Stimming

Stimming describes "self-stimulating behavior," or repetitive movements/sounds that stimulate the senses. Stimming helps with sensory and emotion regulation.Kapp SK, Steward R, Crane L, Elliott D, Elphick C, Pellicano E, Russell G. 'People should be allowed to do what they like': Autistic adults' views and experiences of stimming. Autism. 2019 Oct;23(7):1782-1792. doi: 10.1177/1362361319829628. Epub 2019 Feb 28. PMID: 30818970; PMCID: PMC6728747.
Most people engage in some form of stimming, like shaking a leg or tapping a pen. Stimming may be more frequent and pronounced in neurodivergent people.
Stimming can be seen in conditions like:
*ADHD
*Autism
*Blindness
*Dyspraxia
*Sensory Processing Disorder
Some types of stimming are injurious and require intervention, such as headbanging and biting. However, most forms of stimming are harmless and can have benefits.
==Handling stimming==
For decades, experts recommended conditioned suppression to stop people from stimming. Stimming was considered "aberrant behavior" that should be extinguished.
However, a newer line of thought challenges this assumption. Autistic people have said that stimming can be comforting and helps them express themselves.Kapp SK, Steward R, Crane L, Elliott D, Elphick C, Pellicano E, Russell G. 'People should be allowed to do what they like': Autistic adults' views and experiences of stimming. Autism. 2019 Oct;23(7):1782-1792. doi: 10.1177/1362361319829628. Epub 2019 Feb 28. PMID: 30818970; PMCID: PMC6728747. Suppressing stimming behavior is part of neurodivergent masking, a practice linked with serious mental health issues.Hull, Laura; Petrides, K. V.; Allison, Carrie; Smith, Paula; Baron-Cohen, Simon; Lai, Meng-Chuan; Mandy, William (2017). ""Putting on My Best Normal": Social Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 47 (8): 2519–2534. doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5. PMC 5509825. PMID 28527095.Cassidy S, Bradley L, Shaw R, Baron-Cohen S. Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults. Mol Autism. 2018 Jul 31;9:42. doi: 10.1186/s13229-018-0226-4. PMID: 30083306; PMCID: PMC6069847.Cassidy, S.A., Gould, K., Townsend, E. et al. Is Camouflaging Autistic Traits Associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours? Expanding the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide in an Undergraduate Student Sample. J Autism Dev Disord 50, 3638–3648 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04323-3 Download citation When neurodivergent people feel like they can't express themselves authentically, they suffer.
Both members of the autism rights movement and an emerging group of experts believe that stimming deserves social acceptance.Rethinking repetitive behaviors in autismStimming, therapeutic for autistic people, deserves acceptance
===Handling destructive and injurious stimming===
Some forms of stimming, e.g. self-injury, are dangerous.
One possible answer is redirecting the person to a harmless stim. For example, someone who hits themselves may be encouraged to hit a couch cushion or soft object instead.
However, there are many possible reasons for destructive stimming. For example, someone experiencing pain or discomfort may injure the area in an attempt to relieve or distract themselves from the pain.Treating autism with contingent electric shock: Are all possible options really considered? Destructive stimming could also be a way to communicate strong frustration, anxiety, or distress.Causes and Interventions for Self-Injury in Autism Identifying underlying medical conditions or stressors can be challenging.
==Stimming in autistic culture==
Autistic people have spoken about the benefits of stimming for emotional and sensory regulation. Autistic artists have created artwork celebrating positive stimming experiences.
Stimming is a part of autistic culture.Stimming: What it is and why Autistic people do it, Neuroclastic
==See also==
* Autism
* Neurodivergent masking
== References ==
Category:Neurodivergence
Category:Autism