[Mountaindewed]

I stim like crazy. I wring my hands and I also have an oral fixation and a lot of sensory issues. I also go through patterns where I can only eat certain foods. I am autistic. This girl I know doesn’t have autism but she’s always posting about her sensory issues and pictures of her sensory objects and how she stims non stop and about her sensory overload. it’s kinda annoying. I think she just wants attention. I personally never tell anyone about my stim or sensory issues and items and I try my best to hide them. Especially in public. Besides my old therapist no one knows because I find them kind of embarrassing and not anything to be proud of. My mom doesn’t even know about them let alone my entire Facebook.

So can people stim and not be autistic?

[Miss Laura]

I diddle my legs, wring my hands, shake my feet, move about body ways

Is this stimming?

I don't know why I do it tbh

[downandlonely]

I used to have to have something to play with in my hands, a piece of string, throughout my childhood. Not sure if this is stimming. I have not been diagnosed with autism but may be on the spectrum.

[divine1966]

Of course. People with anxieties. OCDs. Attention deficits. Tourette’s. Generally people who stress out. Not just people with ASD

[artisticguitarist]

I don't have autism. I keep a soft makeup brush by my desk to lightly brush on my face and arms and it makes me feel calm. I don't think I get sensory overload the way it manifests in autism, but I do start to have a meltdown if I feel like I'm really stressed and there's too many lights and noises going on.

My sister has autism and she was shamed for her stims. I never got diagnosed with autism and I've never felt ashamed of brushing my skin or having texture issues. From a societal viewpoint, she has a symptom, while I'm quirky. It could be that the only difference between us is a diagnosis. I really don't know.


I'm sorry you feel shame for your stims. I hope you're able to find acceptance for your stims because they're completely valid.

[*Beth*]

I've always wondered about it, myself. I don't have autism, but I do have some stimming behaviors. Interesting thread.

[RoxanneToto]

I have a few stimming behaviours; I was diagnosed as being on the spectrum, but I go through periods of doubting it.

[Soupe du jour]

I can certainly have sensory overload, but usually it's mood-related. I also have a bad tendency to repeat things. I've always thought that was anxiety or hypomania/mania related. I have periods when I grind my teeth during the day or pick at my fingers, but not severely. Again, seems to be anxiety or mood-related. I do not have an autism spectrum disorder. Both of my nephews were diagnosed with Aspergers, though.

[zapatoes]

Yes it seems that people who don’t haves autism stim since I am always twiddling a pen in my hand or moving my foot, but could be nervous habit. I like to rock or spin if in an office chair that does that. Also find rocking chairs calming. I’m almost autistic, since have NVLD.