WARNING! Autism Hand Flapping | Why Do Autistic People Do It?
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- What is autism hand flapping and why do autistic people flap their hands? In this video you can learn why this happens and what you can do to help.
This is a typical autism hand flapping video this is all about symptoms of autism hand flapping and how are you can understand it more to then be able to help somebody on the spectrum.
Hand flapping autism is an autism stimming behaviour. This means this is a self stimulatory behaviour that reflects the persons emotional though or mood at the time.
You see when autistic people and autism children are excited or nervous they will use this self stimulatory behaviour to create a rhythmic pattern of movement this is called stimming this is a typical autism symptoms behaviour and is present in toddler with autism hand flapping.
On the bigger picture of what is autism one could really say that it’s communication and emotional difficulties that impact the lives of people so showing symptoms of autism hand flapping and autism hand flapping RUclips videos is the best way to raise autism awareness for something like this and is why I do what I do with The Aspie World.
So please check out this autism hand flapping video and let me know in the comments if you have anything to add to this video and if you are able to learn something from this video I’d be super happy if you let me know in a comment of this video of autism hand flapping.
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Tags:
#Aspergers #ASD #Autism
LINKS:
Cleveland Clinic - Autism early warning signs: • Video
Bundoo - Hand flapping: when to worry?: • Video
Reducing Self-stimulatory Behaviors in Individuals with Autism: www.mayinstitu...
Stimming: Why It Happens and How to Manage It - Healthline: www.healthline...
I only hand flap when I'm excited, in a good way. And only when alone.
Awesome!!
Me too, I am literally exactly the same
Took me a while but yeah.
Bahahaha
Same
That took me a second. Quite witty.
In my personal experience as an Aspie, I feel the flapping gets rid of excess emotional energy in my body. Because the flapping is a movement, it is energy. When my feelings, which are also a type of energy, get too intense, I can balance myself immediately by using movement which lessens the intensity of my feelings by expressing the energy. Flapping is the most instinctual, but dancing, hopping, tapping feet or a foot also works the same. As does spinning. It is a form of emotional self regulation that comes natural to Autistic people. This is why it can be damaging to stop these behaviours as the intense emotions have no outlet and become stagnant and causing other problems later down the line. Imo, everyone should find ways to 'stim', not just Autistics. It's good for you.
Yeah ever since I've allowed myself to stim ( I didn't before die to people telling me not too). I've had way less meltdowns and am so much more ajusted and have even been able to hold a job for about 4 months now. Before I had a way harder time dealing with my emotions or just energy in genral and often couldn't sit still
This! Exactly this. 💙
That's exactly the way i do it. I often need to flap my hands when my feelings are too intense. It's good to see i am not alone.
yeah. I feel like it helps with the overstimulated times we're living in.
I feel so bad for my ex. I was holding his hand in a movie theater and I was hand flapping cause I was so excited and he couldn't feel his wrist for a week because of it.
A word of advice, don't hold hands when flapping hands.
Jensan Ruby yeah
My eldest is still on the path to diagnosis, she stims often as do I. My younger child is a huge stimmer also. We're a "happy flappy family" as my daughter sayd
Both my boys and I hand flap. It’s soothing. Drives my NT wife nuts, though.
Lol, I use that term also "happy flappy" in our family💙 both my son's do this when excited or anxious.....then they both bounce up and down(like Tigger from pooh bear hahaha)....What blows me away is when they are gaming and they bounce, how do these boys see the screen with all that bouncing haha, I'm flat out keeping up standing still😂🥰
@@melissaslack1876 That is adorable!
@@melissaslack1876 my girl is a bouncer too. Her nickname is tigs( shortened tigger)
Flappy hands are happy hands!
It annoys me when professional people ask me to stop fidgeting and to look at them 🙄 I NEED that sh*t bro lol. I'm on the spectrum.
YEEEE
YESS!
Right? ^^" I know your pain. Hate when they so that lol
I feel you bro
i feel you :3
I just got diagnosed a few days ago and have been binge watching your videos. I am finally feeling less like I am alone in this world and finally putting those pieces together!
All I know is when I flap my hand/hands It feels like emotions/feelings/excitement/anxiety is coming out of my hand and it helps calm me down
YES EXACTLY
It's all about energies I guess.
I’ve hand flapped since I was small and now I do it but in private because I was always told not to. I’m currently waiting to get an assessment for ASD 😊
I was always told not to too but now I've started to do it in public again because I've just kinda stopped caring what other people think when before I was really self conscious.
