To think that stimming (especially destructive or very intense) is potentially not helpful or even harmful in the long run?

[ThatWaryGreenBiscuit]

I’ve seen a lot of advice that stimming behaviour in individuals with autism or adhd is helpful and regulating, however instinctively this feels wrong to me.

The brain is plastic and can be trained to expect certain things and I feel like that failing to redirect ourselves or our children to more healthy ways of experiencing overwhelm is only making stimming worse. And possibly the overwhelm worse in the long term.

this is backed up by several Reddit threads, where people said allowing themselves to stim, made the stimming worse, but the mainstream opinion is to let the stimming happen.

Instead of teaching life skills and how to get through day in an off ten overstimulating world, is it healthier to rely on potentially problematic behaviour as a way of getting by.

I know I’m probably kicking a hornets nest here, but this is not to suggest that ALL stimming is bad or anything like that. We don’t know everything about the brain or our behaviour, so I think it’s good to discuss things so we can work towards helping everyone rub along together. I hope this makes sense.

Well that’s good to hear as my family are in discussions about the best practice and there is a lot of disagreement and a long long waiting list for professional help.

The dog thing is interesting because current advice is to understand why its happening and if its a stress related behaviour, to alter the environment to a less stressful one but NOT to attempt to suppress or divert the behaviour while the dog needs the outlet. I agree that as we learn more evidence based information, advice changes but I do not think that individuals should be advising or championing changing the current approach which is based on the best knowledge we have now. Additionally some adult and young adults who stim can explain why they do it and how it helps them or what it means. Now it may be that non verbal or non communicative people don't stim for the same reasons that people who can explain do but again until there is evidence otherwise, it seems sensible to assume that the reasons are at least similar.
TLDR listen to the people who have posted here, and in other places, who stim.

You don't know what you're talking about. How do you know how they feel? Who are you to be handing your orders out over what goes on in other people's brains? Just mind your own business.

Fixing the underlying problems in the child’s life would be better, but so long as we live in a fairly rigid society that can’t happen.

Of course they’ll learn to do it more - because it works. Any successful coping strategy is repeated because it feels better than not doing it. If a hot drink makes you feel better/cope better with a cold day then you’ll do it again and again until it’s a helpful habit. Should you instead force yourself to go without because you don’t want to form habits? If reading a book before bed helps you wind down for bed then you’ll keep doing it. If spinning on the spot helps you feel like your arms and legs are attached to you again then you’ll keep doing it. The alternative is to feel worse.

This absolutely. But thats replacing/substituting which is not that same as stopping.

'Backed up by Redditt'
Fuck me.

Autism is not a learning disability

Your post is indicative of how clueless you are on the subject lol

Have you seen these? They can give a similar feel without hurting your skin. Worked for my friend's kid. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Picky-Sensory-Fidget-Dermatillomania-Trichotillomania/dp/B0F6LP648V/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=K9L4HRD6DEOM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZxRBPtUmggqND6LzlK17-TmuG_r9rpkDvWUJj1qXv3Tsb-Tpz1MuGCJmQJYNeti8kTMgTHlRWu3jP6kjkeNVruopPZzDBK7ll7MGDr-fNPIsL5dW32BDUM-ubKcD6jQYV8KQzcsBKLJkWt9rphjUbYsjb-yXfk7rxZgy0WbVE9YYz4pYuc4frVlxQjg_G3Q4d6FmQHIVvRuTv8j0pvcsuw.auhLPkxzD7pmbU9N1NJ9P-Ko2QpBURCeeFkhzfoxez8&dib_tag=se&keywords=picky+pads&qid=1771611964&sprefix=picky+pads%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-3

Think sounds a bit like tying the left hand or a left handed child behind their back? Or conversion therapy?

Not only does stimming serve as a regulator me, it often also alwrts me to the fact that I am getting overstimulated. Interoception is often something ND people struggle with. And we are also taught to ignore/downplay our own reactions.

Over time, noticing in what setting a and situations I am likely to stim has helped me improve my interception because I am able to notice the patterns I was taught to ignore. And now I am less likely to get overwhelmed and to stim.

You’re talking about suppressing a valuable mechanism. For what good exactly?