Research Summary: Stimming Insights from Autistic Adults
At All Things Stim, we believe that the voices and lived experiences of neurodivergent individuals should be at the centre of research, especially when it comes to understanding things like stimming.
A 2019 study led by Steven Kapp and colleagues, “People Should Be Allowed to Do What They Like: Autistic Adults' Views and Experiences of Stimming,” explored how autistic adults experience stimming. Their findings provide valuable insights into why stimming is so important.
What is Stimming?
Stimming (short for self-stimulatory actions) is commonly associated with autism, yet it’s often misunderstood. Stimming refers to repetitive movements or sounds, such as hand flapping, rocking, or humming. Historically, these actions have been viewed as behaviours that should be controlled or eliminated. However, autistic adults are reclaiming stimming as a natural and necessary part of their lives.
One of the study’s participants emphasised this by saying, “Stimming is just a release of any high emotion, so really anxious, really agitated, really happy, really excited—just any high emotion, that’s when I stim.”
According to the research, this reflects the role of stimming in managing emotions and helping autistic individuals cope with sensory overload.
Why Do People Stim?
The research highlights two main reasons why autistic individuals stim:
Self-Regulation: Stimming can help individuals manage overwhelming emotions or sensory input. When an environment becomes too loud or overstimulating, stimming can provide a sense of control and calm.
As the researchers explain, “Stimming was identified as a repetitive, usually rhythmic behaviour … described as automatic and uncontrollable, but nonetheless as comfortable or calming, suggesting a self-regulatory function.”
One participant illustrated how rhythmic stimming helps them maintain focus and stay calm, describing it as “metronoming everything in your body to sort of go at that speed … So it just sort of helps quell everything, because you’re at the same rhythm with everything.”
For many autistic adults, stimming can serve as a vital coping mechanism to regulate both sensory and emotional inputs.
Emotional Expression: Stimming can also be a way to express emotions, whether positive or negative.
Some individuals stim when they’re excited or happy, while others stim when they’re anxious or stressed.
The same action, such as hand flapping, may look different depending on the emotion behind it. As one participant shared, “I flap my hands both when I’m excited or happy as well as when I’m distressed,” demonstrating that stimming is tied closely to emotional expression.
The Social Challenges of Stimming
Unfortunately, stimming is often misunderstood and stigmatised. Many autistic adults reported being told to stop stimming, particularly in public spaces, which can lead to feelings of shame or frustration.
As one participant put it, “I’ve been told not to do it, but it helps me. It cuts down what is going on around and helps me focus. When I suppress it, I feel just sort of more on edge.”
This illustrates the tension many autistic people feel between needing to stim for their well-being and the social pressures to conform.
The research team highlighted this by saying, “Participants described feeling a variety of resentful emotions when told by others to stop stimming, including anger, nervousness, frustration, belittlement, shame, and confusion.”
These negative social reactions often lead autistic individuals to hide their stims, even though stimming is crucial to their emotional and sensory regulation.
Destigmatising Stimming
Despite the stigma, autistic adults in the study emphasised the importance of accepting stimming as a natural behaviour that helps them navigate their environments.
One participant powerfully expressed, “People should be allowed to do what they like if it’s not hurting anyone.”
This reflects the growing movement within the neurodivergent community that challenges the idea that stimming needs to be "fixed" or eliminated.
The researchers echo this sentiment, arguing that “modifying the environment and promoting social acceptance are key.”
Instead of focusing on eliminating stimming, they suggest that efforts should be made to reduce environmental stressors that may trigger stimming and to foster a broader understanding of why stimming occurs.
What Can We Learn?
This research highlights the importance of viewing stimming not as a behaviour that always needs to be controlled but as a valid and necessary coping mechanism in many cases.
Most stims, such as hand flapping or rocking, are non-harmful and can play a crucial role in self-regulation and emotional expression. As the authors note, “Stimming serves to contain or control excess emotion,” and the social acceptability of stimming is influenced by cultural factors such as age and familiarity.
However, in some cases, stimming may take forms that are harmful or self-injurious. One participant spoke about this, saying, ‘Sometimes my stimming can hurt me, but it’s not something I can just stop. I need support to find other ways to help me feel better.’
The researchers emphasised that in these situations, the focus shouldn’t be on eliminating stimming altogether, but rather on finding safer, alternative ways to regulate their emotions and sensory experiences (you can read more about self-injurious stimming on The National Autistic Society website here).
The focus should remain on creating an environment where (non-harmful) stimming is accepted and embraced, while offering appropriate support for those who need it.
By fostering an environment where stimming is accepted and understood, we can help autistic individuals feel more comfortable and supported. As the authors point out, “The point of intervention could be shifted to the overwhelming environment rather than the autistic person themselves.”
For educators, employers, and anyone working with neurodivergent individuals, understanding the function of stimming is critical to supporting well-being and inclusion.
At All Things Stim, our workshops and training sessions aim to equip you with the knowledge to better support neurodivergent individuals in your community, workplace, or educational setting.
Interested in learning more about how to support neurodivergent individuals? Contact us today or explore our workshops.