What Is Stimming? (Why Repetitive Movements Aren’t a Problem to Fix)
#TalkNerdyToMe® Staff Writer
Let’s talk about stimming.
But not in a clinical, “observe the specimen” way … in a real-life, “oh… so THAT’S what I’ve been doing my entire existence” way.
Stimming (short for self-stimulatory behavior) is basically your nervous system’s way of saying:
“I got this. Stand back.”
It’s repetitive movements or sounds your body uses to regulate emotions, process sensory input, focus, or survive a fluorescent-lit grocery store without spiritually leaving your body.
Hand flapping. Rocking. Humming. Tapping your foot like you’re auditioning for a percussion ensemble. Twirling your hair. Clicking a pen until someone threatens to confiscate it.
It’s not random.
It’s regulation.
And despite how it’s been framed historically, it’s not automatically “bad behavior.” It’s often intelligent adaptation.
So What Is Stimming, Really?
Stimming is self-regulation in motion.
It’s what your body does when:
The world is too loud.
The meeting is too long.
The anxiety is creeping in.
The excitement is too big to contain.
Or your brain needs just a tiny bit more input to stay online.
Experts describe stimming as a regulatory behavior that helps manage overwhelming sensory or emotional experiences. Translation: it’s a built-in nervous system stabilizer.
And here’s the nerdy part (because obviously):
Recent research is pushing back on the old narrative that stimming interferes with attention. For example, research by DH Baker (2025) looking at spatial attention and repetitive movements did not find evidence that stimming harms attention performance in people who naturally engage in it.
Meaning?
Your fidgeting might not be sabotaging you.
It might be helping you focus.
Wild.
“But Isn’t That Distracting?”
Only if you think stillness equals intelligence.
There’s emerging work (like Tancredi, 2024) arguing that stimming isn’t just a side behavior — it can be part of how cognition happens. In other words, for some people, movement is thinking.
Rocking. Tapping. Fidgeting.
Not noise.
Processing.
Especially for neurodivergent brains.
Why Do People Stim?
Short answer: because nervous systems are dramatic.
Long answer: stimming helps with emotional regulation and sensory needs.
1. Anxiety Management
Repetitive movement creates predictability. Predictability lowers threat response. Lower threat response = fewer internal alarm bells.
It’s like giving your brain a metronome when everything feels chaotic.
2. Sensory Regulation
If you’re sensory-seeking, you stim to add input.
If you’re sensory-overloaded, you stim to organize input.
Watching spinning objects. Rubbing soft fabric. Listening to the same 10 seconds of a song on repeat. (No judgment. We’ve all been there.)
Your brain isn’t being weird.
It’s self-calibrating.
Types of Stimming (A Sensory Buffet)
Stims usually fall into sensory categories:
Visual
Watching lights or patterns
Spinning objects
Replaying satisfying visual loops
Auditory
Humming
Repeating phrases
Clicking, tapping, vocal sounds
Tactile
Fidget toys
Rubbing fabrics
Running fingers along textures
Some are obvious.
Some are socially camouflaged.
Because yes — adults stim too. We just get better at disguising it.
Stimming and Autism
Stimming is commonly associated with autism for a reason.
Autistic nervous systems often process sensory input differently. That can mean:
Greater sensory sensitivity
Increased overload
Stronger emotional intensity
Or a need for additional sensory input
Stimming becomes both coping mechanism and self-expression.
Research in Psychology Across the Spectrum (2025) highlights that stimming plays a dual role in autism:
It regulates emotion.
It expresses identity.
It’s not just “calming down.”
It’s communication.
And yes, there’s tension between traditional behavioral approaches (like ABA) that aim to reduce visible stimming, and neurodiversity-affirming perspectives that view it as adaptive.
The cultural conversation is shifting. Slowly. But shifting.
Is There a Link Between Stimming and Synesthesia?
Short answer: no direct scientific link.
Synesthesia is when one sensory input automatically triggers another (like seeing colors when you hear music). Stimming is self-regulatory movement or sound.
That said, some people are both autistic and synesthetic. If your nervous system already cross-wires sensory information, you might stim in ways that feel especially layered or vivid.
But stimming itself isn’t caused by synesthesia.
Adults Stim. Yes, You.
If you:
Tap your foot during meetings
Doodle while on calls
Crack your knuckles when stressed
Chew gum aggressively
Pace when thinking
Congratulations. You have a nervous system.
Adult stimming often looks subtle because society tolerates “acceptable” fidgets but side-eyes visible ones.
Stillness is rewarded.
Regulation is policed.
And that’s worth interrogating.
When Should Stimming Be a Concern?
Stimming is generally healthy.
It becomes a concern if:
It causes physical harm.
It significantly interferes with daily functioning.
It’s tied to extreme distress without other coping tools available.
In those cases, professional support can help identify what the nervous system is trying to communicate and expand the regulation toolkit.
But visible does not equal problematic.
Community Changes Everything
When people start sharing their stimming stories, something shifts.
The shame dissolves.
The confusion softens.
The “why am I like this?” becomes “oh… this makes sense.”
Personal narratives normalize what textbooks pathologized.
And connection matters. Especially for neurodivergent people who grew up being told to sit still, stop rocking, quiet down, act normal.
Stimming isn’t failure.
It’s adaptation.
Quick FAQ (Because We Love a Structured Nerd Moment)
Does stimming help focus?
For many people, yes. Research suggests it does not inherently harm attention and may support regulation.
Can stims change over time?
Absolutely. Kids may have bigger, more visible stims. Adults often develop subtler ones. Same nervous system. Different packaging.
Can caregivers support stimming?
Yes. By not shaming it. By providing sensory tools. By understanding that regulation beats compliance.
Is stimming only autistic?
Nope. Neurotypical people stim too. It’s just less scrutinized.
The Real Takeaway
Stimming is not your nervous system malfunctioning.
It’s your nervous system problem-solving.
Movement. Sound. Repetition.
All in service of staying regulated in a world that is loud, bright, unpredictable, and occasionally ridiculous.
If your body rocks, taps, hums, or fidgets —
it might not be something to eliminate.
It might be something to understand.
And maybe even respect.
