he'd see me doing it... Id do it on ridge on my jeans too. Sometimes Id suck my bottom lip at the same time. I recall it as very comforting, but when I try it now... nothing.

I posted an article about this here:

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postp3266424 ... t=#3266424