Feeling embarrased when I stim

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I normally only ever stim when I'm alone, but lately I've just started to feel really embarrased doing it. I dunno, I just feel like its a childish thing to do, like I should have grown out of it by now, even though I have Aspergers, and its making me feel depressed. I'm 22 now and my hands are heavily calloused over from rubbing them to much, is this normal?

I'm 24 and I still stim a lot. I only do it in private and I feel a bit embarassed by this behavior too. But I really need it, so I don't want to give it up. It's just part of who we are... As long as it doesn't interfere with one's social life, I think it's ok to do it...

If your hands are calloused and hurt, maybe you could try to replace this specific stim with another one, that doesn't have such consequences?

_________________
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.

Maybe, not quite sure how I would go about doing that though, rubbing my hands seems to be my only way to stim, wouldn't know how to switch to something else.

Maybe different kinds of squeeze balls or hand exercisers?

I'm 49 and I stim by (privately) squeezing, twisting, and shaking a soft T-shirt as I imagine sports and/or action movie scenes (sometimes I also make sounds of explosions, gun fire, fighting and/or vague sounds of this type). And doing this somehow allows me get into my imagination (sometimes, not always).

So, I might do intellect work, stim, do intellectual work, stim, etc. Besides a release of tension, the stimming is also kind of a zen centering exercise, and that part is a little hard to explain. And yes, this whole subject is somewhat embarrassing to me.

PS To really let myself go and stim, I need to have the house to myself and also be confident that no one is going to be coming back for a number of hours (even though I might only stim for fifteen minutes).

Stimming is as natural to us as blinking is for the human race. It's not childish, it's not abnormal and under no circumstances should you ever feel ashamed about it.

I think what allows me to believe that is that I have a sense of humor about it. It's so natural to me that I don't even realize I'm doing it most of the time, and when commented upon I just say "Really?" and then laugh it off.

And of course, this is easier said than done. But it's a matter of perspective. The only circumstances I'd consider trying not to do it is when I'm in a formal setting, like work and such where you really have to mind your behavior as a representative of a larger whole. But when I'm acting as me, an awkward autistic weirdo, all I can do is laugh about it. I mean, it is kinda weird when you think about it lol?

And unless you are damaging your hands, like getting sores and friction burns or something you shouldn't worry about callous. I'm a bassist so my fingers are basically lumps of callous, and every profession ever that involves a lot of work with your hands will eventually give you that. It's perfectly normal.

You shouldn't let silly, trivial things like this get to you, not that I don't understand where you're coming from.

When I think about I could probably stab my fingertips with a sword and the sword would break first.

Callous ftw.

Best of luck man