Why I stim

Originally published May 16, 2016, on Jepsonfiles.com

Stimming is the short way to say self-stimulatory behavior. In autism terms, it is the repetitive behaviors that we do that seems odd or unusual to the rest of the world. My stims include making loud noises or saying letters in funny ways or pacing back and forth. I also have compulsive behaviors like needing to go through a particular pattern when I leave a room or needing to be sure that doors are closed, especially to refrigerators and freezers. I really can’t explain why I need to do these things. I just know that if I don’t do them, I get really anxious and can’t function. My brain is so weird, but my mind still works so I can’t complain too much, I guess. It does make me act funny though, and it would be nice to have better control. A big goal of mine is to be able to control my stims so that I can go to college. Being unable to get out of a room is going to be a problem if I am in a room of hundreds of people. So, I have to work on it every day for the next year. I can’t believe that I’m going to be a senior in high school. Crazy.
Aaron.