Comments on: Autistic and Non-Autistic views of “Purposeless” Behavior

By: Sci

Sci — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:24:38 +0000

I find it very interesting that there are NTs here who claim stimming behaviour. I myself was always told that NTs did not exhibit stims and that, if they did, they weren’t truly NT. This was a source of some consternation to me, as I am (so far as I am aware) neurotypical, and exhibit certain (very minor) stims. Rocking, a certain amount of hair-twirling, focused staring, etc. Interestingly, these behaviours have always been described by my peers as “eccentricities”.

Also of note: after a brief period of hospitalization for self-harm, my therapist suggested to me the following method of “redirection”, you might say. The idea was that, when I felt overwhelmed (whether by emotions or sensations), that I should find an object and explore the texture of that object in depth, utilizing all of my relevant senses, thus “redirecting” my focus towards a neutral object and away from the hostile experience. While a voluntary action, it is very clearly “self-stimulation” in an excessively literal sense– presumably the implication from the therapist is that “voluntary” stimming is acceptable and perhaps even desirable and helpful, while “involuntary” stimming is not. (Note that the action became progressively less voluntary as I established it as part of my routine for the disbursement of negative experiences.)

By: frank

frank — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:42:53 +0000

i am people looking for people who can help and be friends with autistics.

By: Jilly

Jilly — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:45:53 +0000

I am a non-autistic person, although I do work with autistic children. I have a tendency to rock with my younger autistic kids. It is a way to connect and it feels very natural to me. I have started to rock on my own however. It is not real obvious to others, at least I think it isn’t. I am wondering if this could be a result of some medication that I am taking or if it just a natural behavior that I have picked up from my students. I am on lamectil, celexa and loramzapan for anxiety/mood stabilizers, after a very tramatic incident in my life. Anyway, I’d appreciate any comments on this. It drives my 18 year old daughter crazy when I rock. Especially if it’s out in public like in a doctor’s waiting room. Thanks a million! Jilly

By: mm

mm — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:16:58 +0000

hi
I have commented in your other blogs and was the one that said i don’t stop my son’s repetitive behaviours, I actually join them and try to experience what it is that he is experiencing.
I played your video 3 times and the 3rd time i closed my eyes and listened and I thought it sounded beautiful…. it was rythmic and musical i thought.

By: Dena

Dena — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:36:40 +0000

Amanda, I’m what one would consider non-autistic or neurotypical. BUT, I also have forms, as do a lot of people, of stimming. When I’m talking in a social situation I rarely stand still. I sway. NT’s dont recognize this as stimming because I’m not “stereotyped” as autistics are, but in fact it very much is self-stimulation. I also have problems with hearing, background noises distract me very easily and makes it unable for me to focus on what is being said to me. That in itself is a sensory issue. Where one person may sway randomly or very little, I sway continuously so therefor, one might say my “stimming” is exagerated as they would the movements you do IF I we’re also “labled”. I hope I’m making sense here because sometimes it’s hard for me to put into words what I’m trying to say while typing. In other words, I think there ar a lot of “austics” behaviors, for lack of better words, that are quite “normal” or typical if people would just open their minds and put the stereotypes away.
My four year old is autistic, on the “higher” functioning end of the spectrum. I hate that term because he is far less,(yes, hes only four of course) advanced than you are. So in my own opinion it would make sense to me to say you are high functioning because of your intelligence level and many other factors. I dont like the classes and levels that many put on autistic individuals. NT’s function at lower and higher levels but that doesnt seem to come with the stigma that it does when concerning autism. A Phd with years of college and training would more than likely be of a higher intelligence than I am at some things but I would not consider that person to be higer functioning.

Keep up your work of spreading the word about autism. You’re doing a great job of opening the worlds eyes. My son and I are also trying to do our part with promotoing acceptance with individuals with “disabilities”. I don’t like that term either but it seems to be an accepted one. We’re all differently abled, not necessarily disabled. I’ll save that whole soap box for another time! Thanks again for sharing, I really enjoy your website!

By: linda

linda — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:35:23 +0000

My 9 year old son has autism and is in constant motion, moreso in certain situations, e.g. talking on phone, walks continuously. He also bangs his head, though not as frequently as when he was younger. However, I do not try to curtail these activities/stims. I have never known exactly what he derives from the stim, but I have always thought they must make him feel better in some way, that he is gaining something from it, whatever that may be. I tell his school that if he needs these behaviors and it is “interfering” with the rest of the class, which is a fav statement in the school system then they need to give him a place where he can have these experiences. Since they’re short on room, they chose to let him do it in the class. Interestingly enough, Sam has curtailed his stims in the class to flicking the ends of his fingers and/or moving his legs under his desk, etc. This is his own doing. When he gets home or in the car, he starts his head banging and that’s fine by me.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 05:07:14 +0000

It’s interesting, the article mentions staring at postured fingers as sort of a stim. I do that all the time, but never really saw it as a stim sort of thing.

By: jerric

jerric — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 17:48:55 +0000

hi, I have a son who is five years old with down syndrome but we are also looking at the possibility that he may be autistic. logan does alot of stimming such as laying on his back and flapping his arms and legs, spinning on his rear for a very long time. anyway, i would welcome any insight to this question from all of you………..
when he does this he appears happy and excited, we have tried to stop him but he goes right back to doing it even when we try to redirect, should we just let him do it? what i hope is that with time he will develop more appropriate coping skills to deal with this on his own. what do you think?

By: lordalfredhenry

lordalfredhenry — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 06:53:01 +0000

Joseph, I think you mean “vehemontly” which is close to a phonestheme aka “behemoth” both of which have a morphemic “largesse” quality.

By: Autistic Blog Digest - Autistic and Non-Autistic views of ?Purposeless? Behavior

Autistic Blog Digest - Autistic and Non-Autistic views of ?Purposeless? Behavior — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 22:08:57 +0000

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