This weird thing my brain does - is this stimming ?

[byb]

So ever since I was 15, I've noticed that my brain counts stuff.

It's hard to explain, I don't do it consciously.

I count surfaces with my fingers from afar.

So say right now I'm looking at my walk and I see wall / curtain /wall / curtain / wall. My brain will count the different surfaces automatically. It's not conscious. I think my fingers slightly move when I do it. It's always 5. So starts with wall little finger/ curtain ring finger/ wall middle finger/ curtain second finger and wall again / thumb.

My brain is basically always trying to scan the room or whatever it is for surfaces which fit into that order of my fingers - so 5. It's super random and I hadn't thought about it consciously in ages, but I do it a lot.

Now I'm looking at the wall opposite and counted door/ wall / TV / wall/ door.

Does anyone else do something similar ?

I count everything, all the time without even thinking about it. As a PP said I’m not even interested in the answer normally! I’m NT as far as a I know but I do have a lot of ND friends so 🤷‍♀️

Omg yes but 4 or multiples of 4. So it makes a square in my head. Did it much more as a teen but it's still there. I might clear my throat 4 times or scratch an itch to complete the square ...

So interesting how many people do something like this !

Oooh yes but I count things on the left & things on the right & try to make them match (but can't cheat 😂) my fingers twitch
especially when passenger in a car or train - lampposts/fence posts etc never people or animals

oddly enough I find it quite reassuring and relaxing in a way, until it gets annoying...

I do a more spatial thing where I visualise a line going round lampposts (like a slalom) or in and out of road markings. I slightly move my finger when I'm doing it. I do it when I'm bored on the motorway, or maybe it's to do with going fast. My spatial awareness is very good so I think it's just something my brain creates when I'm not doing much.

I do this, only when certain sentences or words trigger it though...no idea why 😀

I add the numbers on road signs into a single number. So A1415 and A165 = 5. It’s more satisfying when the outcome is 9.

Yes I do this! Though I’m always try to get to a 0 at the end of the number.

I do this, it’s not exactly stimming but it does happen when I’m out of my comfort zone (which is anywhere outside of my own home). My psychologist said it’s my brains way of regulating myself and focusing on something other than how terrifying it is to be in a place where I’m not comfortable.

edited to say - all humans stim and self regulate. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t. I have ASD and OCD, I stim a lot more frequently than someone neurotypical but neurotypical people (and even animals) stim too so don’t try diagnosing yourself based off one trait.

As well as counting I will mentally draw lines between the points I'm counting.

So if I'm looking at a laptop screen I might start top left and count 1, go to bottom right and count 2, then along to bottom left and count 3, and then to top right and count 4.....all the while I am drawing a line between the numbers. Then I retrace the steps, rubbing out the line as I go.

I do it with so much stuff, like I can be talking to someone and I will be drawing lines from their eye to their mouth corner, other side of the mouth, up to other eye. While counting the points up and down.

I count the letters in words or phrases I'm reading or listening to. I'm not fussed about the overall total only whether it ends in 2, 5 or 10. If it doesn't I have to repeat the phrase on my fingers until it does. It means I know without really thinking how many letters are in words which is great for crosswords. I have no idea if it's a form of stimming but it's definitely comforting and I've done it for as long as I can remember, more when I'm bored.

I have background music patterns playing in my head - from pieces I haven’t played for 20 years! My fingers try to make the appropriate movements to play the notes - but I don’t let them!

For me it's counting the letters in words until I get to four. For example:

Exceptional (eleven)
Eleven (six)
Six (three)
Three (five)
Five (four)

Yep. Me too

I do this and with 5s. I always thought I was a bit loopy, perhaps not given how many others do it 😂

I do this with the tv volume. It can't be left on an odd number unless that number is a multiple of 5, so 5 is a no no, but 15 is ok. I get panicky if it's left on an odd number and can't settle until it's changed. Also I have a set of coloured pencils, that absolutely must be in colour order. I do this with other things too and I am diagnosed OCD so it kind of makes sense.

I quite often count things in my head. Mostly if bored, but also as a calming thing. It can be semi subconscious, or sometimes quite conscious, just for fun.

Never occurred to me it was stimming, or indeed that it was that unusual! To my knowledge I'm NT, I've never considered that I might not be, no one else has ever suggested that I might not be, and I've never had any kind of difficulties which would point to me being anything other than NT. This thread shows it is quite common though! I would imagine it would only be a problem if it becomes obsessional/anxiety inducing.

Yep

And the number of letters in numbers

And making words from initials - D E T A I L S is 'dont even think about it L S (my initials)'

It drives me crazy

I have found my people and I'm so happy! I've never mentioned it to anyone because I thought it was a weird quirk of mine.

I count corners of items and the middle is counted as 1. Then I have to make it up to 10. So a mirror is 5. Then have to look at a picture to make it 10. It makes no sense really but I'm pleased others do similar. Happens more when I'm feeling out of control.

I do this a lot with syllables of words I have said aloud. So if I say "I'm going to the shop" in my head I'm is left, go(right)ing (back to left), and it has to finish to the right or it will irritate me

It is mentally exhausting, assuming its OCD

I do it with car numberplates. I'm adhd/probably autistic.

I do this too, when I am out walking I add up the numbers of car registration plates to see if they calculate to a total of 9s, eg 72356, 7+2=9, 3+5=8, 8-1 (from remaining 6) = 9, total remaining 5 - not a satisfying outcome, it is ridiculous but I have done this for as long as I can remember.

Omg yes! thank you for starting this thread, I didn't know others did these things too.

To the person who said it must be exhausting... yes it is!!

When I was a kid my grandparents had a pattern of tiny squares on the ceiling, literally 10s of thousands of them. I never did finish counting them all because I'd get interrupted and have to start over. 40 years later I still check ceilings for tiny squares because it's an unfinished counting task and I neeeeed to finish it.

So interesting! Never ever done this, no counting takes place in my brain, hardly any even if I do maths!