Stimming behaviors can be one of the most noticeable outward signs that a person has ADHD — but not always. Parents and teachers often take note when children have stimming behaviors that become disruptive in the classroom, such as talking during a lesson or leaning backward in their chair until they topple over. These behaviors may be a sign that a child has ADHD and they need help managing their symptoms. However, some stimming behaviors, like foot tapping and biting their lip, are more likely to go unnoticed.
Sometimes stimming behaviors are treated as character flaws or disciplinary issues that a child needs to “work on.” When ADHD is the underlying cause, negative feedback and punishment usually aren’t sufficient to curb disruptive stimming behaviors. In fact, this approach can lead to internalization and poor mental health. Girls and people of color are more likely to go undiagnosed and untreated for ADHD, putting them at risk for these outcomes.
Each case of ADHD is unique, and stimming isn’t universal among all people with ADHD. It can also be a symptom of other conditions, like autism spectrum disorder. For those who do stim to cope with ADHD symptoms, it can make a positive impact on their ability to function.
In this blog post, we’ll define stimming behaviors and explore how they can impact a person with ADHD.
What is stimming?
Stimming is a type of behavior that people with ADHD may naturally engage in to deal with symptoms like boredom or high energy and the stress that can come along with different situations. People with both inattentive-type and hyperactive-type ADHD may use stimming behaviors when they need to sit still, pay attention to one task or manage intense emotions. There are many different types of stimming behaviors, and some aren’t as noticeable as others. Humming is a type of vocal stimulation, for instance, and fidgeting is a type of tactile stimulation. People may also use visual stimulation behaviors like drawing or vestibular stimulation, which has to do with balance and spatial awareness.
What ADHD symptoms does stimming help with?
In most cases, stimming is a coping mechanism that helps a person manage their thoughts and feelings in a situation that’s uncomfortable or stressful — for example, paying attention to one thing for long periods or sitting still when they’re full of energy. It can be especially helpful when they’re trying to accomplish a challenging task that requires focus and careful thought.
Many people with ADHD are hypersensitive to different types of stimuli like sound or physical sensations. Stimming helps these people focus their attention elsewhere when they’re feeling overstimulated. Though anxiety and nervous system dysregulation aren’t primary ADHD symptoms, they’re common among people with this condition. Humming or twirling their hair might be their way of self-soothing.
Stimming can help people with ADHD cope with the following symptoms:
- Inattentiveness
- Distractibility
- Sensory processing disorder
- High energy
- Boredom
- Extreme emotions, both positive and negative
Is stimming a “bad” behavior?
In general, stimming is a helpful behavior for people with ADHD. It only becomes problematic when it’s disruptive or destructive. For example, stimming during class or a meeting may be disruptive to others. If a person stims by picking at their skin or biting their nails, it can be dangerous to their health. It’s important to take an empathetic approach to understand why the person is stimming and find a solution. Without another form of relief, ADHD symptoms often make it very difficult to stay calm and focused.
In these cases, avoiding triggers, finding alternative ways to stim and balancing responsibilities with tasks that feel more rewarding can help. Taking frequent breaks is one strategy that helps many people with ADHD concentrate on a task like homework. If a person stims to cope with overstimulation, wearing earbuds or noise-canceling headphones may help. Mindfulness practices like meditation and breathing exercises can help with emotion and nervous system regulation. For tactile stimming, touching adhesive texture strips can be a very discreet way to stim.
Get one-on-one help balancing your stimming behaviors and Executive Function skills at Beyond BookSmart
Many people with ADHD struggle with core Executive Function skills like focus, prioritization, time management and others. These are the life management skills that we all need to be effective in planning, initiating and achieving daily goals. Stimming can be an essential factor in a person’s ability to carry out these functions. However, many people need one-on-one coaching services to learn these skills in the first place and to manage their stimming behaviors.
At Beyond BookSmart, we match people with coaches who are experts in Executive Function skills that can help them not only get things done but also stay regulated and care for themselves throughout the day. We know that Executive Function skills can be taught, learned and applied for success because it’s what we do every day.
Are you looking for personalized support for managing ADHD symptoms like stimming? Download our ADHD Symptom toolkit for a sneak peek at the types of tools we use.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an inquiry call.
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