@pathfinder @samiam @actuallyautistic
I saw your post recently about stimming and I was going to respond but changed my mind. I know of a few things I do that I try not to get caught doing in public but you really made me wonder about what I have stopped doing. If I could remember and be more authentic and soothing to myself.
@pathfinder I might've missed your post on stimming! When I first started considering autism a few years ago I told myself that I obviously don't stim... except biting my nails, twirling my beard. Chewed pencils as a kid... I'm a really tense person and I've never liked to "let loose".
Turns out I've just suppressed it *super hard* and bounce all over the place now.
@neversosimple @pathfinder @Adventurer @samiam @actuallyautistic it took me until my adult years to realise that nail- and lip biting, skin picking, and pencil chewing are stimming. I only wish some of the adults in my life would've picked up on it earlier instead of constantly slapping my fingers out of my mouth and shaming me for my scars :/
A few years back I developed a new stim, and at least that one isn't self destructive: I just gently sway from side to side for hours on end, lol
@StrassenKatze @neversosimple @pathfinder @Adventurer @samiam @actuallyautistic I sucked my thumb & twirled my hair as a child. Suppressed after being offered bribes. Hand flapping largely suppressed after being teased. It’s returned a little more since self dx. Recognising partner’s stims in this thread. (He’s not! self dxd.) I’ve suffered a lot of muscle aches & pain in the last 30-40 years (I’m 63), due to suppressing stims I guess.
@StrassenKatze @neversosimple @pathfinder @Adventurer @samiam @actuallyautistic Read this list this morning. It was like seeing 7yo me in a mirror. Thinking you’re autistic & realising you definitely are, are 2 different things. I’m in shock. https://autismsa.org.au/autism-diagnosis/autism-symptoms/signs-of-autism-in-girls/
