Stimming and NTs

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Stimming is supposed to be a specific trait for AS, but I have noticed that plenty of people I know who are definately not on the autism spectrum do things that could be considered stims. My boss taps his feet obsessively during seminars, a coworker who sits near me twists his finger constantly round his hair, someone else pushes his nose down (again during seminars). Sometimes I wonder whether I really stim more than the average person does anyway. OK, so there are certain stims like hand flapping which are considered autistic, but I dont do these (my favorite is rubbing my nail against my lips). Anyone else noticed NTs stimming?

I consider obsessive reading as stimming. That is the only stimming activity I possess...

I dont think stimming is in itself directly related to autism, I think that people on the spectrum just have similar types of stimming that is not seen in NTs.

The human mind has properties that mean that thoughts and activity are on a feedback loop, whether the person is on the spectrum or not.

Stimming is related to addictive behaviours, OCD, depression, panic, any circular thought patterns that get a bit out of control in a person.

Even if a person does not have out of control thoughts though, their thoughts will still follow a circular pattern, though slower. It is just the nature of thoughts.

What slightly changes between NT stimming and autistic stimming is just the name for it, IMO - mannerisms and stimming, respectively.

NT kids don't flap their hands because they're taught early on that it's a "bad" thing to do by their parents.

Stereotypic movements are perfectly normal. Everybody does it. What makes it a feature of ASD is kind and degree. You won't usually see NTs flapping their hands. They don't do very much of it at all unless they're nervous, but they do it. It certainly isn't specific to AS.

The title of this thread reminds me of the time I was taking admissions at the door for my venue...and often doing that kind of stuff causes me to stim more...juggling all these people and money...yeee......and in my nervousness, I had reached the point of hand flapping....and the girl who I was taking the money from said (in slight valley girl accent)"oh my god....what are you doing?"

just for fun...and in the midst of my stress I told her I was stimming...

I was not used to my stimming being outwardly noticed....

I people watch all the time....of course everybody stims...

She really didn't have a response...she might have said "oh"...but I don't remember...she just took her change and moved on.

The guy standing next to her in line did smile at me and it almost seemd as though it could have been a smile of understanding...but I guess it could have gone either way.