Stimming, short for self-stimulating behaviors, is a term used to describe repetitive movements or sounds that people engage in to help them cope with emotions. Stimming is often associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Here are some key points about stimming:

• Stimming can include repetitive body movements or repetitive movements of objects, such as hand flapping, squinting, staring at rotating objects, stroking or rubbing surfaces of a certain texture, smelling objects, head banging, and squealing or making other vocalizations.
• Stimming seems to help autistic children and teenagers manage emotions like anxiety, anger, fear, and excitement. For example, stimming might help them to calm down because it focuses their attention on the stim or produces a calming change in their bodies.
• Stimming isnt necessarily a bad thing, as long as it doesnt hurt the person engaging in it. However, some stimming can be self-injurious, such as severe hand-biting.
• Stimming can also affect a persons attention to the outside world, which in turn can affect their ability to learn and communicate with others.
• Stimming may be a way for people to self-regulate behavior, to "keep it together," so to speak. Sometimes, stimming may be a way to counteract an overwhelming sensory input or as a way to reduce internal anxiety.
• Stimming can become such a habit that a person is not even aware theyre doing it. For most people, its a harmless behavior. However, in some cases, stimming can become harmful or dangerous.
• A behavior specialist or therapist with autism experience can help understand the reasons for stimming behavior. In some cases, stimming is an attempt to ease pain or other physical discomfort. Its also important to determine if what appears to be stimming is actually involuntary due to a medical condition, such as seizures.

In summary, stimming is a term used to describe repetitive movements or sounds that people engage in to help them cope with emotions. Stimming is often associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions. While stimming isnt necessarily a bad thing, it can become harmful or dangerous in some cases. A behavior specialist or therapist with autism experience can help understand the reasons for stimming behavior and determine if it requires management.