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I can't stay away from this forum !

I was curious as to what you guys thought on this topic. Does stimming to music count as stimming (in the DSM-5 criteria)? I was just curious since I need to stim when I hear music, while it seems like neurotypicals just do it to form a social connection or enjoy the music more. When I listen to music, I am more happy than I am if I wasn't listening to it. I usually stim more when I am happy as well (there doesn't have to be music for me to stim). I have seen neurotypical people rocking back and forth to music before, so what is the difference? Is there any difference? Feel free to share what you think .

The answer to that would be:

It depends on the context and on the situation.

If you go according to the beat of the music, it's not true "stimming," most likely.

It might be stimming, though, if you, say, spin something while music is playing.

Okay, I get it more now . Thank you!

I'd tend to say it's irrelevant whether it's to music or otherwise.

Certainly, I wouldn't call tapping your foot to music likely stimming, but if you are doing your normal repetative behaviour and the music just happens to make you keep time, the sure, it's stimming. Of course, if tapping your foot is your normal stim, then maybe tapping your foot to music could be stimming.

That said, people on the spectrum do tend to be more musical than those not on the spectrum, so regardless of whether it's stimming or not, it's still something more likely to be done by people on the spectrum.

The only way I "dance" is by stimming in time to music It's usually things I will also do as stims without music, just that listening to the music makes me want to stim in a certain way. I do have a few, though, that I will only do to music, and only certain songs. I would guess that stimming in time to music counts if it's something that you ordinarily do as a stim even without music. I know music has a tendency to evoke emotions, and emotions can make one stim. I think where it's different for neurotypicals is that they will usually only do these things when listening to music. Granted, I'm just guessing here, I could be completely wrong.

Could anyone define that word "stimming"?

Stim is a release of physical energy that is 'extra' ... "stemming from" an emotional charged up feeling with a needed relief. Everyone stims, but people on the spectrum do it to a unacceptable level in society -- it is defined as unacceptable by the people that surround you & not by real science. It is a behavior thing that is either tolerated or negative consequences make you learn to stop. If the stim is a helpful thing, & is forced to stop, the person will find other more acceptable ways to replace the stimming (or sometimes they turn to drugs & alcohol).

When NT's sit for extended period of time, they may bounce their leg -- that is self-stimulating because they may be bored. The mind needs stimulation -- individuals need different levels of stimulation, like learning, entertainment, thinking, sports ... that's why many people find meditation so difficult because meditation is trying to block out stimulus & help you control yourself better ... help you practice needing less stimulus.

I stim more when I'm alone -- it isn't on purpose, it just happens. When I'm around others I lock my muscles & am more aware of myself so I don't act weird -- don't do anything that others are not doing, & tend to copy people that I'm talking to. I didn't know I did that until multiple people asked me if I was making fun of them. I didn;t realize what I was doing, but after thinking about it knew it was because it seemed safer to copy rather than make my own movements in case I wasn't being acceptable. I figured they were being acceptable so just did what they did -- but learned copying wasn't acceptable either, except when laughter happened. You laugh when others are laughing -- that is acceptable copying, but don't copy how someone is moving, because they will think you are making fun of them.

I don't know... but I like the choices on your poll... made me laugh (in a good way)!

When I sitm to music it looks something like this:

Thanks for the video, Ezra ^^^^^^^^^

Or perhaps this:



If there was any celebrity I would suspect of being autistic it would be Joe Cocker.