Page 1 of 3 [ 40 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next

Steven_Tyler77
Sea Gull
Sea Gull

User avatar

Joined: 19 Apr 2012
Age: 37
Gender: Female
Posts: 209
Location: Romania

23 Apr 2012, 3:53 pm

I have ADHD and suspect that I might be a mild Aspie too. I shake my leg all the time. If I don't, then I'm certainly fidgeting in other ways (either with my whole body or some other parts of it). I also shake my toes all the time. Every new pair of shoes looks worn after about a week, because of my toes being so restless. I don't know if it's called a stim with ADHD, but it certainly has a similar function. With us ADHD people, it serves the purpose of producing more dopamine, which we are deficient of. Dopamine makes us feel good, so I guess it's quite the same thing, really, as a stim...


_________________
Probably 75% Aspie, 25% NT... and 100% ADHD :)

Aspie-quiz results:
Aspie score: 138 of 200 / NT score: 78 of 200 => Very likely an Aspie.


SyphonFilter
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 7 Feb 2011
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 2,161
Location: The intersection of Inkopolis’ Plaza & Square where the Turf Wars lie.

23 Apr 2012, 8:22 pm

Steven_Tyler77 wrote:
I have ADHD and suspect that I might be a mild Aspie too. I shake my leg all the time. If I don't, then I'm certainly fidgeting in other ways (either with my whole body or some other parts of it). I also shake my toes all the time. Every new pair of shoes looks worn after about a week, because of my toes being so restless. I don't know if it's called a stim with ADHD, but it certainly has a similar function. With us ADHD people, it serves the purpose of producing more dopamine, which we are deficient of. Dopamine makes us feel good, so I guess it's quite the same thing, really, as a stim...
I know exactly what you mean. Right on!



alipich
Butterfly
Butterfly

User avatar

Joined: 21 Nov 2011
Age: 60
Gender: Male
Posts: 10
Location: Canada

01 Jul 2013, 11:42 am

At the age of 8 , I was diagnose with ADD ( without hyperactivity) Which was in fact part of Asperger syndrome in a later diagnosis.( In 1972 the diagnosis of asperger syndrome was nonexistent.) I was doing a lot of stimming by shaking my leg. Less now, except in stressful situations. It does calm my brain when I do it.



MathematicalOwl
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

Joined: 10 Apr 2013
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Posts: 406

01 Jul 2013, 12:18 pm

I've known about AS for 4 years now, and I never realised that the leg shaking thing was a stim! 8O But it makes sense; I only know two people who do it as much as me. One of them is definitely an aspie, and the other one is my mother, who's probably an aspie. I don't know how I missed this.



LupaLuna
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 14 Jan 2013
Age: 53
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,551
Location: tri-cities WA

01 Jul 2013, 2:56 pm

WOW! If you think that shaken a leg is bad. You odda check this kid out. He really knows how to stim.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oukupxRUA84[/youtube]



daydreamer84
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 8 Jul 2009
Age: 39
Gender: Female
Posts: 5,001
Location: My own little world

01 Jul 2013, 8:05 pm

LupaLuna wrote:
WOW! If you think that shaken a leg is bad. You odda check this kid out. He really knows how to stim.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oukupxRUA84[/youtube]


That was fun to watch. The kid looks so happy. Leg bouncing is a stim. It's a more socially acceptable stim that NTs are more likely to do than say rocking or hand flapping or twirling a string in front of one's eyes but it is a stim. I shake my leg and so does my friend who is not autistic but has ADHD.



NEtikiman
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 Apr 2013
Gender: Male
Posts: 546
Location: Massachusetts, USA

01 Jul 2013, 8:58 pm

^^^ He's got it all figured out! :0)


_________________
Don't want the truth? Don't come to the park!


UndeadToaster
Deinonychus
Deinonychus

User avatar

Joined: 25 Sep 2013
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Posts: 340

29 Sep 2013, 1:19 pm

ETM wrote:
I'm not diagnosed with Asperger's, but I suspect I'm a mild aspie. And I shake my leg very often. For the same reasons as you.

Yup, same here. I know a lot of other people who shake their leg/legs but I've never seen anyone comment on it, but I irritate people all the time with it and do it more intensely it seems or oddly.



Opi
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

User avatar

Joined: 23 Aug 2013
Age: 58
Gender: Female
Posts: 401
Location: East coast at the moment

29 Sep 2013, 1:28 pm

i do this and it's very hard to stop and very irritating when i'm asked to.

used to have teachers in school try to squelch it, and some bosses.

dammit what harm is it doing REALLY?


