Video clip about autistic Stimming

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Hi guys! I was involved with Fixers in a project about Stimming, the movements that those with autism do. Stimming is a rather big part of my life, so I wanted to increase awareness of it. You can view the link to the video below! It's just over 3 minutes in length! Tell me what you think, & how Stimming effects you, etc, & can you relate to what I said?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8RC1OxlrJY

I thought it was good because it was pretty informative. Also thought it was great that towards the end you brought up the tendency of society to try to stop people from doing this because of how it appears to others rather than because it is harmful in any way.

Until very recently I didn't even know that I still sometimes hand flapped when I was excited or anxious. But I happened to ask a few different people who I work with who were fairly understanding sorts and they said - yes, they have seen me do it on a number of occasions - but not all the time. This really surprised me because I had no idea that I still hand flapped.

When I discussed this with my psychiatrist - he described my hand flapping as a kind of pressure release valve and actually agreed that simply stopping it would only result in building up more pressure - like trying to stop the tea kettle from whistling by holding its flap shut. As he put it - people on the autistic spectrum and many others for that matter are lacking in a self-soothing mechanism. His suggestion was that I acquire something like a stress squeeze ball or some other self-soothing, comforting fiddle object so that I can dissipate that excess energy in a less demonstrative manner. For me, I would rather dissipate that nervous energy in way that does not attract unwanted attention. I must say that since I acquired a stress ball to squeeze and frankly since I started on a prescription of Zoloft - the only stimming I have done has been when I am all by myself and I know that I am doing it and it is 100% completely under my conscious control.

P.S. It is a great video and it certainly is good to inform the public and to appeal to their sense of reason and fairness for a bit more acceptance of harmless oddities that they may not understand.

I liked the fact that the video included both the 20-year-old man who is himself on the Spectrum, and the actress who was such a good sport about it.

* It reminds me of an idea I had for a bi-weekly Aspergers-Autism Spectrum group where we might have a short business meeting with announcements, a member or guest might do a presentation on a topic, then we go out for lunch, and then maybe we continue on for an event.

*And people like counselors or job coaches are welcome to attend. We would just ask that they consider stimming in public. Don't have to do it, just consider it.

*To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing like this in Houston, Texas, but I wish there was.

That was pretty good. Shows what stimming is compared to common nervous habits. I'm a major rocker (Rock On in my user title). I also turn my head to look behind me like every 30 seconds. I also say "uh huh" a lot but not to anyone in particular. Stuff like that.

wow. great video. My initial reaction was that the actress's stimming was "over-the-top", but, I am sure it is not.
I have, until recently, not known many people farther down the Autism spectrum, so I had little point of reference, other than my OWN stimming, which is less/milder. Still, I have rarely paused to think about how this looks to others. Well dressed (if a little off kilter) middle aged woman who bounces in her seat, rocks back and forth in seat, bounces or rocks on heels and finger flicks. Growing up, I HAD to tone it down, so I pretty much only hand-flap in private. Sometimes I need to step out or take a quick walk so I can do it and "get it out", then I can be more "public appropriate" for awhile.

I really liked it. That actress looked exactly like me in the way she stimmed: the rocking and hand-flapping are exactly what I do. I don't clap (much), but I do rub my hands together while rocking sometimes, and can come across looking very much like she did sitting on that bench. Thanks for the video

Yes. Great video!
So, that´s handflapping? I do it, when tension/impatience becomes too much.
Occasionally I clap. (I never understood that one)

Otherwise I often rock slightly and rub hands together (seems classic), or just rub hands.
I talk to myself quite a lot and often repeat my last words a few times.

To fiddlers I can recommend a stress ball (a "hairy ball).I spin it a lot.

Wow, I have never seen anyone do that and mine are not that extreme, yes I rock or touch my hands together but not the way the actress did it. It just seemed over exaggerated or unless I have been with the wrong autistic people I stim due to anxiety or when I am nervous. I wonder if mine are actually normal stims.

I think everyone on the spectrum stims in their own way. Not every autistic has the same stims. Just like how not every autistic person you meet is going to be the same as the next. I do a lot of stimming when I'm excited or can't hold in the hyperactivity I feel at times. I do this by squealing or laughing weirdly while clapping or flapping my arms like a bird. I probably do it more often than I think, and I've even had my parents see this and look at me like I had gone completely nuts. They don't totally understand the spectrum as much as they should. I don't do these stims in public. I find other ways to stim that would seem a bit more typical to others. I have been know to rock on occassion in public, but I've never had anyone stare at me or make comments about it to themselves.

Replying to, "wow. great video. My initial reaction was that the actress's stimming was "over-the-top", but, I am sure it is not."

Well, it' defenitly not for me personally. When I stim, I can really go for it.

I thought your video was very well done! I like seeing other people stim, it's nice.

I don't stim that hard out in public but in private I give it all I've got. It's very much like the teakettle analogy- or I also like 'how trees give off water vapor' because it's something I do mostly constantly but small and all over. A wiggle here, a 'taco taco' (my favorite word) there... it's like exhaling. I would do it more in public but I'm not that brave.

Here we go again:


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oukupxRUA84[/youtube]

Huh. I thought stimming was more subtle. Normally i peck at the desk with my hand and sometimes pound my fist against the wall when i'm close to breaking and rocking back and forth, but that's mainly because of my unpredictable heartbeat, but i'd never think it was this noticeable.

Well done Alex. The video was really good. My stims are not as big as the ones you showed, I rock more slowly and I don't do two stims at once, usually just one at a time. But I thought you did a great job with the video. And you and your sister are so cute. You must have a very cute family.

Hmm...

I learned some new stims today...