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Stimming, a term used to describe self-stimulatory behaviour, is often associated with the autism spectrum and neurotypical individuals. It involves different repetitive movements or sounds that a person may perform to express feelings, navigate sensory overload and self-soothe. Below, we explain the unique nature of stimming, its meaning, and its purpose. We also discuss how it’s commonly presented and how it’s perceived and handled in different contexts.
Stimming involves using repetitive movements or sounds, including tapping, spinning, hand-flapping, or repeating words and sounds. While it’s commonly associated with autistic people, stimming isn’t exclusive to autism.
Neurotypical individuals also show stimming behaviours, including tapping their feet or twirling hair, particularly when feeling stressed or concentrating.
The main purpose of stimming is to regulate sensory input. Autistic people usually have more intense sensory experiences, with cases of hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to external sensory stimuli.
Stimming serves as a coping mechanism to balance the sensory challenges by counter-stimulating the sensory input. Further, stimming can also have emotional and communicative functions, and serve for navigating overstimulating environments and social interactions.
Stimming can take many forms, including:
Stimming refers to repetitive movements, sounds, or actions individuals engage in to stimulate their senses or regulate their emotions. These behaviours are commonly associated with neurodivergent differences such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and sensory processing disorder (SPD), among others.
Stimming behaviours, unique to each individual, can vary widely and include actions such as hand-flapping, rocking back and forth, spinning objects, pacing, repeating words or phrases, tapping, or even chewing on objects. While stimming is often misunderstood, it serves important functions for neurodivergent individuals.
Here are some key points about stimming behaviours:
Overall, understanding and accepting stimming behaviours as a natural part of neurodiversity is essential for promoting inclusion and supporting the well-being of neurodivergent individuals.
The impact of stimming on mental health in neurodivergent individuals can be both positive and negative, depending on various factors such as frequency, context, and individual differences. Here’s a breakdown:
Overall, while stimming behaviours can play a vital role in supporting the mental health and well-being of neurodivergent individuals, it’s essential to address any negative consequences and provide support and understanding.
Encouraging acceptance, promoting inclusive environments, and offering alternative coping strategies can help individuals manage their stimming behaviours in ways that enhance their overall mental health and quality of life.
The relationship between stimming, anxiety, and depression can be complex and multifaceted, with each influencing the other in various ways. While stimming behaviours can provide temporary relief from anxiety and depression, they may also contribute to social stigma or isolation, exacerbating mental health challenges. Understanding the interplay between stimming and mental health is essential for providing appropriate support and interventions that address the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals.
Stimming and Anxiety:
Stimming and Depression:
Health and care providers can support individuals who exhibit stimming by educating themselves and others about stimming behaviours, adopting a person-centred approach, and creating safe and accepting environments. Healthcare professionals have a key role in identifying the signs of stimming and supporting autistic children and adults to build resilience and healthy coping mechanisms to navigate stress and anxiety.
By implementing functional assessments and individual Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) plans, we can assist people in gaining self-awareness, as well as the power to make a positive change in their own lives. With speech and language and occupational therapy teams, we are able to understand, identify and provide humanised support to neurodivergent people, providing the best possible outcomes.
Some of the training we provide includes:
Our teams are committed to:
By implementing these strategies, health providers can create supportive environments and empower individuals who exhibit stimming behaviours to lead fulfilling lives while respecting their unique neurodiversity.
Incorporating stimming into personalised care plans involves recognising its significance for the individual and tailoring support accordingly. This may include:
Catalyst Care Group offers a comprehensive team of speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and Positive Behaviour Support therapists within our internal multidisciplinary team. Collaborating with parents, educators, family members, and fellow healthcare providers, our therapists closely evaluate motor skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and cognitive abilities to tailor support to each child’s unique needs.
Our therapists work with people in the comfort of their homes, providing person-centred and high-quality support. We also provide support in educational and employment settings, everything the individual needs to reach full potential.
After conducting assessments, we create individualised plans centred around each person, incorporating objectives and approaches aimed at empowering them to make significant life changes. These goals are customised to the specific skills and capabilities of each child or individual, encompassing tasks related to self-care, fine motor skills essential for writing, active participation in school, and integration within the community.
Our therapists also work with autistic adults, children, and their families to develop and practice these skills at home or school to participate in daily activities.
We provide 24/7 tailored support, ready to act on call and in crisis situations. Our goal is to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and out-of-area placements.
Take a moment to check our real-life stories and see the life-changing impact of person-centred support.
Contact us today to find an urgent and consistent support team that is flexible and adaptable to any challenge!
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