“Stimming had a SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE impact on autistic adults’ self-rated self-efficacy”
“Results CONTRADICT the negative view often expressed suggesting that stimming should be eradicated”
“Stimming has a POSITIVE effect and SUPPORTS autistic individuals’ ability to COPE with difficulties”
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“Results CONTRADICT the negative view often expressed suggesting that stimming should be eradicated”
“Stimming has a POSITIVE effect and SUPPORTS autistic individuals’ ability to COPE with difficulties”
🫠
Comments
Autistic brains are designed for high-processing & hyperfocus. This is insanely energy intensive & easy to disrupt. Stimming reduces the strain.
We're overclocked.
Autism tends to hyperfocus on a singular topic (depth) while ADHD focuses on environmental stimuli (breadth). It's an extreme environmental monitor.
It too needs a metronome.
All humans stim, albeit, NTs don't stim as often or as intensely, unless they're just really bad at dancing. Then the struggle is real.
A person with both depth & breadth requires a quieter environment where the focus can work its best.
That's pretty much it. Reduce distractions... You know, like what remote work offers or most self-paced jobs.
So, in keeping with American pride, they'll jeopardize productivity by removing WFH so they can better conceal their incompetence.
Expect WFH to be phased out before long.
Knitting
Crocheting
Doodling/art illustration
Writing utensil spinning
Silent fidget toys
Rocking/leg shaking
I did all of those too when I was a student. And I still do these while I proctor exams and such.
人搖福薄，樹搖葉落。
It’s a cute rhyme that states: “when people shake, their luck wears thin and when a tree shakes, their leaves drop.”
There was a lot of pressure to sit still as a kid. I had no idea I was stimming, but she said it enough that I know it by heart.
I find that inviting the conversation with the "voice" of our masking helps to reduce the guilt
My voice tells me "hurry up, hurry up" and I tell her people will wait for me and that I'm worth the wait
And I'd assumed your mother wasn't still trying to redirect you with cute phrases, hehe
But I find the "voice" of my mother is sometimes the essence that my brain likes to use when I'm unkind to myself in regard to my natural inclinations
So "talking" to her helps. ☺️
That's just one example. So much more understanding and agency than my generation.
Turns out I was masking big time. No wonder school was so exhausting for me! If I had to do it again I'd have so much more fun.
In fact having a positive impact is surely the whole point and why it shouldn’t be discouraged?
(I’m not autistic though, so haven’t experienced it myself, although my Grandson is so have experience of his positive stimming)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1065274288291417/permalink/1219016116250566/
They didn’t SAY it like that
That’s why they got the ka-block
But, despite their poor presentation, they have a point!
But the solution to that isn’t that the one other person constantly has their needs ignored just because their need is loud
This is what living in a household entails
And you have to understand what the stim is for and why it’s happening in order to accommodate it
THAT is why THIS part of the conversation is important.
Unable to make the connection between not being able to concentrate when having an unmet need and their own lives.
Only the social context of your role. So, if people would find it less annoying if the table's being tappity-tapped by a drummer that's a social accommodation problem
Diagnosed with ADHD at age 50. Probably in the spectrum too.
As I learn more about stimming so much makes sense! Foot tapping, fidgeting with stuff on my desk during meetings, etc are all stimming and actually helpful to me? Such a relief.
That said, *some* stimming can be dangerous or harmful to self and others and I think the community needs to decide best practices for shifting those that isnt coercive/traumatic
I've found, in my practice & own experience (so milage may vary), that once stims are seen as natural coping mechs w/ shame & stigma removed, the more destructive decrease or are replaced on their own. I favor a harm reduction approach during the process.
There are so many kinds of stims, too.
I very much like how I didn't even realize that twirling my long hair, is a stim. When I gave it some real thought, I discovered at least a dozen others, different for different situations.
Stimming is functional.
It's interesting stuff.
Swimming laps as stimming is great!
I didn't really have Adult AuDHD apparently until I stopped smoking and when I had no nicotine my natural self.came back in force, it's been great, I like me more this way.
But I am lucky to be able to articulate this all.
But yes, free the stims!!
That’s non-suicidal self injury
I hope she finds new ways to cope soon
As a psych nurse I know that replacing these behaviors with things that don't injure tissue can be a good bridge to skills that aren't so spooky.