Stimming is Self Stimulating Behaviour and refers to repetitive behaviours or sounds. Stimming is often associated with autism. Stimming can look like flapping hands, rocking motions, pacing, repeating words or phrases, leg bouncing, nail-biting, spinning a ring on your finger, wringing hands etc.
If you're an autism parent, it is likely you've seen your child present repetitive stimming (self stimulatory) behaviors such as hand flapping, spinning, and shaking.
Stimming – or self-stimulatory behaviour – is repetitive or unusual body movement or noises. Stimming might include: hand and finger mannerisms – for example, finger-flicking and hand-flapping.
Self-stimulatory behavior is not unique to individuals on the autism spectrum and can be seen in neurotypical individuals as well.
In reality, neurotypical people stim, too - they just might not realize it. Common examples of stimming include rocking, clenching fists, tapping fingers, and humming. Some people stim in response to anxiety or stress, while others stim when they're bored or fatigued.
Stimming can take many different forms: visual: staring off into space, drawing, spinning things like pens or coins. verbal/auditory: repeating sounds, excessive giggling, constantly clearing throat. tactile: rubbing fingers, chewing/biting nails, chewing the inside of cheeks.
That's right, stimming (not swimming) is voluntary behavior people use to either self-soothe or—when they need a boost—to keep their minds engaged. You don't need to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism to stim because like swimming, it can sometimes help anyone stay afloat.
Stimming differs from fidgeting and often includes unusual behaviors, like hand-flapping or repeating meaningless words and phrases.
Stimming is a hallmark sign of ASD. Actions such as head banging, sitting on the ground and twirling over and over, or hand-flapping are classic forms of stimming, but there are many expressions like Carol's, that are a bit more subtle. These include: Staring at objects — especially anything with lights or movement.
Hair twirling, nail-biting, toe-tapping, and knuckle-cracking are all common stimming examples. Autistic stimming is often engaged when a person is feeling overstimulated by things they cannot control or when they are understimulated, or to reduce pain, or to self-soothe.
Stimming is self-stimulatory behaviour which is also known as stereotypic behaviour in layman's term. Even adults engage in stimming behaviour by biting nails, twirling hair, pacing around the room or tapping pen on the table. Sometimes the stimming behaviour can be quite annoying to people around.
People who ADHD may engage in several different types of stimming, though some may seem to have select behaviors that they tend to default to. Examples of stimming in ADHD, grouped here by type, include: Visual: "Zoning out," spinning objects like coins or fidget toys, pacing, doodling.
Tactile stimming refers to repetitive behaviors connected to a person's sense of touch. Examples may include: Rubbing or scratching of hands or objects. Repetitive hand motions such as opening and closing fists. Tapping fingers repeatedly.
Uncontrolled leg movements can have a number of causes, from restless leg syndrome to hyperthyroidism to anxiety. Using certain substances such as alcohol or stimulant drugs can also cause leg shaking. If you are worried about your leg shaking or if it interferes with your daily life, contact your healthcare provider.
Foot tapping and leg shaking
The urge to move is almost reflexive in those with ADD/ADHD and can be annoying to others. Lead with compassion when you are interacting with someone who is tapping their foot or shaking their legs; they're just trying to regulate chemicals in their brains and make it easier to focus.
One hypothesis is that stimming causes the release of beta-endorphins in the body, which then causes a feeling of anesthesia or pleasure. Management of emotions: Both positive and negative emotions may trigger a burst of stimming. We've all seen physical reactions to joy or excitement, such as jumping or hand-flapping.
Happy stimming in ADHD is when someone stims to show pleasure instead of as a way to help them focus or calm down. Any type of stim can be happy stimming. Happy stimming can be a way to alleviate boredom, show creativity or feel connected to your surroundings.
Masking is when a person with ADHD acts in a “socially acceptable” way to fit in and form better connections with those around them. This usually involves camouflaging their symptoms by controlling their impulses, rehearsing responses, and copying the behaviors of those who don't have ADHD.
Stimming is the short version of self-stimulation or self-stimulatory behavior. It is a self-soothing mechanism characterized by the repetition of movements, words, or sounds. As it is commonly found among children diagnosed with autism, some professionals refer to the behavior as autistic stereopathy or stereotypy.
Can sensory issues be a symptom of ADHD? Sensory issues and sensory processing disorders are prevalent in people with ADHD. Although scientists are still researching the exact correlation, research has shown that kids and adults with ADHD are more likely than neurotypical people to experience sensory overload.
ADHD Stimming
Children with ADHD may stim more in the form of fidgeting. This can entail a child squirming in their seat but can also include more noticeable and disruptive behaviors, including speaking over other people, humming loudly, picking at skin or hair, or pacing back and forth.
Some developmental health professionals refer to PDD-NOS as “subthreshold autism." In other words, it's the diagnosis they use for someone who has some but not all characteristics of autism or who has relatively mild symptoms.
Folks without autism or ADHD may stim as well, particularly when anxious. The American Psychological Association describes anxiety as an emotion marked by worry and physical responses, including high blood pressure. Stimming seems to calm anxiety, especially in response to overstimulation.