Aspies For Freedom

Why are people so  turned off by stimming? It doesn't hurt anyone.For those of us that stim,it is part of who we are.If I don't stim.I get 'sick'.When I first started working in an office setting I knew it meant certain behaviors would not be tolerated.At that time I had never heard of aspergers or stimming. I stim.I didn't know it had a name until this year.I knew in school people made fun of it so I never let anyone catch me stimming.At work it was a disaster.I would be upset and need to stim with nowhere to go.I broke out in rashes.Had headaches that caused nausea. I developed high blood pressure and would stutter,not good cuz I work on the phone.I began to lash out at people for no reason, talk to myself out loud between calls.I nearly fainted every time I stood up at work.My Dr freaked about how high my bp was and made me take an EKG.I'm lucky I didn't have a stroke.I decided it was better to be caught stimming than have a stroke.I stim at work when I need to.If they don't like it don't watch.I'm cannot understand why something so comforting is looked on as bad.

Another therapy that is discussed on my other group is RDI http://rdiconnect. com/  which stands for Relationship Development Intervention. I added a space after the . I"m not sure if I needed to.

Also, when my son was first diagnosed I was told by quite a few "professionals" not to let my son stim. They told me it created negative pathways in the brain.

They are talking complete bullshite! If you stop an autistic from stimming, it makes them very nervous and unhappy. If you get rid of one stim, another will take its place.

I agree with you. I'm just saying what I was told. I was also told to talk to him in 2-3 word sentences so he would "understand" me. I dont think most of the "professionals" know a damn thing.

My son stims all the time , I dont stop him. He stims with letters and numbers and they use that to reinforce things for him at school during his ABA. I also count when he's having a tantrum and it calms him - I cant imagine taking it away he would have a hard time.

I know It's truely sad what some people tell us parents. I listened to them thinking they knew everything and frankly they dont. I found I learned the most during a event called "Spectrum Unplugged". Its a panel of people with AS that talk about their  experiences and you can ask questions. I thought it was awesome. They are the true "professionals" in my eyes

I stopped him for awhile when he was first diagnosed since I was told that was the right thing but he would "freak" out on me so I stopped. Sometimes when we're out I'll tell him to quite down - he makes loud noises when he flaps.
Yesterday we went furniture shopping, my son was running laps around the show room flapping and making noises and everyone told me "he's happy" He wasnt bothering anyone. Most of the time you hear "Gee that mom can't control her kid" etc.

The only thing I seem to get negative from stimming is other peoples reaction to it.Do you stop your son from stimming?If so does it bother him to stop or his he glad you remind him not to?
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They do that during ABA. I know when my son sucks his thumb or twirls his hair they say "hands down" actually I think they say "quiet hands". I was wondering why he was angry when my other son sucked his thumb - he kept screaming and pulling his brothers thumb out of his mouth. I thought it was weird and thought ABA sure enough they told me he cant do that during ABA so it must have set him to see his brother doing it or something .

They do that during ABA. I know when my son sucks his thumb or twirls his hair they say "hands down" actually I think they say "quiet hands". I was wondering why he was angry when my other son sucked his thumb - he kept screaming and pulling his brothers thumb out of his mouth. I thought it was weird and thought ABA sure enough they told me he cant do that during ABA so it must have set him to see his brother doing it or something .

Sorry for the duplicate

Aspies have a very highly developed sense of fair play so your boy probably thought why should his brother be allowed to suck his thumb when he can't.

I'd say that he should be allowed to suck his thumb and twirl his hair if he wants to. ABA mightn't be a very good idea if they are going to stress him out so much.

Yeah that is why I assumed he did it . He doesnt get stressed from the ABA. He just puts his hands down without a fuss . I'm not allowed to observe the ABA (distraction) but they've taped it for me. He's suppose to have ABA for 1.5 a day but sometimes he can only tolerate 30 min so that is all they do. They know I dont want them over doing it. Its not worth him getting upset over.

For such a little kid, 30 minutes a day is more than plenty. If it were me, I would be highly suspicious of any treatment where they won't let the parents look. It is too open to abuse. He should be allowed to stim if he wants to because then he will be less anxious and more able to take in what is being taught.

Definately, some kids get 40 hours at that age in my sons class. I think its craziness. I doubt there is abuse, I think they want quiet and no distractions. I would be a distraction - at least I am when I observe in his classroom. He doesnt listen and flops all over me

Hmm interesting. When I go in to observe a stay back about 10 feet thinking I would distract him and I do anyways Perhaps I'll try sitting next to him. I just thought I'd be in the way. I know my son sometimes can only do 30 min ABA but the school doesnt push him they know my feelings on the issue. I'd rather him leave school happy then have me get called for a tantrum. I had to pick him up one day -- I always put watermelon in his lunch (his favorite) I ran out so he threw his lunch and they couldnt calm him down. Needless to say he never goes without watermelon

I am like this too, though as a child I was able to suppress things like rocking and hand flapping, though I constantly wiggled my legs and stuff. Nowadays, while sometimes I can manage with just leg wiggling, if I am rocking I generally can't stop it, without another stim (mental or physical) cropping up in its place. Also helps me to process speech, and I am much more socially engaged with friends most the time when I am stimming, whereas I'm more likely to be much more quiet, and to have delayed reactions to conversation, when I refrain from stimming.