Flap in public!! I can promise you that no one pays attention to your flapping! My own mother didn’t even notice until a few months ago after I mentioned to her I’m a flapper lol
Same but instead of hand flapping I rock back and forth.
@@o0Spurs0o "I'm a flapper"😂😂
😂😂😂. I don't flap hands but I do have imaginary conversations and some of my family members thought I was possessed. 😂😂😂. But I do the T-Rex arms occasionally while on my devices.
My son used to jump up and down when seeing something exciting. It still took over four years for specialists to find out he is on the spectrum. That was in the nineties. So happy your channel is here for people to catch on sooner!
This video just helped me understand my nephew. He hand flaps when he’s really happy or really pissed. Now I know that it’s mostly for extreme emotions, I’ll be more sensitive to how he’s feeling when he stresses out, and I’ll just be cool about it when he’s having a blast.
I stim with my feet a fair bit.
Make a tics video! That would be really interesting.
I never realized that the finger flicking thing and looking through your fingers at light was stimming. I’ve done that my whole life, usually only when alone because I always knew nobody else did it, so I was embarrassed. Thank you for this video! You explained it so well, and helped me understand why I do it. I’ve not been officially diagnosed as on the spectrum, but always knew there was something much more going on with me than just OCD, which is what I was diagnosed with.
I feel very relieved and comforted to know I’m not the only one who does this...thank you sooo much! I truly appreciate it and how perfectly you described it!
Ive always shaken and flapped my hands when I got very excited. Like if I watched something I thought was super cool or awesome or something like that and I was always embarrassed and thought it was so weird. I never do it in public because I’m still super embarrassed by it. I never knew why I did this. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone.
I'm on the spectrum, and am facing the most difficult period of my life.
I appreciate you doing this videos, it will help many understand and accept the diagnosis, and learn strategies on how to handle it.
I'm currently in the process of getting diagnosed (I'm 41), and I didn't know I've been stimming until recently. My smallest stim is tapping one finger against something. I also sway left to right. I flap my hands if I'm super nervous, but if I'm excited, I clap my hands especially when I'm alone. I've broken a million pensils by fidgeting with them - my mom refuses to borrow me pens anymore. I also knock my finger nail against my teeth and basically make a melody in my head. It's weird but soothing.
Omg I laughed so hard reading your comment.
Just found out my 3yr old son very likely has autism. He does this a lot. Thanks for this video. It really helped my understanding.
I am not sure I have autism but hand flapping was one of the first things to really make me consider it a high probability. I watched a few videos, learnt of the AQ test and did it (34). So I was watching a few more videos on masking and stimming which really confused me. (Keep in mind, this was only a couple of days after first thinking I maybe autistic) I was in the bathroom zoned out thinking and worrying, when I realised I was prancing on the spot and flapping my hands. And that I do these things only when I am alone.
Great video, This was very well explained. Thank You
I am going for an ASD assessment in Caernarfon next week. I also have ME so it’s going to drain me. Lots of problems all my life. Highish IQ but didn’t do well at school as a kind of dyslexia undiagnosed and also I just didn’t understand why I was there. People are always a mystery to me. I am slow at doing everything because I over think and my thoughts just tumble around until they eventually settle down and I can concentrate. Reading is the same.
My unusual stimming is repeating the same things over and over again whether people are listening or not. I especially listen to the same music over and over again. Same stuff for years.
Thanks for your interesting videos.
I think i have autism but i am afraid to ask my parents to have A professional diagnose me. 😅
You should!! Thank you so much for the comment! Have you seen there’s ruclips.net/p/PLsnq_HpT7puSMrw4ZBMu21ImFvExNH6rv Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
Do it! It's a game changer. I was diagnosed at 31.
Aww, Dont be afraid ^^ getting Diagnosed is the Best part. Gives you an Ease of mind ^^
I was Diagnosed early at 13. And its changed me for the Better ^^
I am 48 and just now going to get diagnosed. Getting diagnosed earlier on is going to be a lot more helpful in navigating life, I think.
I'm a parent! My son is almost 4. He flaps his hands when he gets excited or when he's really happy.
Oh hey!! Big love to you parenting is challenging!
I have a 4 year old boy who is AUtistic and he walks on his tippy toes a lot. Also paces back and forth, runs around making noises at times. I’ve also seen him starting to flick his fingers during dinner .
Thank your for your videos. Brings a lot of insight for me. Since my son cannot quite explain to me what he is feeling these videos do help me to become more in tune with my beautiful boy.
