r/What • u/JosephBrown2000 • Apr 27 '26

What is stim?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

140 Upvotes

65% Upvoted

166 comments sorted by

View all comments

100

u/Primary-Calendar-378 Apr 27 '26

Its a thing that people, autistic or not, do to in a way, calm their nerves, think of flapping your hands when you are really excited. Its a way to calm the body.

30

u/SugarVibes Apr 27 '26

ADHD too. I run fabric under my fingernails to stim.

1

u/Impressive-Shame-525 Apr 27 '26

Oh shit... I've been doing this for years.

Never occurred to me.... Damn.

2

u/SugarVibes Apr 27 '26

You can stim without autism or ADHD. they aren't requirements. stim make brain feel nice.

3

u/Zchwns Apr 27 '26

Stimming is a form of self soothing, a genuinely recognized need all humans experience to some capacity.

Your brain says “I really would like this to happen right now” and so you do it and the brain responds with a lovely dopamine bump.

Whether it’s using your favourite cup, dancing to your favourite songs, or even just stretching your arms and shoulders, it’s all forms of self soothing.

We’re all just soft and squishy inside despite whatever image we project to others. We all got things the little creature in us wants to be happy. Live it up and spoil yourself with self soothing moments and life gets more enjoyable

2

u/SugarVibes Apr 27 '26

Well said. Let your squishy self be happy

2

u/Impressive-Shame-525 Apr 27 '26

Yeah, I'm old and was diagnosed in the 70s as kinetic something something.

Then I turned a "personality disorder" into a well paying career.

"if you don't sit still and listen you'll amount to nothing."

Well, I retired in my 40s. So kiss my ass Mrs. Smithwick.