WHAT IS STIMMING??

 
 
Its a Self-stimulating behavior that helps a person manage emotions or self regulate.
 
‘Self-stimulatory behaviors include repetitive body movements or noises.
 

BOTH AUSTIC AND NON AUSTIC PEOPLE CAN STIM.........

 
A non autistic person may tap their foot when nervous. They may continually move their leg when anxious.  Both of those behaviors are a form of stimming.  
 
“Stims are not deliberate actions , but do have a purpose. Stimming can regulate emotion, help a person cope with an uncomfortable situation, provide sensory input and help with sensory overloads.
 

SOME STIMMING BEHAVIORS MAY GO UNNOTICED......

 
Some stimming behaviors like nail bitting and hair twirling may go unnoticed. Other stimming behaviors like hand flapping and spinning in circle will be noticed. Sometimes a person stimming can be disruptive. 
Stimming manifest it's self in many ways. Sometimes the repetitive behaviors can go beyond what is socially exceptable. 
 
If a non autistic person will usually stop stimming if they notice their behavior is drawing attention. They pick up on others body language and social cues. 
 
The autistic person may not pick up those social cues, and may continue to stim even when it is social inappropriate.
 

IT'S FASCINATING THAT THE COMPLEXITY OF STIMMING......

 
There is also a type of stimming called HAPPY STIMMING 😊 Happy stims are used to express joy and excitement! The stimming is energetic. You may see hand flapping,  continued jumping and circle spinning.
 

SENSORY STIMMING....

 
The last type of stimming I want to talk about is sensory stimming. Hyposensitivity and Hypersensitivity both play roles when it comes to sensory stimming. The autistic person who is HYPERSENSITIVE may use stimming to block out sensory input . 
The autistic person who is HYPOSENSITIVE may stim to
get sensory input . 
 
So if your child is stimming and you are trying to pinpoint what triggers the behavior here are a few things to look for. 
 
AUDITORY STIMMING 
1. Throat clearing 
2. Blurting out high pitch noises 
3.Excessive talking
 
VISUAL STIMMING 
1.Lining up toys and objects 
2.Running in circles
3.Watching ceiling fans
 
VESTIBULAR STIMMING 
1.Spinning over and over again.
2.Bouncing repeatedly 
3.Rocking side to side 
 
TACTILE STIMMING 
1.Rubbing clothes 
2.Teeth grinding
3.Constant rubbing of hands,face
4. Scratching obsessively 
 
 

TO CONTROL OR NOT TO CONTROL THAT IS THE QUESTION????

 
In the past the focus was to help minimize or hide stimming behaviors. Especially if the behaviors attracted lot of attention. 
 
That is changing as more people are diagnosed.
 
 

STIMMING AND INTERVENTION 

 
There are times when intervention may be necessary.  
If stimming becomes constant it may become dangerous. If the fixation makes a person oblivious to their surroundings accidents are more likely to happen. 
If the person is physically hurting themselves ( head banging , skin picking etc) intervention is also necessary. 
 
If you’re the person doing the stimming, and you feel that it’s become a problem please seek support.
 
STIMMING WHAT IF YOUR A PARENT ??
 
So as a parent or caregiver ask yourself some questions. 
 
Is stimming harmful to them?
 
Does the stimming put others at risk? 
 
Does the behavior cause disruption?
 
Does the behavior stop learning?
 
Then decide what is best . Every child is different and situations are unique.  
 

MY DAUGHTER 

 
As for my daughter I focus on awareness ,environment and teaching self control. She is a teenager, and in a few years she 
will be making career choices . I am hoping that as she gets older the stimming wiĺl not be needed for regulation, and she wiĺl be able to convey her excitement in a different way.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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