I’ll only flap if I get into a vivid daydream/thought process about something, usually alongside pacing.
I also tap my front teeth with my bottom ones in alternate patterns a lot of the time
I DO THIS EXACT SAME THING!!!! Do you know what that means???
I do something similar except I tap my wrists against each other or rub my knuckles against my wrist instead of flapping. And I mouth/whisper my thoughts to myself, sometimes I reapeat phrases/words to myself (echolalia/paralalia). I only do this when I'm alone though, I must look like a crazy person.
OMG, so do I!
I continuously crack my wrists too!
I DO THE EXACT SAME THING OMG
I am an ASD person and I work in the ABA field with pivotal response. I stem a lot with my hands and my feet, and the people I work with are so awesome and understanding. They love my input on how I know if someone or something is wrong or changes.
I have a tick which is where I just randomly hiccup and everyone stares at me and shouts “SHUT UP” and every time I die slightly more inside
I'm much more likely to hand flap and stim in general when I'm really stressed and anxious.I blink my eyes really rapidly too. I have tics as well and I'd love to see a video on it.
I have tics as well and people have often mistaken my blinking tics for flirting with them :O
I've recently discovered I'm Autistic (late diagnosis in life) so I'm here learning, growing and feeling relieved to finally see other people like myself. I don't feel so alone now.
I was diagnosed with autism at age 5 because of uncontrollable hand-flapping and nonvulgar complex vocal tics. The older I grew the more I gained control over myself, but it was still fun to relax in my own privacy and let the tics through sometimes. When I was 13 my autism wasn't revoked per se, but we just went to a different psych who said autism seemed to be too severe a diagnosis and I just got hit with PDD-NOS, which to this day I think is most fair. Between 14 and 18 I went to therapy with a developmental focus, which wasn't intended to stamp out my minimal tics, but it succeeded in that. Now I'm in my 20s and I have full control over whether I tic or not. It feels nice to let them out, but I could also go hours on end without a movement if I want to.
Maybe other people with PDD designations can relate to gaining control of their tics as they grew up, as they literally developed. I noticed that I was acting out more often when I was thinking of intense and violent things - loud music, video games, action books or movies - so what I do in public is concentrate on "serious" thing. For example, when I have an image of myself splitting a log with a splitting maul, I have some severe tics if I let them through; but there's no point to thinking about such an intense moment in public, and instead I think about the light and peppy advertisements I see or the colorful cars on the road. Minimizing tics in public is almost like trying to count sheep at night, you have to look at the world and your surroundings in a less stimulating way in order to avoid acting out.
Dad here with autistic son and a daughter still at the diagnostic stage.
I took the flapping to be emotion showed to something that my son was enjoying, although occasionally he did do it negatively as well sometimes.
I was actually better at getting him to look at me because I got him interested in facial expression, sound and acting to draw him in. He seemed to respond to the emotional stimulus but mum isn't demonstrative in the same kind of way but she was better at getting him to eat (which can be surprisingly difficult because some premature autistic babies hate to chew certain foods as they don't like the texture.)
He likes role play games and super hero stories for some reason, though he can be really repetitive (as you indicated, it seems to soothe and reassure him.)
Sometimes he melts down in the morning and it's a drama getting him off to school and he's often late but there is nothing we can do when he has an outburst. I wish the school was more understanding, rather than sending out those automated ranting and threatening texts;. it's not as if they are not aware of his situation.
And even if you get up earlier there is always something. Sometimes he will demand that the car is turned round, just so that he can wash his hands or comb his hair. Other times he will say that his clothes feel uncomfortable or that his shoes are hurting him, even though they are hand fitted (which is really expensive for us.) So as you can see he also has OCD and ADHD tendencies as well.
Nevertheless, he has the ability to teach himself things. He was navigating his way round phones and laptops at three years old. He would watch a video and make paper aeroplanes; not the easy ones, the ones that are complex and require much folding. He also has a talent for animation.
Oh well, I am rambling a bit but I just thought that I would share some loose thoughts. Thanks for the video and an opportunity to share experiences.
