It’s time to start submitting your stims and getting the conversation rolling! The idea of this blog is to explore how stimming is experienced by autistic people, and to build a database of behaviour types. What are your stims? How do they feel? What parameters of the stim are the most relaxing? What music is best for stimming?
I want to hear how happy you all become when you do your favourite stims. I want to see diagrams of what kind of movements have the biggest effect. I want to see pictures of what you imagine when you stim. I ask not just what stims you have, but how you conceptualise stimming as a sensory experience.
I’m interested in what triggers them as well (add warnings if they’re traumatic). One of my major triggers is actually reading about stimming, so this will be an interesting blog to run!
The blog is currently run by Alyssa.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
A video of stimming to music made in response to today's anon
Not by me. Is very good.
Anyone think it’s weird that I stim to Poison Prince?
Two Door Cinema Club - Undercover Martyn
This is my favourite stimming song at the moment. The whole album of Tourist History has a similar amount of energy and layers. These two qualities seem to be key to stimming for me, especially because the layered sounds drown out any background noise.
The best example of this combination is actually at 2:19 in the song Eat That Up, It’s Good For You.
I can’t wait for their next album, which should be out the 3rd (UK) or 4th (US) of September.
- Rob
Grace Slick - Theme From Manhole
I’d point out which parts of this 15 minute masterpiece are good for stimming but… you can work it out just by listening.
- Rob
Manchester Orchestra - Leave it Alone
Just a minute ago I was hand-flapping like I’ve never done before to this song. I might have to record myself, it’s a really intense stim all the way through the song without pauses.
My arms hurt afterwards.
I think Manchester Orchestra are indie rock, but at times they seem to border on emo (not that I know anything about emo). A lot of emo bands did move into indie though, so I guess there’s a connection between the genres.
My favourite parts are 0:52 and 3:05, since this is where the orchestra is at its best. The whole album of Simple Math is good, especially the title track. I haven’t got any of their other albums yet, but I probably will soon!
- Rob
I find that I stim a lot to classical music. Especially renaissance choral music. I move my hands like a conductor and slowly walk around my room. It’s wonderful. So peaceful.
I discovered this song today. It’s very reminiscent of Pink Floyd, and the rest of the album draws clear influences from Neil Young and The Beatles.
This is for everyone who likes to stim to Floyd-type stuff!
His voice is a poor replacement for Dave Gilmour, I know.
- Rob
(via moviesandsongs365)
I don’t have a tumblr, but I do have a LOT of great stimming music!
Anon submitted:
Music (play repeatedly):
All songs by Depeche Mode, but particularly:
Corrupt
Enjoy the Silence
Fragile Tension
WrongLady Gaga:
Papparazi
Paper Gangsta
Telephone (WONDERFUL back the fuck off me stim song!)Franz Ferdinand:
Fade Together
Walk AwayBlind Pilot:
One Red Thread
Three Rounds and a SoundFreelance Whales:
Generator ^ First Floor
Generator ^ Second Floor
(a song with a sequel! HOW COOL IS THAT???)Laura Stevenson & The Cans
The Healthy One
I See Dark
Caretaker
The Wait
The Weight
(another sequel song!)For dancing, for crying, for flapping and for pacing, I usually have music on when I stim.
Thanks! I may try some of these, apart from Gaga who is a cissexist cultural appropriator. Not judging the music though, and I appreciate your submission.
- Rob
This isn’t so much a song to stim to, as a song that I tend to use as an auditory stim.
I have music on all the time. Those of you who know me know this is not an exaggeration.
I don’t mind any genre, as long as the songs in question don’t have any vocals (vocals mess with my ability to pay attention to people talking) and don’t have too many guitars (guitar distortion makes my perfect pitch go all haywire).
[Song: “Gold Pilot” by First Turn Fold from Homestuck’s ColoUrs and Mayhem Universe A album]
Oh god I was really overstimulated until I listened to this song, could barely hear it and then put my hands over my ears completely. Suddenly everything was in brighter colours and I could hear it properly.
That’s a really good track, thank you!
- Rob
