I stim more when I'm stressed out or nervous, but it's mostly something I unconsciously do. It does make me feel better though. When I'm around other people I try to make a conscious effort not to stim, because as a kid I got called names like '***' for doing it, (which is understandable because it can look pretty weird).
My stim....
Chewing on my hangnails, or listening to the same song like 4-10 times in a row or cracking my knuckles.
Carry on long internal conversation with myself
Scratching myself REAL hard!
Sometimes I feel so empty and numb, I just need to FEEL!
Oh well!
So what your saying is that stimming does help you in some way and as a parent of a child with aspergers I should'nt try to stop him from doing this as long as he's not hurting himself?
Hrick, I really enjoyed what you wrote. It makes so much sense.
I've got various ways of stimming. But the most important one is touching my face with my left arm. The smell, the feel, the way my upperlip can play with the structure of the skin on the back of my hand, especially the knuckles, makes me aware of my body. It is very comforting.
When I'm cooking I waver my fingers, when looking for the things I need. As if my fingers have a better way of seeing on the shelves than my eyes, or tell my eyes where to look.
Stress will be in my hands, if I don't react the right way the tight wriggling can make me stiff up to my shoulders and back.
Sitting behind a computer, or talking with people, I often tremble with my legs.
Walking its more bodily, tiptoeing, twirling, balancing. Its a relief of all kinds of stress I think, and a way of loving my body.
I used to use both arms till I was 18 or so, sucked my right thumb, my right indexfinger stroked the knuckle of my left indexfinger. My upperlip took part in that to. My face cuddled with my left arm and hand. And I would often see rims of colour aside of my skin, colouring the outlines. Later I learned not to suck my thumb anymore. I'm glad I don't do it anymore. But if I'm really sick or 'dead-tired' I tape my thumb. Because the reflex is still there and the power of my mouth that big that I can't eat properly for days after a night of thumbsucking. My mouth is completely raw and sore after such a night.
I liked what Noetic said about the functions of stimming.
I would not want my daughter to stop them, though I sometimes do offer an alternative. Like a nice cloth to chew instead of her sheets and clothes. It works quite good.
But I've not found an alternative of hiding her head in the skirt of her dress. This is a bit too weird in public. She knows it herself too. She really loves the feel of dresses. But she chooses to wear trousers to school more and more.
She'd love to learn how to stop eating everything that's in reach too (paper, beads, clothes, pencils, you name it) So if anyone has an advice for her you're welcome to name it. (It is her wish to learn it)
But nobody sees any need in changing her gymnastic movements when she is reading, thinking, writing or drawing. It's great to look at. She's proud of it and even makes drawings of how she does it. Though she is not aware that she's doing it, when doing it.