I’m on the spectrum. I’ve been flapping a lot recently. When I laugh I usually flap. I also flap when I have meltdowns and panic attacks sometimes. I also flap randomly sometimes. It may not be random, and I just don’t know why I do it.Some of my other stims are rocking, snapping, tapping my fingers, tapping my feet, chewing (this one is very annoying), swaying back and forth while standing, tapping my leg while standing, and a lot of fidgeting. I have a little more complex stem where I hit my wrists together. I think it’s soothing because I am getting pressure from hitting my wrists(it doesn’t hurt) and I am also moving my arms similar to flapping. I have tics, too. They used to be really bad, but they ended, I do click my tongue on the top of my mouth like I’m calling a dog. I’m trying to stop that one before it gets out of control, because it can become time consuming. My friend also fidgets, sways, chews, flaps, rocks, and more. We also both have sensory issues, especially with noises. We both also have OCD and anxiety. We actually met at an high school autism social skill group. We both really like your content. I enjoyed the video.
I was only recently diagnosed, but I'm trying to learn all I can. In the past I've been very ashamed of my stims, and was only caught hand flapping a couple of times until I realized it and stopped. Now I want to try to unmask a bit and act more naturally - to be myself. I never stopped my foot stims, which I also do when I'm excited, because they were somehow more socially acceptable. I feel a bit resentful for all the repression I've been doing and want to work towards being more authentic.
Loved your video btw!
The 13 year old daughter has Asperger’s and she flicks her fingers and taps her fingers and she has fidget spinners and fidget toys.
I suspect I'm on the spectrum. Most of my stims are things like pressing my knuckles to my mouth and cheeks or tugging on a necklace. Sometimes I get really anxious about things that I know I shouldn't be anxious about, like driving across town, and it feels like I'm going to make myself sick from it. But recently, after watching one of Yo Samdy Sam's videos where she mentioned consciously trying out new stims, I've started flapping my hands when I get really nervous. It's amazing how fast it works to dispel the tension and even that sick feeling!
It makes me wonder if I used to stim more as a child and just suppressed it due to adult/peer disapproval.
Oh you should seek an assessment, I did a video series on how to do that: ruclips.net/p/PLsnq_HpT7puSMrw4ZBMu21ImFvExNH6rv Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
Updates?
I don’t flap my hands much anymore, but pen fidgeting has become my go to. Besides that I find that I head-bang when I feel excited so I’ll often do that, especially with music 😂.
Hi Dan. I was pleased to receive my autism diagnosis yesterday. As far as I am aware I don't stim, and wanted to learn more about it, so thanks for recording this video, and all the others you've done. Cheers!
I didn't realize that I was stimming all the time. I chew gum excessively, I used to bite my nails, chew on every pencil, my hair. I humm or sing nearly all the time. I rip up paper, tissues etc. I play with pens, little trinkets etc.
I only noticed all of this after I watched a video by a female aspie youtuber who described these behaviours as part of her stims. Apparently a lot of more "adjusted" people with autism are stimming in more acceptable ways. A lot of Autists stim less in public, wich is counterproductive as it increases their stress level even more.
@@Yakarash That's interesting to hear the stims you didn't realise were. Thanks for sharing! I don't do any of those either. I feel left out haha
@@TimHardsVicente Well some stims are not what you might think of. It depends on what stimmuli your body finds relaxing. Like staring at the ceiling, sky. Watching lights, staring outside windows. Pacing, Avoiding cracks when walking, counting you steps, squinting, touching certain materials (like fabric, carpets, Stone etc) without an actual reason to. Listening to certain sounds, music. Seeking certain smeels. As you might have guessed by now, stimming is not reduced to the common hand flapping. It might be something neurotypical people do occasionally. But autists seek these sensory experiences over and over, as it reduces our stress level.
Some habbits that might mute our sensory overload can also take away our need for stimming, although they might not be the best substitude. Like e.c. smoking, drinking, certain drugs, (although all of these might actually have different effects for autistic people). What are your calming habits? As stimming is among the diagnostic criteria for autism, there must be some stim that you subconciously do. Or you might be an incredibly rare exception?
@@Yakarash Wow I got it now! I find *visual* stimulation highly appealing.
I can get lost watching the sky when the clouds are showing cascades of pinks and yellows and greys! And dapples of different shades and hues of leaves on trees can be so enchanting. Or rock walls with their rolling textures of stone and shadow so amazing... I find patterns of colour and shade, such as these, all so beautiful. All my life I attributed my attraction to these as my "artistic nature" but it seems it would be more appropriate to attribute it to my autistic nature :D
Thank you so much for describing the different forms of stimming to me, and opening my eyes! I dabble with producing art (artfn.wordpress.com/). I will now enjoy exploring how this fits.
