Stimming: Flap-flap

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I got my diagnosis VERY late and have done a good job concealing my behaviors.

Today, a neigbour (the one, who teasingly told me, I am an aspie) asked me to loan him a thing - and I couldn´t find it.
Chaos closed up - and I couldn´t think!
I joyfully started flapping - saying "flap-flap" - just to amuse the man, who loves to tease his aspie (me).

Oops! Chaos dissolved and I found the item right away.

Is this how it works?
Perhaps I/we shouldn´t hide aspie behaviors anymore

Yes, Stimming is our way of balancing and regulating mood, behavior and functioning. I use it to calm, focus my attention and get things done. I am glad it helps you too!

Thank you

Now I come to think of it - "our" behaviors are´t all gibberish and ideosyncracies.

During my musical education, in a body-awareness course for musicians, I was actually taught to flap - to "throw out tension" by losening the wrists and flap: "Tension! GO AWAY!"
I´ve been doing it ever since.

Now, I´m doing it to collect my mind if stressed/strained

What is stimming?

It´s short for "self stimulating behavior" - stress release.
The socially accepted stims are knee bopping, ball-pen clicking and such. You´ve seen them all.

In people with autism, the stims will often be more "visible", such as rocking and flapping hands and arms -
or discrete: rubbing fingerips, touching textures (clothing or environment) - and a lot of other varieties - all about touch and repetitive movement.
The purpose is: grounding and maintenance of composure. (Autistic people are more susceptible to stress than average people).
I hope, this was a good line-up.

I stim all the time, regardless of where I am or who I'm with. I rock, flap, bounce, spin, hum, clap, and bite my fingers or chew the chewy tube I wear on a lanyard at all times. A lot of this behaviour is the uncontrollable result of too much pent up energy, be it excited or anxious, frustrated, confused, etc. I couldn't stop it even if I wanted to, it's like my body has a mind of its own.

Sometimes it's deliberate, I'll rock to manage low-key pervasive anxiety, or spin because it sparks endorphins in my brain and makes me laugh, or bounce because I'm understimulated and need the high-impact proprioception in my joints.

Stimming is a very good and healthy thing for autistics, and there's no reason we should have to hide it from anyone, no matter how strange they think we are.

Hmm. Clapping, rubbing of hands and finger-flickering are things, I just do as response to exitement - no matter where. Maybe the other things will be freed of control with time. People just have to accept....Hmmm. I just have to accept

It's been a while since I've been excited.

I like to click my tongue at times or make a pop noise.
When I'm anxious I'll use much paper like napkins to wipe my hands to stimulate touch.
I have to be careful. The touch stimming can get obsessive (if that's what stimming is).

I used to brush my hair too much.
I used to chew my fingers on the sides near my nails.