Stimming in Autism

Stimming in autism refers to repetitive behaviours like hand-flapping, rocking, or vocal sounds that help regulate emotions, manage sensory input, or express feelings. It’s a common form of self-regulation in autistic people and can begin in early childhood. Stimming is not harmful unless it causes injury or interferes with daily life.

The Full Answer:

If you’ve ever noticed someone rocking back and forth, flapping their hands, humming softly, or repeating a word over and over (echolalia). You may have witnessed a behaviour known as stimming. Short for “self-stimulatory behaviour,” stimming is common among autistic people, though it can also be seen in non-autistic individuals when they’re bored, excited, or anxious. For more information specifically on echolalia, you may wish to read our article Echolalia Autism.

You might have noticed these behaviours in your child and are wondering whether you should pursue a diagnosis. At Oxford CBT, we offer private autism assessments to those in London, Oxford and surrounding areas. 

For many autistic children and adults, stimming is a natural and important part of how they experience and regulate the world. It can help manage stress, express emotion, and create a sense of comfort or predictability. But because it often looks different from what people consider “typical,” it’s sometimes misunderstood – and even discouraged.

In this article, we’ll explore what stimming really is, what it can look like at different ages, and why it plays such a valuable role for many autistic people. We’ll also offer gentle, practical guidance on when support might be helpful and how to respond in a way that’s respectful, safe, and empowering.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, support worker, or simply want to better understand someone you care about, this guide will help you see stimming through a more compassionate and informed lens.

What Is Stimming?

Stimming is short for self-stimulatory behaviour. It refers to repetitive movements, sounds, or actions that someone uses to regulate their emotions, focus their attention, or process sensory information [1]. For autistic people, stimming is often a natural part of how they interact with the world.

You might see someone flap their hands when excited, rock back and forth when anxious, tap their fingers repeatedly, or hum in a quiet moment. These actions aren’t meaningless, they can help calm the nervous system, express feelings, or create a sense of rhythm and predictability [1].

The term “stimming” originally came from observations of children with developmental differences, particularly autism, who used these repetitive behaviours in very consistent ways. While older diagnostic frameworks sometimes viewed stimming as a “symptom to be managed,” current understanding sees it as an important form of self-regulation and communication.

Is Stimming Always Linked to Autism?

No. Stimming can appear in many different people, not just those with autism. For autistic individuals, stimming tends to be more frequent, more varied, and more essential to everyday functioning, which is why it’s closely associated with autism.

But people without autism may stim too, like someone tapping their foot when nervous, twirling their hair when thinking, or biting their nails when bored. These behaviours serve similar functions – just in less noticeable or more socially accepted ways.

Stimming in Other Neurodivergent Conditions

Stimming can also appear in people with ADHD, sensory processing differences, anxiety, or even learning disabilities. In ADHD, for example, repetitive movements or sounds may help with focus or impulse control. However, for those with autism, stimming often plays a more central and consistent role in daily life, not just during moments of stress or distraction.

Understanding that stimming exists across different groups helps us respond with more curiosity and empathy, rather than trying to stop or suppress it.

Why Do Autistic People Stim?

Stimming serves many important purposes for autistic individuals. It’s not random or meaningless, it’s often a response to what the person is feeling or sensing in the moment. Understanding why someone stims can help shift the conversation from “How do we stop this?” to “What do they need right now?”

Self-Regulation, Sensory Input, and Emotional Expression

Many autistic people stim to regulate their nervous system [1]. This might mean calming down after something overwhelming, staying focused during a conversation, or expressing excitement, joy, frustration, or boredom.

Stimming can also help with processing sensory input [1]. If the world feels too loud, bright, or chaotic, repetitive movement or sound can help someone find balance and control. Likewise, if someone is feeling under-stimulated, stimming can create sensory input where it’s missing – like tapping fingers to fill a quiet moment or spinning to create a predictable rhythm.

For some, stimming is also a way to express emotions when words aren’t accessible or sufficient. A child might flap their hands when excited. An adult might rock gently when stressed. In both cases, the action says something, even if it isn’t verbal.

Stimming as a Way to Manage Anxiety or Overstimulation

In overwhelming environments – such as noisy classrooms, crowded shops, or unfamiliar social settings – stimming often helps people manage anxiety [1]. It acts as a grounding mechanism, offering a predictable, repetitive activity when everything else feels unpredictable or too intense.

This is why trying to stop someone from stimming without offering an alternative can increase distress. What looks unusual or distracting to others may be the person’s way of coping with a world that feels difficult to navigate.

Common Types of Stimming in Autism

Stimming can take many forms, and the way it presents can vary from person to person – and even from day to day. Some stims are subtle and go unnoticed, while others are more obvious or physically expressive. The key is that each one serves a purpose for the individual.

