stimming

Both before and after my various diagnoses, and, really, before I even had an inkling that my brain was wired differently from others, I had to come up with coping mechanisms. We all do, neurospicy or not. The world is not set up to ensure our safety or happiness on a regular basis, so we develop mechanisms for coping with both the good and the bad. (Let's set aside how we cope with good stuff for a moment, but I think it's a really important conversation.)

So, because I just need to share, because I'm an extrovert, and because the BPD "unclear sense of self" means that I am more me when I'm around, or communicating with, others than in a vacuum, I'm going to offer a few of the ways I deal with the difficulties of this condition.

I don't know where number 14R7@45alpha5 originally came from. My partner brought it home with her from work and it sounded silly, but I gave it a go and now it's my first thought. I call it "Tap Tap." You cross your arms in front of your body and start double-tapping each shoulder with the opposite hand. As with any kind of stimming, it may take a while to find the right rhythm, but once I do, and my brain starts concentrating on the rhythm, I break out into a huge grin, if not full-on laughter.

My understanding is that the stimulation of opposite sides by opposite sides helps the two hemispheres of the brain communicate a little better. There's also the mind-clearing effect of focus, much the same as concentrating on one's breathing during meditation.

Admittedly, it doesn't work for everyone. But it works for me, even when I am feeling my lowest. It may not make me smile at that point, but it keeps me from spiraling and ruminating into despair. A good friend pointed out to me about this practice that a lot of the time we're trained not to accept simple explanations. Things that are complex appear to be better-researched and more reliable. Tapping is easy. And it works. We don't need everything to be complicated.

So, "Tap Tap." Give it a go if you're feeling panicked, or teetering on the brink of one of those "everyone I ever loved is a bastard who never loved me" moods.

#BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #copingstrategies #BPD #Stimming

#ADHD #Autism #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Depression #MentalHealth #IrritableBowelSyndromeIBS #Anxiety #PTSD #Stimming

I know that many people associate stimming with autism; however I’ve been struggling really bad lately due to severe anxiety and ptsd. I will rock back and forth, flap my hands and sometimes go non-verbal #SelectiveMutism I’m trying to learn ways to cope, but it’s really hard. Anything help any of y’all with this issue?
#Stimming #Autism #Anxiety #PTSD

#Stimming

Does anyone know who does AUTISM assessments for ADULTS in w...

Ok… so these three are all muddled up for me. I think I know how to tell the difference between tics and compulsions—although the compulsions are so automatic they feel like tiks. But I was told that if it is preceded by an obsession that it’s a compulsion not a tik.

Now I’m wondering about stimming. I thought this was just an autism thing but now I’m learning it’s other disorders, too. I suppressed the stimming because I thought it was compulsions—which it very well may be compulsions or even tiks for all I know. 😅😅😅

But I heard stimming is okay because it’s just releasing anxiety. But I’m afraid I’m confusing stimming with compulsions and that allowing myself to do it is going to make my OCD worse.

I have nearly reached the point where I Can fully manage the OCD without médication, although I still struggle after high stress events. But I don’t want to accidentally backslide.

Can anyone help to clarify these things and how to identity the difference between them and how to manage them? I also have PTSD if that matters. #tics #Stimming #compulsions #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #PTSD