March 5, 2019

Four approaches to stimming…

BAD: “I shouldn’t let myself stim.”

GOOD: “I should let myself stim when I feel like it.”

BETTER: “I should remember, when I’m anxious or overwhelmed, that stimming is a strategy I can intentionally use to calm myself.”

BEST: “I should remember, when I’m about to enter a stressful situation, that stimming is a strategy I can proactively use to prepare myself ahead of time.”

P.S. I write from my personal experience as an autistic. What I share is not a substitute for advice from an autistic medical professional. Also, some of my opinions have changed since I first wrote them.