Here are some of the most common types of stimming observed in autistic people.

Repetitive Movements

These are often the most visible forms of stimming. They might include:

• Hand-flapping
  
• Rocking back and forth
  
• Spinning in circles
  
• Jumping repeatedly
  
• Finger flicking or snapping
  
• Pacing in a set pattern
  

These movements can be calming, grounding, or simply pleasurable. Hand-flapping, for instance, is a very common stim, particularly when someone feels excited or overwhelmed.

Vocal Stims

Vocal stimming involves repetitive use of sounds or words. Examples include:

• Humming or buzzing
  
• Repeating a phrase or word (echolalia)
  
• Making clicking or throat noises
  
• Repeating lines from favourite shows or books
  
• Talking to oneself quietly
  

These sounds can be soothing, fun, or help a person maintain focus. Vocal stimming is especially common in both children and adults who are non-speaking or minimally verbal.

Tactile and Visual Stims

Some stimming is based on touch or visual input [1]. This might include:

• Rubbing or tapping fingers against surfaces
  
• Running hands over fabrics or textures
  
• Watching spinning objects or flickering lights
  
• Lining up objects or sorting things by colour or shape
  
• Playing with slime, putty, or fidget toys
  

These stims often provide predictable sensory feedback, which can be very comforting – especially in chaotic environments.

What Is the Most Common Stim?

There’s no single stim that applies to every autistic person, but hand-flapping, rocking, and vocal repetition are among the most commonly reported. It’s worth noting that what’s “common” doesn’t mean it’s universal. Some people stim in less noticeable ways or only in private.

Every stim has its own rhythm and reason, and understanding that can help reduce stigma and increase acceptance.

The Difference Between Harmless and Harmful Stimming

Most stimming is completely harmless – it might look unusual, but it doesn’t hurt the individual or others. However, some forms of stimming can be physically harmful, such as head banging, skin picking, or biting [2]. 

In these cases, support may be needed to:

• Understand the underlying cause (e.g. pain, sensory overload, distress)
  
• Offer safer alternatives that meet the same need
  
• Reduce triggers in the environment
  

Charlie, an autistic woman in her forties, has been stimming by twisting and pulling her hair intermittently since she was three years old. She does this so vigorously at times that her hair thins and breaks in different areas, making her feel self-conscious and stressed, leading to more harmful stimming. This promotes a cycle of hair damage, shame and anxiety that can last for months. 

“I can go several months, sometimes even years without pulling at my hair,” says Charlie. “But if I’m going through a period of high stress, or if I’m not careful when I’m bored or absent-minded, I just end up starting it again. And once I’ve started it, it’s like a switch lights up, and I’m no longer in control.” 

What Does Stimming Look Like Across the Lifespan?

Stimming is often associated with young autistic children, but it can occur at any age. It may look different across the lifespan, but its purpose remains largely the same: to regulate, express, or connect.

When Does Stimming Start in Autism?

Stimming can appear very early in life, often before an autism diagnosis is made. In young children, early signs may include:

• Rocking while seated
  
• Repeatedly lining up toys
  
• Hand-flapping when excited or upset
  
• Spinning objects obsessively
  
• Watching things from the corner of the eye
  

These behaviours aren’t inherently negative – in fact, they may offer some of the earliest clues that a child is using movement or repetition to navigate their environment. When these actions are frequent and combined with other signs like delayed communication or limited social interaction, they may form part of an autism diagnosis.

Stimming in Adults – Often Overlooked or Masked

Autistic adults stim too – but their stims may be less visible or deliberately hidden due to social pressures or past experiences of being told to stop. This is sometimes referred to as masking.

Instead of hand-flapping, an adult might:

• Tap a pen under the table
  
• Rub their hands together in a pocket
  
• Gently rock when alone
  
• Repeat words or sounds quietly in their head
  
• Use subtle fidget tools or stim jewellery
  

Because adult stimming is less recognised, many autistic people report being misunderstood or overlooked in adulthood, even by health professionals.

Autistic Stimming in Adults vs Children

The function of stimming remains consistent, but the form may change as someone gets older. Adults often find ways to stim more discreetly, especially in public or workplace settings. However, this doesn’t mean the need to stim has gone away.

In fact, many adults describe returning to stimming openly after diagnosis or during burnout, once they feel safer being themselves. The difference is not in the need – it’s in the social acceptance.

It’s important to respect and support stimming at every age, whether it looks playful, calming, or expressive. It’s part of how many autistic people relate to the world around them – not just a childhood phase to be outgrown.

Should Stimming Be Reduced or Managed?

One of the most common questions parents, teachers, and caregivers ask is: Should I try to stop my child from stimming? It’s a fair question, especially when the behaviour seems disruptive, confusing, or draws unwanted attention. But in most cases, trying to stop stimming can do more harm than good.