@@Yakarash Wow, I love touching fabrics for no reason, counting my steps and avoided cracks as a kid and even as an adult. I wonder if I’m on the spectrum 🤧
I was officially diagnosed with autism about a year and a half ago. Since then I have began to at in public more. I flap my hands a lot, a d tap my fingers. Even though some people think it's weird, for me it's a total game changer. It makes everyday life so much easier to deal with!
I hand flap when I'm nervous
Yes!!
Nervous and overwhelmed for me.
I stem with silk on blankets and other things in between my fingers. It just calms me down instantly!
Very fascinating video about hand flapping and stimming.
In terms of personal experience, I lived in a residential care home for adults on the autistic spectrum 14 years ago. I remember asking a member of support staff for some help, but he misunderstood my request. When I corrected him, I briefly flapped my hands in frustration. He then asked if he would flap his hands at me whilst somehow mimicking me doing so. When I told my parents and the house manager about this, the member of support staff apologised. I don’t usually flap my hands to stim.
About a year after this, a new resident moved in and he would flap his hands, jump up and down and make some sort of laughing sound whenever he got excited. At first I didn’t like these mannerisms, but when I heard that a member of the public called him a bad name for his mannerisms, I began to grow more tolerant towards them and asked him if he was excited when he flapped.
For me, stims that I had done were rocking back and forth when I was nervous; and rotating my arms and lifting my hands and wriggling my fingers when I was anxious (I still do these from time to time).
I tend to hand flap when I'm watching a sports game or an action movie or thinking about politics, philosophy, or the future. So I guess it's more of a nervous / excited thing for me.
I don't figit that much but I used to constantly need to have something I could figit with me (like a lego figure in my pocket) but I don't anymore. However, I am constantly playing little games in my head, counting things or moving files from one directory to another on my computer.
I haven't been diagnosed but I think I am autistic so I am trying to learn more about autism. Thank you, your videos are helping a lot 😊
I am in the same situation!
Yeah I flap as an automatic response to intense emotions which I find joy in.
It doesn't necessarily have to be excitement.
It's always difficult when people ask me why I do it.
It's just an expression of something that's affecting me in some strong way.
I recently made a friend who's on the spectrum, I've never known anyone with autism, didn't understand or know what hand flapping was, thank you for explaining it so well. I can't remember seeing her hand flap or fidget before, I'll probably notice when it happens now that I'm aware.
"Behaviour" is a direct result of stimulus and interpretation of said stimulus.
Autism mom here! My son is 5 and he hand flaps and jumps when he is happy or excited. I don’t mind but it has caused a lot of weakness in his hands
Hey big hugs to you it’s a tough job! ✌🏼💚 Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
I’m on the spectrum and only just diagnosed. Would love to see a video about tics, I get told I do it a lot but I don’t realise I’m doing it. I fidget with everything given the opportunity
I was diagnosed this past August and am still learning quite a bit about autism. I would love to see a video about tics. It could help me be more self aware.
Thanks, Dan. Love your vids!
Thanks for sharing, I am not autistic, but my best friend is and I’m trying to learn more each day to be a good support system for him and understand him better 😊
To me it feels like there is this energy building up inside me, good or bad, and the only way I can get it out is by flapping my hands and throwing my arms around. But I only do this when I'm alone. When I'm around other people I feel inhibited so when I am alone afterwards the energy bursts out.
Also I start to stim more when I watch videos about autism or when other people stim around me :D .
Btw I like the strip of lights in the background. They're very soothing.
I am autistic, having been diagnosed six years ago - there's nothing like being told you have a "childhood cognitive disorder" at the age of 52! I have been a hand-flapper my entire conscious existence, because some of my earliest memories are of my parents scolding me and punishing me due to my flapping.
I noticed my son hand flapping recently. Seems it’s the only stimming he does much like myself but I was never diagnosed I’m 48 so that’s probably not surprising. Great video and content
I'm a woman in grad school, and I think I have autism. My niece and cousin have diagnoses, and so many stories of women with autism have resonated with me personally.
A video on ticks would be good. Many times I've been asked if I have terrets.
On the spectrum. I do not flap my hands, but either clap them when I am really excited or knead my fingers until they hurt for stimming. I do some other stimmings, too, but this is what I do with my hands. Great videos, by the way! I enjoy your content very much :-)
I hand flap all the time when I'm excited or upset, but I went so long without a diagnosis that I never even thought twice about it and my husband just thought it was just another quirky thing I did. Even when we started looking seriously at autism, we wrote the hand flapping trait off as something I didn't have for weeks until one day I was doing it while talking about something I was dreading and it suddenly hit me what I was doing. 😅
I've self-diagnosed as mildly autistic / high-functioning. It would explain pretty much everything in my life. Used to get bullied / shunned for being "odd", so I became very moody and judgmental of both myself and others, and I'm kinda trying to unlearn that by getting educated on autism and other different ways of being. In terms of stims, I have too many to list, but sometimes I flip light switches or snap my fingers.
