What is Stimming and Why Does it Matter?

Sunday, December 1. 2024.

Imagine you’re twirling your hair, tapping your pen against the table, or bouncing your leg while lost in thought.

These subtle acts, often dismissed as nervous habits, are actually examples of stimming—self-stimulatory behavior that serves a much deeper purpose than we often realize.

For autistic folks, stimming is an integral part of life, serving as a tool for self-regulation, expression, and connection. It’s a behavior that has been misunderstood, stigmatized, and suppressed for far too long.

Let’s take a deep dive into stimming—what it is, why it matters, and how embracing it can transform our understanding of human behavior.

What Exactly is Stimming?

At its core, stimming refers to repetitive physical movements, sounds, or actions that help regulate emotions and sensory input. While commonly associated with autism, stimming is not exclusive to autistic folks. Everyone stims to some degree—it’s why fidget spinners became a cultural phenomenon and why doodling during meetings can actually improve focus.

For autistic humans, however, stimming can take on a much greater significance. Common stims might include:

• Hand-flapping or finger-flicking

• Rocking back and forth

• Repeating words or sounds (echolalia)

• Humming or tapping rhythms

• Focusing intently on certain textures or objects

These actions aren’t just random—they are purposeful and meaningful, often serving as a response to overwhelming sensory input, emotional intensity, or the need to express something that words cannot capture.

Why Do People Stim?

Stimming is a natural way for the brain and body to self-regulate. Here’s how it works:

Managing Sensory Overload:

The world can be an overwhelming place, particularly for folks with heightened sensory sensitivities. Stimming provides a reliable way to block out or manage competing stimuli, like a set of noise-canceling headphones for the brain.

Emotional Regulation:

Feelings like anxiety, excitement, or frustration can be difficult to process, especially for those who may struggle to verbalize their emotions. Stimming provides a physical outlet, acting as an emotional release valve.

Enhancing Focus:

Ever notice how tapping your foot or playing with a stress ball helps you concentrate? Stimming can serve the same purpose, grounding folks in the moment and helping them focus on tasks or conversations.

Expression and Communication:

For those who are nonverbal or find verbal expression challenging, stimming can be a powerful form of communication. The rhythm, intensity, and nature of a stim can reveal joy, distress, or even a need for connection.

The Stigma Around Stimming

Despite its universal nature, stimming often faces judgment and suppression—especially when it comes to behaviors that fall outside neurotypical norms. Hand-flapping or rocking might draw stares, while tapping your fingers on a table is shrugged off as a quirky habit.

Historically, therapies like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) aimed to reduce or eliminate stimming in autistic folks, labeling it as “disruptive” or “inappropriate.”

But suppressing stimming comes with consequences. Research from Charlton et al. (2021) highlights that being forced to mask or suppress stims can lead to increased anxiety, exhaustion, and a loss of self-identity.

Stimming is not as much a problem, but our discomfort with it surely is.

The Science of Stimming: A Deeper Look

Recent studies are uncovering just how complex and essential stimming can be.

Tancredi and Abrahamson (2024) argue that stimming is more than a coping mechanism—it’s a cognitive process that facilitates learning and creativity. Stimming engages the brain’s sensorimotor systems, and can enhance problem-solving and provide clarity during moments of stress.

Consider the repetitive motion of rocking back and forth.

While it may appear simple, this action stimulates the vestibular system, which plays a critical role in balance, spatial orientation, and mood regulation.

Similarly, rhythmic stims like tapping or humming can engage the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine and promoting a sense of well-being.

These findings challenge the outdated view of stimming as a behavior that needs to be "corrected" and instead position it as an adaptive tool for thriving in a complex world.

Stimming and Society: A Call for Change

As awareness of neurodiversity grows, so does the need for societal acceptance of stimming. But what does that look like in practice?

Reframing Stimming as a Strength:

Workplaces, schools, and public spaces must recognize that stimming is not a sign of distraction or disengagement—it’s often the opposite.

For example, allowing employees to use fidget tools or encouraging students to stim in class can foster creativity, focus, and inclusion.

Normalizing All Types of Stimming:

It’s time to move beyond the idea that some stims are “acceptable” while others are “odd.”

Whether it’s bouncing your leg or flapping your hands, all stims serve a purpose and deserve respect.

Creating Inclusive Spaces:

From sensory-friendly work environments to quiet zones in public spaces, we can design spaces that accommodate and celebrate stimming.

Why Stimming Matters

Stimming matters simply because it’s deeply human.

It’s how we connect with ourselves, regulate our emotions, and make sense of the world. For autistic folks, it’s not just a behavior—it’s a lifeline, a language, and a form of self-care.

When we embrace stimming, we’re not just supporting neurodivergent individuals—we’re challenging outdated notions of “normal” and creating a world that values diversity in all its forms.

So, the next time you catch someone rocking, flapping, or tapping, don’t stare. Smile. Maybe even join in. After all, we’re all stimming in our own way, finding rhythm and meaning in the chaos of life.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.

REFERENCES:

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, 88, 101860.

Tancredi, S., & Abrahamson, D. (2024). Stimming as thinking: A critical reevaluation of self-stimulatory behavior as an epistemic resource for inclusive education. Educational Psychology Review, 36(75).

Goldsmiths, University of London. (2021, September 21). Suppressing stimming for social acceptance has negative impact. Goldsmiths News.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. (2019, May 15). Stimming: What is it and does it matter? CAR Autism Roadmap.