Stimulating is a self-soothing, repetitive practice that people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may engage either intentionally or unconsciously. It might support emotional processing or focus.The disorder known as ADHD alters how the brain works. It may result in behavioral problems as well as trouble focusing and concentrating. ADHD is a prevalent illness. A diagnosis is usually given to a person in their early years.This page will cover a variety of topics related to ADHD stimming, such as management strategies, distinctions between ADHD and autism stimming, and some examples of these behaviors.
What is stimming in ADHD?
It might be challenging for someone with symptoms of ADHD to focus, stay still, and absorb emotions. The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) states that stimming is a behavior that people with ADHD use to self-stimulate and self-soothe while they are having these problems.One with ADHD may find that stimming aids in the following tasks: Concentrate, especially when the topic matter is uninteresting. Focus; process emotions; deal with boredom; express excitement; lessen tension and stress; ADHD stimming actions can be conscious or unconscious, and they are usually recurrent. Bright lights, loud noises, and big crowds are examples of sensations or aspects of the environment that an individual with ADHD may find overpowering and overstimulating. To help them deal with these circumstances, they could resort to stimming.
Instances of stimming in ADHD
ADHD stimming comes in a variety of forms and can be auditory, visual, tactile, or conversational. The ADDA lists the following as instances of ADHD stimming: sketching or doodling
Moving things around
Paging through pages
Tongue snapping, whistling, and humming
Clapping one’s fingers
Replicating sounds from the surroundings playing repeats of the same song
Tampering with hair, chewing nails
Chewing the skin within the mouth or on the fingers
Removing scabs or skin
Tossing garments, pacing, rocking back and forth, and shaking one’s legs
Are stimming and fidgeting the same thing?
An individual without ADHD might engage in self-stimulating activities or fidgeting, such biting their nails. But compared to fidgeting, ADHD stimming is usually more severe and might interfere with day-to-day functioning. Since stimming can be unconscious, people with ADHD might not even be aware that they are doing it.
The distinctions between autism stimming and ADHD
A person with autism may also stutter. Hand or finger flapping is a symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-related stalling. According to research, stimming may be useful for autistic individuals to block out external stimuli—that is, changes that can be felt outside of the body, including loud noises. Typically, repetitive, rhythmic body motions and occasionally sounds are a part of ASD stimming. The following are some of the most typical causes of ADHD stimming: handling a sensory overload attempting to function in a stressful situation processing feelings like rage, excitement, or anxiety ASD and ADHD stimming can be comparable. Stimming related to ASD or ADHD may help a person manage sensory overload and feel less stressed or anxious. But when an ADHD individual stims, it might also help with concentration, according to the ADDA.Typically, fidgeting or touching outside items are included with ADHD stimming. ASD stimming usually entails vocalizations and physical gestures.
Stimming causes for ADHD
Environments, feelings, and situations can all exacerbate the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).People with ADHD may use stimming as a coping strategy, and stimming may be triggered by specific stimuli. Among them are circumstances involving certain emotions, such disagreement, making mistakes, and rejection.
Distractions from devices including phones, TVs, and music
Hectic settings with a lot of action or noise
Untidy or disorganized surroundings
Strong or distracting smells
Vibrant, pulsating, or harsh lighting
Handling stimming in ADHD
An someone with ADHD may find that stimming can assist them handle specific situations. But other ADHD stimming behaviors, like picking scabs or biting skin, can hurt a person physically and interfere with daily activities.Because of this, an individual with ADHD might wish to control some of their stimming behaviors.If people with ADHD can recognize their triggers and take steps to lessen them, they may be able to control stimming. This can entail decreasing the amount of time they spend in stressful situations or moving to a different, less triggering location.turning off or setting electronics in silent modeAdditionally, some ADHD drugs may be able to control a person’s stimming. Additional strategies for managing ADHD stimming include using deep breathing techniques or breathing exercises to lessen tension or anxiety. arranging for pauses when working on lengthy projectsdividing complicated tasks into smaller, more achievable objectives maintaining surroundings neat and well-organized with sound-turning off headphones while working out collaborating with a witness to improve attention and focus participating in meetings with an ADHD coach to acquire new techniques for handling stressful circumstancescertain video games, which could be beneficialAn individual with ADHD gains better overall focus