Ive never been diagnosed, and it isn't so frequent, so maybe its just a stimming that comes from excess anxiety at times. But I noticed last month when socializing with a larger group (which I'm not used to) I could not stop flapping my hands. It was really self soothing and did feel like a way to get rid of excess energy in the body
Parent to a 3.5 year old. My daughter is currently being evaluated for autism. She has always flapped her hands and jumped up and down when excited. It's so cute to watch. I'm just now learning about the spectrum. I had no idea her excited reaction was stimming before a few days ago
At least people are aware of it. Back when I was a kid in school no one really knew about what it was. So now I’m 34 and pretty much fell through the cracks in life, because I wasn’t educated in a way I could learn.
I’m a person on the spectrum. I personally flap my hands when I get so excited/happy about something that I can’t express my joy in words.
That’s so funny! When you said you were fiddling with your Apple Pencil I was just doing the same thing because I’m trying to get a drawing finished but I always tap my Apple Pencil on my hand and get distracted!!
Recently I've been thinking that I might be on the spectrum (be autistic? have autism? Still haven't quite figured that part out yet) but hand flapping was something I thought I never did.
Then last night, the new Spider-Man trailer came out. When it finished I realised that I had my fists clenched, raised up around my face, and just shaking them and waving with a big smile.
Had a bit of a moment of realisation. I do this with all the movies I get excited for. I do it even more with video games. I do it to trailers, I do it when loading for the first time. The last 5% of a download gets intense.
So I guess I do flap my hands. Always have. Just never noticed.
Thanks for posting these videos by the way. I'm way behind, but they've been helping a lot.
I'm just a nerotypical person here who wants to learn more about autism. Thanks for taking the time to make this informative video!
You are amazing I have just discovered your videos! I have an 11yr old boy who has been diagnosed Aspergers or high functioning Autism and he stims a lot! we are looking to help him control it a bit at school, or express it in a different way.... it is getting to that time where he is standing out at school and kids are starting to be cruel. How did you handle this?
I always hated the term "hand flapping" as someone with Autism. It was never my stim and was usually associated with cases on the other end of the spectrum.
I'm just here as an ADD person who does hand flapping when i'm excited or overwhelmed.
I have Adhd and I flap when I'm talking
Omg, I am so glad you brought up about the light flickering stuff. Its been happening to me so often lately. The worst one for me is the flickering I see in headlights and there is nothing I can do about it while driving. I find my hand flapping is only when I am anxious or stressed lately. Mine isn't so much up and down as it is like a sideways shaking.
Aspie, and I stim only privately. I find it that at stressful times I need to find a private area and vent. I flap my face w my hand in a weird way and a dozen other things. It just gushes out like bursting a dam and I pace and turn. After a few minutes I can go back out. I do the hand gestures while thinking deeply but you can hide that with your body. People that see you stim in my line of work think you're incompetent. I have spent most of my life hiding it and am actually glad I did. The world isn't ready for us.
New subscriber here! I’m a female with high functioning autism. The way I stim, especially when I’m nervous, is by pinching my fingers on the side or on the back of my other hand. I don’t notice every time I do it, but I’ve stimmed that way since childhood.
As for the light flickering, I don’t notice that all the time, but when I’m riding in a car & going past a wooded area during a sunny day, the shifting between the shadows of the trees & sunlight hurts my eyes.
i’ve recently started doing this when i get SUPER excited or happy about something. like, my hand just starts to do it because it’s like my body doesn’t know what to do with the excitement. it’s kinda hard to explain and idk if that makes sense. but yeah
and idk if i’m on the spectrum, it’s something i’d like to get checked out but my parents won’t
I'm questioning/undiagnosed and today I just learned the term "rocking", and I do that when I'm hearing music and I have to sit down, like when I'm inside a car. I normally like to walk/jog/run while I listen to music and very few don't make me want to move while listening to them, so that's why I do rocking when I have to sit down.
Absolutely do a tic video! I'm really curious about why I do it :)
I’m learning more. I was diagnosed with ADD back in the 4th grade and am now working with professionals exploring the possibility that I am indeed on the spectrum. (It certainly seems like it would explain a lot.)
