Shouting, squealing, and making loud exciting sounds are examples of my son’s stims.
But what is stimming (or stim) for short? Its stands for self-stimulatory behavior and refers to any type of repetition using the 5 senses of the body. Stims are unique to each person, and most people- even neuro-typicals- stim (although less intense, more infrequent and more purposefully).
For autisic people, stims serve many beneficial functions; they can provide emotional self-regulation, sensory stimulation, and are a way for autistic people to express themselves. Stimming can help improve focus, as well as helping them to understand and process feelings.
I think some of my son’s stims happen when he is happy or excited, such as his loud happy squealing, clapping of hands, singing and jumping. I feel he carries out these stims for enjoyment. We have explained his behavior to his brother- as ‘he is so happy that the happiness has to escape out of him’.
I think my sons uses other stims when he is feeling overwhelmed, or trying to process a new situation, or when he is very tired. These are the stims I actually worry about because I see them as a sign that he is not coping very well at that particular moment in time and he needs me to step in and advocate for him. These stims can include grinding his teeth, repeating the words ‘I’m not ready’ over and over, and looking for someone to reassure him that it’s ok. Additionally, he might insist on only wearing his red T-shirt that he has had since he was 4 years old and is so worn and small on him. However, when he is feeling overwhelmed, the red T-shirt is all he will wear, day and night. To try and regulate the environment around him, my son will also place his fingers in his ears to block out some of the sounds around him. Consequently, we invested in a pair of headphones that can either be wireless or can be used to listen to his music on his iPad. We really liked the ones featured below.
While stimming might seem alien, rude or inappropriate to a neuro-typical person, it is important to remember that stims don’t hurt other people, and they are super-important to an autistic person to help remove anxiety and prevent a sensory overload being triggered.
Let’s make 2023 a kinder year for everyone.
The Pajama Gang 