Why Stopping Stimming Isn’t Usually Helpful

For many autistic people, stimming is not just a habit, it’s a vital tool for coping. It helps regulate emotions, manage sensory input, and provide comfort during stressful or overstimulating situations. Asking someone to stop stimming without understanding why they’re doing it is a bit like taking away someone’s way of calming down – without offering anything in its place.

Suppressing stimming can lead to:

• Increased anxiety or distress
  
• More meltdowns or shutdowns
  
• Feelings of shame or being “too much”
  
• A need to hide or mask behaviour, which can be exhausting
  

In short, the goal shouldn’t be to eliminate stimming, but to support it when it’s helpful and guide it safely when it becomes unsafe or disruptive [2]. Charlie explains how her husband tries to gently redirect her when he notices her stimming by reaching out to hold her hand. Sometimes this helps, but Charlie admits she usually stims most when she’s alone. “I really struggle to stop. My hair is always there, it’s not something I can just put away and forget about.” 

When Support May Be Needed

There are situations where stimming may need support [2] – particularly when it:

• Causes self-injury (e.g. head banging, skin picking)
  
• Creates safety concerns (e.g. running in circles in busy places)
  
• Prevents participation in learning or communication
  
• Is intensely distressing to the individual or those around them
  

Charlie explains how her hair-pulling stim is distressing for her; “Sometimes I go into a trance just twirling and pulling for hours at a time. I look down and see I’m covered in pieces of broken hair, sometimes with knots pulled out.” 

“My fingers and arm ache and I look in the mirror and see what I’ve done to my hair – it’s got shorter and thinner in several places and covered in split ends. Sometimes I try to trim the rest of my hair to match – it’s a nightmare and I hate myself afterwards”.

Even in cases such as these, the aim isn’t to punish or suppress the behaviour – it’s to understand what the stim is doing for the person and find a safer or more suitable alternative. 

For example:

• If someone bangs their head when overwhelmed, consider a safe alternative like pressing on a cushion or using a weighted blanket
  
• If someone paces during lessons, a movement break schedule might help
  
• If stimming becomes constant during anxiety, supporting emotional regulation may reduce the need for it
  

How to Reduce Stimming Behaviours in Autism – Respectfully

Rather than “reducing” stimming, a more helpful goal is to create environments where stimming is accepted, understood, and safely supported.

Approaches might include:

• Identifying triggers that increase distress-based stimming
  
• Using visual supports, timers, or sensory tools to reduce overwhelm
  
• Teaching self-awareness and choice – e.g. “Do you want your stim toy?”
  
• Offering alternative sensory input (e.g. fiddle toys, noise-cancelling headphones)
  
• Respecting that some stims need no intervention at all
  

Above all, it’s about listening to the individual and recognising that stimming often says, “I’m coping in the best way I know how.” Charlie explains what works for her: 

“Whenever I’ve stopped for long periods, it’s been at times when I’ve felt accepted and supported. When I feel better about myself, I look after myself better. If I’m able to reduce the stressors and triggers too, the urge to stim decreases.”

Conclusion

Stimming is often misunderstood because it doesn’t always fit into the patterns of behaviour people are used to. But for many autistic individuals, it’s a deeply personal and meaningful way of expressing themselves. It might reflect joy, stress, concentration, or a need to feel grounded in a busy or overwhelming environment.

Rather than viewing stimming as something to be stopped or corrected, it helps to see it as a form of communication. Every movement, sound, or repetition tells us something – about how the person is feeling, what they need, and how they are coping with their surroundings.

When the focus shifts from control to understanding, we make room for authenticity and trust. Asking ourselves what a person might be experiencing, what their behaviour is helping them manage, and how we can support them to feel safe and comfortable can be far more helpful than simply trying to eliminate the behaviour.

At Oxford CBT, we support autistic people and their families in building this kind of understanding. We work with children, teenagers and adults to provide therapy and coaching to explore emotional regulation, communication strategies and ways to feel more in control, without suppressing who they are. If you’re looking for thoughtful, neuroaffirming support, we’re here to help.

Stimming isn’t something to fix. It’s something to understand. And in doing so, we can offer support that truly meets the person’s needs.

References

1. National Autistic Society. ‘Stimming – a Guide for All Audiences’ https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/stimming/all-audiences 
2. National Autistic Society – ‘Self-injurious Behaviour – A Guide for all Audiences’ https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/self-injurious-behaviour/all-audiences 

Author – Tom Murfitt

With over a decade’s experience in providing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Tom has worked in both the NHS and private sector to help adults and children to overcome a range of difficulties and improve their mental wellbeing. In addition to being an experienced CBT therapist, Tom is also an accredited Mindfulness teacher, providing courses locally, in businesses and schools. You can read more about us here. 

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