Thank you!! My 3YO daughter does that hand stim with the light and I never knew why!! Now I do!!! Thank you thank you!! That’s so cool!!
Oh interesting!! Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
I work in a behavioral health hospital, and come across some people on the spectrum, also I have a friend that has Asperger's. I just want to be able to know more,so I can help them more.
My 6 year old son was diagnosed this week although I pretty much knew! He stims ALOT. Thank you for these videos!
Aspie. I don't especially flap my hands, my stimming is rooted in trying to focus my nervous system on one point, to avoid sensory overload. Basically, distracting my senses by stimming so I can focus. Usually this is done with a finger casually applying pressure or repetitive motion on my thigh. This also is quite easy to conceal in public, as opposed to something more eye catching. If I start getting engaged, this can shift into hand-wringing, as more contact and motion ensues with my interest level.
Don't ever start smoking, kids. Once smoking becomes your preferred form of stimming, it is almost impossible to stop.
My son flaps like a a crab 🦀 little crab hands
LOL
He got diagnosed today
Thanks for the information
My 10 year old with mild autism(Aspergers)flaps wildly when enthusiastic about something. I find it endearing. I’m so grateful he’s my son. I’d never want to change him.
I do wish he wouldn’t suck on his shirt collars though. :)
So, my Aspie child’s need for routine and the familiar is probably why he completes the same levels of video games over and over again or watches the same RUclips videos a lot?
I'm not on the spectrum, nor am I a professional or a family member. I'm actually writing a story, and based on the way I wrote a character, some people started asking me if they were on the spectrum. Totally unintended, but people said they say a lot of his similarities between him and autistic people they knew. I'm expanding the story a bit, and that character will be having a child soon, that I do intend on purposely writing as autistic, and so I'm sort of doing some research, because I don't want my writing to be harmful, and I want it to be realistic. So thank you for your videos!
To be Subtle when I’m around people are usually just scratch the back of my head
Retired clinical psych with no experience in this area. Reading a novel with an autistic protagonist and was having trouble visualizing it. So here I am.
I hand flap alot without realising I thought it was a phase until I came here to your videos
When I was a child, I would do that hand-flap. My parents told me that "good children don't do that" so I switched to twitching my fingers up and down.
I both flick my fingers and do the hand flap thing. I was also rocking the chair and playing around with pencils the whole time while watching this video. I've had this since my childhood (and was considered weird for it) and I mostly do it whenI am very excited / daydreaming. However, I was never diagnosed with Autism.
Is this a trait that is present only in people with autism? (I am 25 years old now)
I only read about it occuring with either children oder people with Autism... should this be a warning sign to me?
Oh my gosh. Even though I’m not diagnosed with autism, I do want to get tested out of curiosity, I tend to both hands repeatedly like I’m making a fist. Usually if I’m really stressed, anxious or angry to help me calm down
Oh wow accurate, I’ve always described it as a build-up of excitement.
I only flap my hands when I'm excited
I'm on the spectrum, I use to wear oversized sweaters and when I'd get excited I'd flap my hands with the oversized sleeves over my hands. Idk why but the fabric on my hands was a good feeling. Still kind of do it now or flap my scarves in the winter. My older and younger brother both flapped as kids. My younger brother and I are both diagnosed but my older brother is suspected.
I want to see a doctor because I relate to a lot of autism signs. Growing up, no one ever dared to talk about autism. As if it was something bad, when it isn't
My right hand will flap when I'm excited, and my right leg will shake when I'm nervous. However, my main stim which occurs many times per day is drawing objects (although invisible to anyone that observes me) in the air with my right index finger. The objects are usually abstract facial features of people that I see, sometimes it's just handwritten signatures (with my index finger in the air) in a unique font style. I tend to be able to control it when in public but it does disturb my wife when she looks across the living room and sees me twirling my right index finger in the air for no apparent reason (when in fact I can seen what I'm drawing in this air). In fact, when I'm outside amongst other people (such as cafe or a meeting) I found myself drawing on my seat with my index finger which no one seems to notice.
Omg I've done that as long as I can remember!!! I trace letters, shapes usually. ...I do it exactly as you describe. Also have hyperlexia to an extent...do you?
Pens are my most common stim “toy.” :) I don’t flap my hands, though, or at least have never found myself doing it. I rock quite a bit and play with my hair, tap my feet and fingers, bounce my legs, and pace around A LOT. I sometimes find myself walking in a tight circle when I’m deep in some train of thought. Stimming is cool!