_________________
161 Aspie / 51 NT - Aspie Quiz (very likely an aspie)
36 - AS Quotient
115 aloof, 123 rigid, 89 prag - Aut/BAP
24 - HSP / ADD Quiz- 41, Inattention: 24, Hyperactive/Impulsive: 17
"Odd and different is beautiful" -- Tyra Banks


wester13
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 12 Apr 2013
Gender: Male
Posts: 69

29 Sep 2013, 4:23 pm

JoeRose wrote:
I'm just about becoming acquainted with the idea that I may have aspergers and so I'm learning things about myself every day really.
Anyway I was in my friends house the other night and was actually having a good time socially. But everyone couldn't stop remarking about how much I shake my leg. I don't even realise I do it and it just seems normal to me. If I stop doing it things just don't feel right. It's like there's a weird internal stress that is making me do it and I find it makes me calm. My mate even remarked that I looked like I was on drugs or something because my leg was shaking so much. Is this a form of stimming?
I do this quite a lot,unconsiously of course,i think it shakes faster wheni am stressed



inkgirl
Blue Jay
Blue Jay

Joined: 12 Sep 2018
Gender: Female
Posts: 76
Location: United States, VA

19 Sep 2018, 12:13 am

I shook my leg so much that my mom could feel it. We were sitting on the same couch..



OccasionalSeagull
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse

Joined: 14 Sep 2021
Age: 31
Gender: Female
Posts: 27

16 Sep 2021, 10:39 am

JoeRose wrote:
I'm just about becoming acquainted with the idea that I may have aspergers and so I'm learning things about myself every day really.
Anyway I was in my friends house the other night and was actually having a good time socially. But everyone couldn't stop remarking about how much I shake my leg. I don't even realise I do it and it just seems normal to me. If I stop doing it things just don't feel right. It's like there's a weird internal stress that is making me do it and I find it makes me calm. My mate even remarked that I looked like I was on drugs or something because my leg was shaking so much. Is this a form of stimming?


I do this too!
I'm undiagnosed (primary care JUST messaged me today saying she was finding me a specialist), my biologics (thank the void i got rid of them...) would always say i was trying to get attention by doing it after my little sibling was diagnosed with ADHD and would otherwise shame, bully, mock, or chastise me for it. I literally do it constantly and have to put active thought into stopping to avoid attention. Im so afraid of getting looks.

However ive noticed since getting my braces off and being able to eat my favorite food (popcorn!) Again i will straight up start BOUNCING when genuinely happy. My husband noticed and commented i did the same thing on our honeymoon at various activities (buffetts mostly XD) and again at a vacation in the bahamas- whenever i'm overwhelmed with positivity i dont smile, laugh, or shout i bounce *harder*. Since connecting the dots we've found ive done this forever.

But when im stressed or nervous i hold very still except for the vibrating tap of my right leg, which i'll force myself to stop out of fear of more attention which will equal more stress.

Veterans and experts, and OP, is this a stim??


_________________
"I'm laughing because its not funny :D"
-Me almost daily


kraftiekortie
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 4 Feb 2014
Gender: Male
Posts: 87,510
Location: Queens, NYC

16 Sep 2021, 10:42 am

I would say "probably not."

It's common for people to fidget.



OccasionalSeagull
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse

Joined: 14 Sep 2021
Age: 31
Gender: Female
Posts: 27

16 Sep 2021, 10:50 am

kraftiekortie wrote:
I would say "probably not."

It's common for people to fidget.

Cool! Thanks for the reply, I can believe I'm just fidgety :lol:


_________________
"I'm laughing because its not funny :D"
-Me almost daily


Something Profound
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

Joined: 23 Apr 2021
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Posts: 131
Location: New Mexico

16 Sep 2021, 12:09 pm

I find it hard to distinguish the line between "fidget" and "stim," especially when discussing possible ASD or ADHD stims.

I find that noting frequency is really helpful. As an example, I have something I *do* consider a stim, which has been exhaustively discussed here (Leg shaking/bouncing/bobbing, however you wish to describe it). I also have a friend who can't really be described as ASD who does the same thing. As has been noted here, many NT people shake or bounce their legs.

The way I explained it to my friends, based on what I know about ASD, is that an ASD stim vs a NT stim is the frequency, severity, and causes. I am *always* shaking my leg, and I also rock forward and back slowly when I am alone (I have a rocking chair I sit in when I am around others so it doesn't seem odd when I do, but when by myself I will rock forward and back even in a stationary chair). I also shake my right hand a lot, especially while walking. Subtle as these might be (And I do not in fact know if they are subtle, they are easily overlooked by me), the fact I am pretty much stimming constantly is the difference, regardless of circumstances (though their intensity increases when I am anxious or frustrated). My friend only shakes his leg occasionally when he is frustrated or anxious.

Other stims may be more severe or noticeable...shaking or rocking or flicking that is visibly obvious. The causes are also different. Someone with ASD may stim because of overwhelm or too much stimulus or some other obscure cause, or sometimes without *any* notable cause. For an NT, their stim behavior can always be tied to another event that usually is one that causes anxiety or frustration.

hopefully that helps.



kraftiekortie
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 4 Feb 2014
Gender: Male
Posts: 87,510
Location: Queens, NYC

16 Sep 2021, 12:33 pm

To me, a "stim" is something which is at least rather difficult for the autistic person to control AND it gives the autistic person pleasure or calms the autistic person down. Not only that, the "stim" must upset the autistic person noticeably if somebody restrains him/her from performing the "stim."

To me, Occasional Seagull described fidgeting.