Stimming: What Is It?

 

If you know anyone with autism or ADHD or you have either, chances are you have probably been around what is called stimming.  Stimming is a form of behavior where a person stimulates themselves in participating in repetitive movements, sounds, words, or behavior that is used to regulate things like emotions, manage physical comfort, and express strong feelings.

People who are neurodivergent, especially people who have autism and ADHD experience the world differently than people who don't have these diagnoses.  Stimulating behaviors are common amongst people with autism.   Let's say there is a song you just listened to that you really like the feeling that the bass provides.  This is considered a stimulatory behavior.  

Looking back, every stim I did as a kid makes sense.  I never realized until I learned about autism that things like twirling my hair, needing to chew on my nails or gum, and needing to listen to the same song over and over again were stimming behaviors. 

We all know about the 5 senses, right?  Sight (things we see), touch (the things we feel like pain and textures), taste (food we eat or beverages we drink), sound (the things we hear/listen to), and smell (the scents we pick up with our noses).  However, we also have six kinds of stimulatory behaviors that fall into our five senses.

The following are the six categories of stimming:

  1. Oral/Olfactory Stimming- sniffing things, chewing/sucking certain objects, seeking out specific odors, and/or sucking your tongue or cheek.
  2. Auditory Stimming- humming or singing the same tune, clicking or clapping objects, playing a song on repeat, listening to the same part of a video or movie on repeat, and/or listening to white noise for the rain.
  3. Tactile Stimming- rubbing your hands together or along surfaces, playing with hair, playing with stim toys, crumpling paper, pressing hands into the body or different surfaces, asking for tight hugs or squeezing pillows, weighted blankets/compression clothing, and/or twisting things like hoodie strings, shoelaces, or pieces of fabric.
  4. Vestibular Stimming-rocking back and forth, swinging like on a sensory swing, spinning in circles, walking on tiptoes, jumping or bouncing, and/or pacing back and forth.
  5. Visual Stimming-moving your eyes back and forth, watching repetitive motions, staring at bright colored lights, staring at objects for long periods of time, rapid blinking, crossing and uncrossing of eyes, and/or fixating on patterns.
  6. Vocal Stimming-sudden loud noises, making popping or whistling sounds, humming or singing, whispering or mumbling, repeating the same word or phrases, mimicking other's voices, speaking in a sing-song voice, and/or growling, grunting, or making throaty noises.
Each stimulatory behavior looks different.  I've been REALLY fascinated with what causes people on the spectrum to participate in such behavior and I want to help with making sure that each stim is acceptable, since some can come off as distracting or harmful to others.   I'm not a licensed therapist, but I believe that starting with addressing  the behavior.  What is causing it?  What are the desires that are causing the stimming to take place?  How can we meet the same sensory need? 

What stims do you do?  comment below!


 If you liked this blog post, PLEASE comment down below what your favorite part was, share with your friends and family, etc.  Have any comments, questions, etc. about what you were reading? Reach out to me by messaging me on Instagram or TikTok @neurospicyblondie or email me  alyssa.onthespectrum@gmail.com.  

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