02/18/2024
Hair twirling… pencil flapping… foot shaking. We all do it. Unfortunately, it can even be more destructive, like cheek biting… nail picking… or trichotillomania!👁👁
So why do we do this?
Well… stimming basically is the body’s way of calming us down. These rhythmic behaviors activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for calming our “fight or flight” instincts in a few key ways:
🍧The repetitive movements stimulate the tactile senses, which send signals via the vagus nerve to the parasympathetic system. The vagus nerve plays a major role in activating the body's "rest and digest" functions.
🍪The focused, rhythmic nature of stimming behaviors shifts brain activity from emotional centers to sensorimotor areas. This acts as a distraction or re-focusing technique that disengages fight-or-flight systems.
🍦The movements trigger specific neurological pathways involving dopamine and serotonin production, which are calming neurotransmitters associated with pleasure and relaxation.
🍭Physically, stimming motions can stimulate blood flow, massage muscles, relax the body, and steady breathing rates. This somatic calming then triggers corresponding neurological settling via the vagus nerve.
So, stimming can actually be a GOOD thing to help us downgrade anxious energy! That is, as long as you’re not causing self harm.
👉Share this piece of data with the fellow stimmers in your life.
