Stimming Isn't Always Observable

Like many things to do with being Autistic, unless it can be observed, recorded and analysed by someone who doesn’t identify as Autistic, it doesn’t make it into diagnostic criteria or mainstream literature.

The UK National Autistic Society website shares the following explanation: ‘Stimming or self-stimulating behaviour includes arm or hand-flapping, finger-flicking, rocking, jumping, spinning or twirling, head-banging and complex body movements.’

While stimming can indeed include all of these things, the list is not exhaustive, and it focuses on what is observable by non-Autistic people. Not all stims are observable, and some of us are repressing our observable stims in order to survive various situations and stages of life.