In itās most simple form, stimming is a repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner.
What types of stims are there?
Flapping hands, blinking and/or moving fingers in front of eyes, staring repetitively at a light, pressing on closed eyes to create visual effect [pressure phosphene], ā¦
Snapping fingers, tapping on objects, listening to the same song on a loop, rolling Rs, ācat noisesā, repeating words, putting hands over ears, singing, clicking tongue, hummingā¦
Scratching, rubbing the skin with oneās hands or with an external object, pinching the skin, putting thumb inside fist, sucking thumb, rubbing hands/feet together, petting preferred textures, tying knots/twirling string, twirling/stroking hairā¦
Moving body in rhythmic motion, rocking front and back or side-to-side), spinning, pacing, walking in circles, walking on tip-toes, jumping up and downā¦
Licking body parts, licking an objectā¦
Smelling objects or hands, smelling other peopleā¦
Tapping on surfaces/objects/self, clicking fingers, making repetitive vocal sounds, bouncing legs, foot tapping, hand flapping, clicking pens,Ā ā¦
There are a lot of other stims as well that donāt necessarily fall under the category of ārepetitiveā such as pressure stimming, which are still just as valid. Basically if what you do serves the purpose of the stim, you can call it a stim.
People stim for all different kinds of reasons. They may stim when they are happy or excited, when they are stressed, as a part of their normal body language, as a way of communication, as a punishment, as a response to something internal or external, as a compulsion, to focus, to self soothe,Ā etc. Stimming can be a coping mechanism, but it can also be so much more! No matter what reason someone has for stimming though, itās important to remember that all stims are natural and normal.
Anyone that find stimming useful, whether consciously or subconsciously, can stim. That includes neurotypicals, but mainly stimming is seen as something that neurodivergent people do and itĀ occurs most frequently in:
people that experience mania/hypomania
Where can I find stim toys/jewelry?
izzy806
tangentwithtanner
turnnoffyourmind
yousharknotpass
