I'm an adult who stims. Is that typical?

[Tryingom]

Posting for traffic really. I have a question I've never asked anyone but I'm curious about.

I'm an adult who frequently stims. Things like clicking fingers, flicking wrists and rocking back and forth on my chair. I do this mainly when I'm excited or feel like I've achieved something. Music is also a big trigger for me and I can daydream quite deeply listening to music. I can control it though, .i.e. sat working from home on my own at my desk I will stim after I competing a task. But sat in the office around people the same situation though I would never stim. I remember hiding it from my parents when I was younger, deliberately not doing it round them. I'm not sure anyone has ever really witnessed me stim but it's something I do when I'm alone.

I know stimming can be an autistic trait but wonder if it's fairly normal to stim regardless? I've never been diagnosed with anything or even been assessed for anything. I wouldn't say I find social situations difficult or find it difficult to read people's emotions - I would probably say the opposite that I'm a great judge of character and figuring out what people really mean when they say things, but I do have a history of panic attacks and anxiety. The only time I've heard about stims is in the context of autism. It makes me wonder if I'm on the spectrum to some extent? That may be a completely ignorant thing to say and I'm sorry if it is. I've just never really heard of it outside the context of autism.

I hide the stim because I find it embarrassing and don't want people to see it, but I'm wondering if it's more common than I think?

Sorry I forgot to disable voting

I stim helps me focus at work

@Woodlandarchitect yay! I'm so relieved in not the only one!

I stim too! It calms me down if I'm feeling a bit edgy. I'm NT as far as I know. DS1 has ASD.

Yes I'm the same! Never been diagnosed, although suspect I'm "further along the spectrum" than some.
I can stop myself from doing it (and don't really have the urge to when in public) but I find it uncomfortable to do so when alone (a bit like an itch you're not allowed to scratch).

Don't most people do this to some extent?

Stimming includes pacing, biting your nails, twirling your hair, tapping your foot so definitely not only done by those with ASD.

@Chikapu

Don't most people do this to some extent?

I don't know @Chikapu, I've never really spoken about this before or asked the question. I hope so though!

@Tryingom I think it’s good that you have some self awareness and it’s good to ask. But don’t dwell on it - it’s natural.

You be you x

All humans stim, you all move your bodies (if you're able) through emotion. Autistics just do it more readily and in response to stimuli that neurotypicals wouldn't typically.

Constantly.

Im glad I started this thread. I have no idea where the embarrassment and the attempt to hide my stims came from, but it's good to know stimming is fairly common

I think a lot of women and girls do it, and make efforts to hide it.

I wonder if maybe we're taught to hide so much normal stuff about us, that we end up not knowing what's normal or not, and unsure about what should be discreetly contained or not, and anxious what should be celebrated or not.

Maybe stimming becomes the place where we unload the liminal stuff.

I definitely do it, and it's extremely unlikely I'm on the spectrum. I stroke my fingertips with paper, and rub the backs of my hands. It's soothing to me, and helps me focus.

I rock a lot and wiggle my leg or foot, feels nice!

Could be you are a sensory seeker and enjoy stimming as a way to emotionally regulate.
Many types of people stim in some way as well as people with ASD, ADHD.

I’m sure everyone does it, but not necessarily in response to things like you’ve described. Like I play with my hair often but it’s not something I hide, I wouldn’t call it stimming.

My partner does all frigging day long. Leg tapping and jiggling when he works watches tv drives. He is definitely NT.

I think it’s normal when excited, bored, restless, impatient etc.

It’s often irritating for other people and projects an image of anxiety/stress/boredom so as long as you control it I don’t see an issue?

I have to consciously remind myself not to jiggle my foot in meetings as it looks rude, like I’m not paying attention (and distracts the speaker). When I’m alone I do it as much as I want to!

The person I know who does this is highly active and jogs five miles a day. If they have to sit down for more than three hours they do this. In short, too much energy, can’t stand sitting still. So, not always autism!

I think everyone does this.

The difference is why you do it, how much you do it, and how obviously you do it. Do you do it so much it actively causes you bother as well, or bothers someone else?

ADHD also causes fidgets and stims (it's an autistic spectrum condition).

Anxiety can cause some.

But in us autists, stimming is pretty constant to varying degrees. I will compulsively stim by flexing my feet fast, and haven't been able to stop the urge when harbouring a bad ankle sprain. I'll be in tears with pain but unable to stop the self soothing movement.

It's a bitch, but it is what it is.

Your body is your body and if doing certain movements or fidgets makes you feel better in any way, then that can only be a positive :)

I think it's normal. I do it a lot but I could stop if I wanted to.I wouldn't accidentally do it while I was in an interview for example.
I'm also able to control how much I do it. I wouldn't shake or wiggle my hands if I was in the supermarket but I might if I was watching tv.

I've recently been diagnosed with ADHD at 36 and have been paying extra attention to everyone I work with to see if they stim/fidget anything or if it is indeed just me.. but from watching closely through many meetings, it does seem to be pretty much just me! I find it odd that people can literally just sit there, still, for AGES . I'd personally bet that you aren't as NT as you think.

Interesting - I've only heard of stimming in relation to autism. I'm sure a pretty large proportion of NT people fidget to some extent- what's the difference between fidgeting and stimming?