Stimming

Some autistic children describe it as an adventure and the joy of discovery — Stimming. It is their personal way of experiencing the world. Everything around them is felt intensely, yet they remain centered within themselves, much like being immersed in a hobby. However, this only happens when they can live in a state of quiet. This state represents a sense of balance. Stimming itself provides relaxation and well-being—at least to a certain degree. In any case, it helps one to live a balanced life.

Naturally, there must not be too many barriers in the way—obstacles that can disturb people, such as noise, hectic environments, and other factors that hinder a balanced life. But when the general framework of life is right, one can live well with stimming. It brings joy, much like playing a musical instrument.

Crucial to note: No two autistic individuals are the same, and stimming can, may, and should only occur through intrinsic motivation!

Children—and later the adults who learned this as children—know what is good for them. In these moments, the child appears healthy and vibrant, acting out of pure joie de vivre. Playing, dancing, or whatever the child is passionate about is part of the daily routine. A child might trill a happy tune, hop joyfully through the apartment, enjoy cuddling with their mother, or nibble on their fingernails to shorten them because scissors feel unpleasant. This could continue throughout life, supported by inclusive schooling and a private environment that is as barrier-free as possible.

In moments of excitement, boredom, sudden fright, during learning, or when facing a "barrier load", it can be soothing to play a familiar song on the flute. Or perhaps humming a little tune, using cozy weighted blankets, smelling fragrant candles, regular sauna visits, and much more. Sometimes, a familiar or very quiet environment is enough. A happy disposition and inner balance are the rewards.

The Ordinariness of the State of Quiet in an Accessible Environment

To illustrate how trivial the lives of autistic people can be when they have a naturally and healthily developed wealth of experience — and how ordinary their actions are when they are near a state of quiet in an environment where barriers are adjustable — here are examples from A to Z:

1. The Failure of "Training" Against Barriers

The argument that one must "train" to endure barriers is devoid of logic; it is a form of degrading torture that violates human dignity and Constitutional Law.

• The Risk: A child is destined to succumb to such obstacles, due to their young age, the inability to rationally evaluate the situation, or the fear of rebelling within a system of dependency.

• The Necessity: The removal of barriers and the protection of needs are mandatory requirements to guarantee a life of dignity.

2. The State of Quiet: The Foundation of Resilience

If autistic people were allowed to live in a "state of quiet," the immense value of discovering one’s own way of being would be fully understood.

• Children need only one thing: a childhood and adolescence where they can develop resilience through an environment free of barriers.

• In this context, stimming is a precious tool for well-being and relaxation, but it can only compensate for small, adjustable obstacles.

3. The Spiral of Overload (Sensory Noise Excess)

When children are forced to ignore their own needs to "adapt," they lose contact with themselves. If life experience is dominated by negative barriers, the damage extends to body, mind, and soul.

• The School Example: Even at age 6, the impact of a hostile environment can cause the nervous system to collapse in just one hour.

• The Warning Signs:

  • The tone of singing changes (it becomes less joyful).

  • The gait becomes heavy and "stomping."

  • Onychophagia (nail-biting) appears, continuing until it reaches the point of pain.

  • Stimming becomes an emergency mechanism to prevent a total meltdown.

4. Escalation: Disabling Sensory Noise

If these signals are ignored and the environment fails to adapt, the situation deteriorates rapidly:

• Exhaustion of Reserves: Routines and rigid regularity become the final lifeline, but they consume immense amounts of energy.

• From Stimming to Compulsive Disorder: Regulation is no longer sufficient; stimming appears forced, desperate, and frantic.

• Self-Harm: Fingers bleed; "cutting" (self-injury) appears. The child is no longer being heard in their suffering.

5. The Maximum Degree of Suffering and Extreme Consequences

The final stage of "barrier-loading" is the appearance of severe clinical patterns, often mislabeled merely as "mental illness":

• Symptoms: Compulsive actions, shouted echolalia, the disappearance of the joy of singing and moving.

• The Breaking Point: Nervous breakdown, "input-shutdown," and desperate self-defense behaviors (aggression toward self or others).

• The Extreme Danger: In an environment perceived as unchangeable and hostile, a child may come to see suicide as the only possible way out.