Difference between stims and habits

What would be the ways to tell whether a certain thing you did as a stim or just a habit? Because I only heard about stims a couple of days ago, in that many things actually count as stims (as before I only knew about hand-flapping, rocking ect) and now I'm noticing that I have a lot of odd behaviours which I think seem to be stims.

Think the way to recognise stims is the fact that you can't stop doing it - it goes on in an automatic sort of way, and it doesn't matter if you are aware of it or not.

By definition, a stim is a 'repetitive self-stimulating action'. Whereas a habit is a 'settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up'.

So I guess in a sense there can be some crossover, though stims can provide a sort of relaxation effect (at least for me). I tend to notice I stim more when I'm in a social situation which makes me feel uncomfortable or anxious. If I'm stressed about something, I find it quite hard to stop myself from stimming, I'll sometimes be doing it for several minutes before I even notice I'm doing it.

One of my most common stims is wringing my hands. I wasn't even consciously aware that I did this until I was getting my AS diagnosis and my mum commented on it to the doctor, then I suddenly realised I'd been doing it for most of my life.

In the DSM (which is used largely in the USA for diagnosis), stims fall under what they deem to be 'repetitive non functional movements'. Since NTs can also have 'stims' I guess that makes sense to them, but several studies have shown that preventing people on the spectrum from stimming can cause an increase in anxiety and also make us more prone to sensory overload. So I guess it depends on how you define 'non functional'.

Can Restless Legs Syndrome be considered a stim?

I'm not sure that the syndrome could be classified as a stim since it's a syndrome in and of itself. Though 'lower limb motor restlessness' is apparently very common in people on the spectrum. Neurologists have also long suggested that both (individually) may be linked to how the body handles dopamine levels, so perhaps there is a link there, but I'm no neurologist haha.

Also as I type this, my legs are bouncing up and down.

So one can have "lower limb motor restlessness" and not have RLS?
I'm confused. They sound the same except for the label.

Is it a stim if it's part of a bigger condition while RLS is just RLS and nothing else (besides maybe iron deficiency)?

To be honest, I'm not completely sure. The only reason I used the different terms is because LLMR is the term for the jumpy legs part of RLS but RLS also has other symptoms, such as a sensation of crawling or a creeping sensation in the feet and calves. True RLS is also associated with involuntary arm movements (though the name wouldn't suggest this). They also classify it as "an irresistible urge to move the legs, and occasionally the arms". So from that point of view I don't think everybody who periodically has LLMR has RLS, if you see what I mean?

I for one often have my legs jumping around the place if I'm sitting down or lying in bed, but I've never experienced jerky arm movements or a sensation of crawling in my feet or calves and if I notice I'm doing it I can usually stop my legs from doing it, so I wouldn't say I have RLS.

Not sure if its this way with everything but usually with me stims are things I'll automatically do without even realizing it until after I've been doing it for a while or someone points it out...for instance I have this thing where if I am reading a book I'll fidget around with the page I am not reading without even noticing many people have found it amusing...and once I got talked to by the teacher because she thought I was just flipping through pages and not actually reading and didn't believe me when I said I was because I felt like she put me on the spot and couldn't explain what happened in the chapter i was reading since I was nervous about being in trouble for it.

Or if I have a peice of paper I am likely to crinkle it, I was certainly one to hand in crumpled homework and permission slips and what not.

Stims are repetitive and stopping them causes problems. Personally, I have a lot of habits which I am not sure if they are stims or not

RLS is a deficency, either with dopamine, iron, stuff with kidneys and some other things. RLS is frustrating for the person because they are aware of it, it keeps them up at night etc.

Leg bouncing stimming is Vestibular stim which is a repetative movement that helps with processing like over stimulation, under stimulation, emotional things like anxiety or happiness, and pain, theres more but I cant remember them all. Its not a deficiency. It kind of like self soothing if you will. We are not often aware that we do it until someone points it out.

Hope this helps!

(at least this is what I have learned, I may be wrong.. if I am please correct me!)

Interesting looking back at my father who actually died 25 years ago, but as I have been reading through The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Tony Attwood & reading here in regards to my ex H, I am remembering back to my childhood & things that my own Dad was like. He had anxiety issues & communication issues & in many ways I never did know him....but I remember he would sit in his chair in the evening after a long day or even other times when his anxiety level was great & he would continually rub his 2 fingers together. To this day I can still hear that sound in my ears. He had no idea he would do that along with constantly clearing his throat......LOL...he would have been in his late 90's now so there was no knowledge of Asperger's when he was growing up or even before he died in 1989. It's amazing how when reading information things come popping back into your head from places I wasn't even focusing on or planing on going there.....but I could definitely see the finger thing as stimming.....always wondered why.....now it's starting to make sense along with many other traits that I had no understanding of.

The throat clearing thing is most likely a tic. My dad has tics as well.

That makes sense....thank you..jimi
My Dad also also had a tic with his stomach that would constantly be twitching so that would definitely tie together with that.

My understanding is... the brain is frustrated somehow and your body/brain is dealing with that frustration.... many "who are not diagnosed with anything" show self soothing behavior. When I am working with students who exhibit this.. I know their brain is a frustrated and is trying to figure out how to continue with a task that they are not comfortable with... or it's sensory overload... the anxiety needs to be released. As the brain becomes more confident with tasks or incoming sensory overload .. there is probably less of need to release.. as it becomes a habit.. maybe, with help, the brain can learn how to break "habits". Just my opinion from my experiences with the students I work with.

What I really can't separate, well I think I personally can, but can't be too sure because "experts" interpret things differently.. anyway is what is seen as restlessness of ADD and stims of AS. I assume they look similar to others? Or are they sort of the same? I have no idea...