What is stimming?
Stimming is a natural, often helpful way to self-regulate – especially for neurodivergent people.
Stimming, also known as self-stimulating behaviour, refers to repetitive movements, actions or noises, such as rocking, flicking, humming, or twirling a piece of string.
Most people engage in some kind of stimming (such as nail-biting or leg-jiggling) when they feel anxious, bored or tense. However, it’s particularly associated with neurodivergent people who may use it to manage their emotions, overwhelming situations or sensory overload.
Stimming is a natural behaviour and isn’t necessarily a bad thing, or something that needs to be stopped or fixed. In the context of neurodiversity, stimming is increasingly recognised as an important form of self-regulation, communication and expression, not as a behaviour that needs rectifying.
However, in some cases, it may need to be managed if it’s disruptive or causes distress or injury. For example, if it goes on for a long time or involves head-banging or scratching.
Here, we explore why people stim, different types of stimming and when stimming might need to be managed.
Why do people stim?
People stim for various reasons and to varying degrees – some do it occasionally, while others spend a lot of time stimming. It’s highly individual and reflects a person’s unique sensory needs, emotional states and ways of self-expression.
It can be a sign that a person feels excited, happy, overwhelmed, needs more stimulation or is feeling uncomfortable. The purpose and forms of stimming vary widely from person-to-person, but some common reasons include:
Emotion regulation
Stimming can help someone manage stress, anxiety, excitement or frustration by soothing or releasing emotional tension.
For autistic people, it can help to regulate emotions by offering a soothing rhythm. It can be a predictable, repetitive sensory input that provides a sense of control in new, overwhelming or unpredictable situations.
Sensory regulation
Stimming can help people regulate their sensory experience. For both neurodivergent and neurotypical people, it can calm overwhelming sensory input (for hypersensitivity – an intense or exaggerated reaction to sensory input) or increase stimulation to meet sensory needs (for hyposensitivity – reduced or low sensitivity to sensory input).
Environmental stressors, such as bright lights, loud noises or unexpected changes, can increase stimming, especially in people who are highly sensitive to sensory input.
Communication or expression
Stimming can help with communication and expression as it allows people, especially those on the autism spectrum, to non-verbally express their emotions. It can be a way to share how they’re feeling and may help others understand their internal states even if they’re not speaking.
Soothing and enjoyable
For many people, stimming is a natural and effective way to feel more comfortable and grounded. It can be a helpful tool for concentration, mental clarity and learning. Many people also stim purely for enjoyment or because it feels good.
Types of stimming and what they mean
There are different types of stimming that often align with specific senses:
- Visual stimming (sight): repetitive behaviours like blinking, hand-flapping or looking at lights or moving objects
- Auditory stimming (hearing): repeating or seeking out certain sounds, such as humming, clapping, tapping or echoing words
- Tactile stimming (touch): repetitive touch-related behaviours like rubbing or feeling textures, tapping, squeezing, scratching skin, twisting hair or fidgeting with objects
- Verbal stimming (hearing and oral-motor sensory systems): repeating words, phrases or sounds, humming or using self-soothing phrases
- Oral stimming (mouth and taste): chewing, biting or sucking objects
- Olfactory (smell): sniffing and smelling objects or people
- Vestibular stimming (inner ear balance system): movement-based actions like spinning or rocking
- Proprioceptive stimming (body awareness): movement through joints and muscles like jumping, pushing or squeezing
Examples of stimming
Stimming is unique to every person and can change depending on context – some people might stim more when they’re stressed or excited, while others might do it when they’re in an unfamiliar environment or to avoid certain activities.
Age can also influence the type of stimming, as a person’s personality develops and awareness of social expectations grows. Young children might flap their hands or rock back and forth, while adults might be more inclined to fidget with objects or hum quietly.
Common examples of stimming that most people engage in at some point can include:
- Biting fingernails
- Twirling hair
- Cracking knuckles or other joints
- Drumming fingers
- Bouncing a leg
- Fiddling with a pen or other object
- Whistling
Examples of stimming that might be more common in autistic people might include:
- Flapping hands
- Flicking or snapping fingers
- Jumping or twirling
- Repeating words or phrases
- Rocking
- Rearranging objects
- Pacing or walking on tiptoes
- Sniffing at people or objects
Some types of stimming can cause physical harm, such as:
- Head banging
- Punching or biting
- Excessive skin scratching or rubbing
- Swallowing dangerous items
Does stimming need to be managed?
In most cases, stimming doesn’t need to be stopped or controlled. It can be a soothing and effective way for people to self-regulate their emotions and sensory experiences, especially for autistic people.
Stimming research published in the journal Autism found that, although the behaviour was often automatic and unconscious, none of the participants disliked their stims – they disliked the social consequences. Most described it as calming and comfortable as it helps regulate ‘excess emotion’.
Thus, interfering with this behaviour could make a person feel more anxious or distressed. Some autistic people may suppress or mask their stims to fit in socially, which can lead to emotional exhaustion or anxiety.
The key is to respect and accept stimming as a helpful behaviour and to approach it with the aim of understanding and support.
If it threatens a person’s safety, wellbeing or social inclusion, it may need to be managed, but not suppressed. Understanding the purpose, context and the potential triggers for stimming can support its management.
In some cases, it might be appropriate to redirect or replace it with a safer behaviour, for example, using a fidget tool or chewable jewellery as an alternative to head-banging. In other cases, it might be possible to avoid or better manage the situations or contexts that lead to stimming in the first place.
To decide whether it might be necessary to manage stimming, consider whether it has any of the following consequences:
- It’s resulted in social exclusion or isolation
- It affects their ability to learn
- It causes significant disruption in social settings
- It leads to danger or destruction
- It causes significant problems for others
If you or someone you care for is struggling with stimming that feels distressing or harmful, it may be helpful to speak with a specialist.
At Priory, we offer assessments and support for neurodivergent people to better understand their behaviours, identify any underlying needs and explore helpful strategies. Our team can work with you to build a tailored support plan that promotes wellbeing and respects individual ways of coping and self-expression.