But, yes. I just want to validate that not all autistic people flap their hands, in case someone is wondering or even doubting their diagnosis. :)
I would definitely love to see one on tics.
Ok awesome!!
My 6year old daughter with autism spectrum is flapping her hands most of the day. Her answer when I ask her is always the same. She says : I am very happy mommy or super excited ,that's why i am doing this. 😊
My 6 year old Daughter is just starting ADHD testing.
My 8 year old brother in law has Autisum and ADHD.
My 9 year old sister in law has Autisum.
And since I started watching your videos I am seeing alot of traits in myself.
If im excited, I jump/walk in circles and I hand flap but not as much, I tend to do it when bored.
I never got tested with autism before. My parents may have a stereotypical view of autism but a lot of people had suspect that I have autism
We are currently waiting on assessments for my daughter, shes 10. As a baby she constantly tapped her foot, we called her thumper, and as she got older the flapping started in her hands, she does it when she's both nervous and anxious. She watches a series and becomes obsessed, and then doesn't want to watch anything else, as it makes her anxious she might like the new thing more. Also watching a new film gives her anxiety as she doesn't know what's going to happen, eventually when she does bring herself to watch it, its the only film she will watch, and blue tak is her fiddle toy! Thankyou for your videos, they are helping me understand a lot more about Aspergus. 😊😊
I have done this hand flapping thing my whole life (I’m 30), i do it when I’m excited or as a way of sort of alleviating energy (only when alone or around people I’m really comfortable with). I have never been diagnosed on the spectrum though😱
I relate to this very much. I couldn't figure out why I have this burst of energy and flap intensely until I started getting headaches so I looked on the internet and found many other people also have this. I did it in public as a kid but learned to only do it alone or around someone I'm very comfortable with because it looks odd. Its almost a release of energy but I dont want it to continue since I worry a bit about the headaches that come immediately afterwards. Any luck in making it stop?
@@dustinbrendel782 I have never had any negative symptoms come with it like headaches so have never really tried to stop it as i do enjoy it and the people around me just see it as a quirk lol, I noticed though when i keep an active lifestyle i do it much less, I guess it might be something to do with burning off the excess energy
I'm a family member of several, and a friend of another, with high-functioning ASD. I also have some characteristics but am undiagnosed -- I'm a grandma now, so not gonna pursue it -- no point -- but understanding some things sure makes me feel better. (A little help earlier in life would have been so beneficial.)-- RUclips suggested your channel to me -- thanks, YT!
It is interesting; the extraordinarily wide world that ASD encompasses. I am ASD and have never done nor was aware of that particular form of hand flapping stim. I can't recall ever seeing it IRL.
I'm primarily a texture stimmer, as you refer to around 9:30. My preference is to run smooth/fuzzy/silky fabric/hair/strings across the highly sensitive areas between the fingers to obtain texture 'vibrations'. Cat's cradle is a great visual metaphor of it. I now realize it's a very 'low visual impact' way of obtaining a high amount of stim, so minimal social disturbance. My spouse has just learned to accept it. In cold months I will literally wear out hoodie strings this way and have to replace them. I tend to run fingers across chin stubble the same way that you do, now that you mention it.
I wonder if someone needs to dig into and categorize all the known variations and correlate the effects. See if there are symptom related patterns of source vs (preferred)wavelength vs strength etc. Call it the 'Global Stim Assay' or something like that. See if we can help people find better mechanisms.
I used to move my fingers through light on the TV all the time as a child. It’s wild no one knew I was on the spectrum haha
Fast hand flapping, (stress, usually) up & down, circling, side to side or pulsating my palm toward each other (not touching, like, 6-7 inches apart) (or, with my head in between my palms, not, touching my ears) (or toward me or away from me), create a, I'm not sure if there is a name, but, energy/gravitation flow. For some reason, I like that feeling. Flicking my 1st & middle fingers back n forth, either or both hands, I do a lot, have for so long, all of my cats, past & present, think I'm talking calling them, warning them or something (when they are in the room with me). It's a form of communication, to them, I think. I also, like to do it by my ears. From, as long as Mom could remember, as a baby, I did the "money" finger rub, on the satin trim of my baby blanket, to fall asleep. My favorite visual stims, looking thru a box/stand fan, lava lamps (black & clear, colors make me nauseous), the aquarium thing on my roku (I have my monitor colors adjusted). I can play the same the video game, for years... Because, I like the familiarity, what's expected & it's a special interest for me. Otherwise, I will move on to another game.