While you might not be familiar with the term stimming, it’s a behavior that most people engage in from time to time. But you might be asking, what is stimming exactly? For some, it may look like biting your cuticles or bouncing your leg incessantly under the table when you are feeling on edge. For others, it might be a more exaggerated motion, like flapping or full-body rocking.
According to Healthline, stimming refers to self-stimulating behaviors, usually involving repetitive movements or sounds. The purpose? To help relax the person doing the behavior as a coping mechanism.
"Stimming behaviors are used to reduce anxiety and adapt to an unfamiliar environment. In fact, some of the most common stimming behaviors can be things as simple as cracking your knuckles or tapping your pencil. Almost everyone engages in some form of stimming, and for most, it is a harmless behavior, " licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Holly Schiff told Mom.com. To better understand stimming, we're covering types of skimming, symptoms of stimming, and different stimming behaviors.
Types of stimming
Stimming behaviors
As previously mentioned, not all stimming behaviors are equally disruptive and noticeable. But there are times when stimming behaviors can be complicated and harmful. Even so, there are different ways to approach these stimming behaviors so that they become a tool that promotes calm and helps manage extreme emotions.
How to manage
Dr. Schiff warns against punishing the behavior, as it will usually be replaced with a different stim, and recommends introducing an alternate behavior to help meet the same needs. For example, if a child flaps their hands, try out a stress ball.
“Teaching self-management tools and coping skills are helpful," Schiff advised. "When working with autistic children who stim, the goal is to encourage self-control. It’s equally important to figure out the reason behind the stimming is important since this behavior is a form of communication.”
Complications
Some stimming behaviors can be dangerous, like head banging, punching, biting, or scratching at skin.
Mom Caila shared how she manages her daughter’s more complicated, dangerous stimming behaviors. "With therapy, we’ve been able to redirect her stims that come from a place of frustration, anger, and anxiety," she said. "Instead of hitting her head or slapping her legs, we can sometimes redirect her by clapping her hands, massaging her head, or applying deep pressure. That way, she is still receiving a similar sensory input to help to regulate her emotions but safely for herself and others."
