Stimming in autism: why it matters and why not to stop it
By Helen Edgar and David Gray-Hammond · From the Re-Storying Autism workbook, Module 3
Stimming is how Autistic people regulate. It is not a symptom to be eradicated or a distraction to be managed. It is a bodily language of self-stabilisation. Rocking, flapping, pacing, humming, spinning objects, rubbing textures, repeating words; these actions are attempts to anchor a drifting sensory system. Suppressing stimming forces Autistic people to regulate through less visible, often more harmful means; self-injury, internalised distress, shutdown, or explosions of overwhelm. Supporting stimming is supports wellbeing and needs to be encouraged when a child feels safe in their environment and who they are with.
Keep going in the course
This is a short extract. The full lesson in Module 3: Sensory and Emotional Landscapes includes the video teaching, the rest of the workbook text, reflection questions for parents, carers and Autistic people, and progress tracking.