Stimming Behaviors Explained in Three Steps

Today I want to touch on stimming and what level of stimming is acceptable and what is not. If you have some stimming behaviors that concern you I am here to help you understand that you are not alone in this-there are many, many others who suffer bullying, alienation and confusion regarding out of control stimming that affects their health and anxiety levels. On the contrary you may find your stimming behaviors to be useful to you and allow you to multi-task or focus on your studies.

Before I go any further in this post I want you to understand that my ability to articulate is based in real life experience, having understood all aspects of stimming from the harmless and productive to life threatening levels of stimming. This is meant to promote tolerance for the autistic individual and help them accept themselves for who they are in all instances while gaining control over destructive habits.What inspired me to begin talking about stimming or self stimulation today is the overwhelming lack of knowledge regarding the subject.


Level 1-Harmless and Productive Stimming

Rocking
Bouncing legs
Moving Constantly
Balancing objects 
Fidgeting
Hand flapping



Level 2-Distracting Stimming Behaviors

Any of the above in excessive amounts which cause the person on the spectrum to avoid social activities or be placed in special classrooms due to the level of disruption.



Level 3-Dangerous Stimming Behaviors

Teeth grinding
Tearing into skin with fingernails
Biting nails
Self mutilation such as cutting or pulling out hair
Hitting oneself in the head 
Biting oneself 


Now that we all understand what is acceptable stimming behavior and what is not we can all relax a little. If an autistic person is a level 1 stimmer they are probably just coping the best way neurologically and physically. They may choose to stim to relieve stress. In my case I tend to rock more around fluorescent bright lights. After the GFCF diet hand flapping stopped altogether. Though teeth grinding and biting is an issue that rears it's ugly head every once in a while, as an adult I have learned to manage my stimming behaviors with this simple and common sense three step system.

Lever 2 stimmers may experience social alienation and feel they are not part of things. This is mostly due to the overwhelming attention they may receive due to constant stimming that may disturb others who are less informed. While this level of stimming is not always dangerous it is important to the individual to assess themselves and decide what level of social activities are best suited for them.

Level 3 stimming should be addressed as soon as you see the evidence in yourself or someone else. Violent teeth grinding causes migraines and destroys teeth over time. Pulling out hair or skin picking cannot be safe in any amount as it is harmful to the person and opens them to infection. Harmless stimming behavior=harmless. Dangerous stimming behavior=not harmless. Easy as cake.