Understanding Stimming: How to Harness Its Benefits and Address Challenges

Overview: This article discusses self-stimulatory behavior (stimming) – what it is, why people do it, how it can be helpful or harmful, and how to manage it if it becomes a problem. 

Stimming, short for self-stimulatory behavior, refers to repetitive movements, sounds, or actions often engaged in by individuals with autism or other developmental conditions. Stimming is a common restricted and repetitive behaviors of many autistic individuals and is not inherently problematic. In the interest of having a full and complete understanding of typical autistic behaviors there is value in knowing about the types of stimming, triggers, reasons, benefits, and risks, as well as management tools for the behaviors.  



Stimming Overview

To the individual engaging in stimming, it often feels like a compulsion that must be followed in order to achieve contentment – it is the need to make a sound or engage in an action that becomes an obsessive fixation if not acted upon. Because stimming behaviors can be especially disruptive in a classroom setting, most stimming behaviors have historically been studied in children. Stimming is, however, equally prevalent in the adult autistic population (Charlton et al. 2023). This fact demonstrates the underlying reality that stimming is often more of a problem or difficulty for those witnessing the behavior rather than the individual engaging in it.  Whether or not stimming is problematic for the autistic individual or others, understanding the behavior is beneficial to all. Common types of stimming, with examples, include: 

• Visual – staring at moving objects, repeated blinking

• Auditory – repeatedly listening to or making the same sound

• Tactile – rubbing hands together, leaning, fidgeting with an object

• Verbal – whistling, tongue-clicking, repeating word or phrase

• Oral and olfactory – biting, chewing, licking, grinding teeth, sniffing an object

• Vestibular/proprioceptive – spinning, rocking, pacing, moving in a rhythm, bouncing legs

The causes of stimming vary by the individual, situation, and type of stimming.  An oft reported root cause of stimming in autistic individuals is environmental stimulation. (Kapp et al. 2019). Overstimulation occurs when an individual is in an overwhelming environment and overloaded with sensory stimuli. Stimming is beneficial in these situations because it provides the individual a modicum of control over their surroundings. Conversely, understimulation can also lead to stimming as a means for the individual to stay occupied and allow them to explore and understand a particular situation. 

Another common cause of stimming is as an aid to cope with uncontainable emotions. Here stimming serves the dual purpose of helping the individual to manage a feeling while simultaneously communicating to others the extent of that feeling. Finally, the third most common cause of self-stimulating is to alleviate physical discomfort. Stimming in this scenario presents as a predictable and routine physical movement that provides comfort in an otherwise uncomfortable environment. 

Risks, Benefits, and Misconceptions

Given the near ubiquitous nature of stimming, it is improper and potentially harmful to categorize the behavior as necessarily bad. It is important to understand the costs and benefits of the specific behavior in order to weigh its relative value and determine whether to intervene and/or attempt to manage it. The below chart is a tool to assist in the assessment. Given that it is irresponsible to categorize stimming into any single category, the goal is to better understand the result of the behavior and then weigh its relative value.



Here at Autism Learning Lab, we firmly embrace individuals’ right to use self-stimulation without fear of judgment or reprisal. We encourage individuals to discuss their stimming if and when they want to, and to advocate for safe places to self-stimulate within their daily lives. Stimming can help to regulate emotions, release energy, improve focus, foster expression, and communicate feelings. These are profound benefits that should be recognized and encouraged. 

Individuals also need to be aware of the potential risks of self-stimulation and take precautions to ensure that stimming remains a beneficial behavior for them and the people they share space with. Some stimming could become physically harmful if it requires repetitive movement of certain joints. If that is the case, intervention does not need to completely curb the behavior but instead to alter it. For example, an individual that moves their wrists in a specific  motion could be encouraged to change the direction or intensity of the movement, or to alter with a different movement in order to avoid a stress injury such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Similarly, it can be problematic for an autistic individual if they can only be soothed or find comfort from stimming in a very specific way. Over reliance on a single coping skill is ill-advised given the deleterious effect if the person is unable to engage in the behavior. The fact that other people may not understand or be comfortable with stimming is not reason enough to alter a person’s  routine. However, if that misinterpretation or disruption does cause problems for the stimming person it is worthwhile to consider alternative stimming behaviors in those settings. Again, this is not because the stimming is a problem, but because some individuals are not as accepting or because some venues are not appropriate for certain behaviors.  

Bottom line - stimming is often a satisfying and beneficial behavior for individuals within and outside of the autistic community. Stimming is not attention seeking and is not done to disrupt others or be inappropriate. Sadly, some people, including some in the mental health profession, have previously advocated for the elimination of stimming behaviors due to the perceived risk of disrupting others. This is a discriminatory mindset that fails to account for the profound benefits that stimming can have for individuals and their relationships. 

Stimming Manageably

Most stimming is harmless and beneficial. If, however, stimming becomes problematic there are ways to alter the stimming to alleviate the problems. The following steps outline the assessment and alteration process.  

• Assess for Damage

• Attune to your body to determine if stimming is causing pain or discomfort

• Request feedback from those close to you to see if stimming is a distraction

• Measure whether stimming demands an unrealistic amount of time in your day or is otherwise impeding something that you find important

• Diversify Stimming Techniques

• Establish 3-5 techniques that provide similar relief

• Practice techniques that are more “covert” for situations that may require discretion. This could include breathing exercises or other mindfulness skills

• Utilize a fidget toy, spinner, chewable jewelry, or other stimming device 

• Advocate for Stimming

• Educated friends, family, and colleagues about stimming and its benefits

• Request time and space in your day to self-stimulate if it is otherwise not possible

Supporting Stimming

Most people have a family member, friend, or colleague who self-stimulates. This means that we all have an opportunity to be supportive and inclusive of this valuable behavior.  Ways to support stimming include:

• Express your support in an appropriate manner 

• Challenge and educate others who may question the behavior

• Create a safe environment for stimming and expression

• Provide sensory tools or a sensory rich environment

By promoting and supporting stimming it is possible to eliminate the stigma often attached to the behaviors and thereby help our autistic friends and family be the best version of themselves. Remember, stimming is not wrong and should be embraced for the self-sufficiency that it provides. 

Resources


Charlton, R. A., Entecott, T., Belova, E., & Nwaordu, G. (2021). “It feels like holding back something you need to say”: Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults accounts of sensory experiences and stimming. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 89, 101864.

Kapp, S. K., Steward, R., Crane, L., Elliott, D., Elphick, C., Pellicano, E., & Russell, G. (2019). ‘People should be allowed to do what they like’: Autistic adults’ views and experiences of stimming. Autism, 23(7), 1782-1792.

McCarty, M. J., & Brumback, A. C. (2021, July). Rethinking stereotypies in autism. In Seminars in pediatric neurology (Vol. 38, p. 100897). WB Saunders.