Stimming

Stimming is a common autism term. It is a repetitive movement or sound that someone with autism may make to calm them down. It may help them regulate emotions or just be a sensory experience for them. Some of the most common autism stims are hand-flapping, rocking, and repeating words or sounds. A common one for me is a sound I like to make that is hard to explain, but basically sounds like water drops. I also like rocking back and forth at times.

Internal stimming is also a thing and I believe I go through this a lot. It can be excessively rehearsing conversations or maybe thought loops in your head. Some people with autism may repeat words out loud, but in my case, they repeat constantly in my head.

I listed a couple stims I go through, but a few more are clearing my throat constantly, fidgeting with my hands, and touching random objects. These all give me a sense of calm when I need it. I tend to fidget a lot with my hands when I am nervous and I touch objects out of curiosity of how they feel.

People stim for a lot of different reasons. They may be expressing their emotions, trying to manage being overstimulated, or adjusting to their environment. My noises are a sense of calm, touching stuff is me knowing my surroundings, and fidgeting makes it easier to focus in my case because I have a hard time being still for long periods of time.

I have seen debates about whether people with autism should be able to stim or not because it isn't "normal". In my opinion, as long as they are not a danger to themselves or others, I do not see the problem. There are people who may try to injure themselves or others and in that case it is an issue, but if they are just expressing themselves and not causing any pain, it should be allowed.

Not everyone who is autistic is the same. Not everyone has to stim, but a lot of people do and it soothes us. Please be accepting of autistic people that just want to express themselves. It may be their only way of showing emotion or communicating. It can be a very calming experience for us and it helps us function throughout the day.

This is just my experience and how I feel about stimming. Not everyone feels the same or has the same stims. Everyone expresses themselves differently. It is okay to be different and be yourself. I appreciate all of you for reading!