Stim & Stimming
Stimming means repeated movements, sounds or sensory actions, such as rocking, humming or rubbing a favourite texture. It can be a way to focus, express feelings, enjoy a sensation or regulate sensory input.
Use this free tool to explore stimming ideas by sensory type, or find suggestions for your needs and situation, including quiet and no-equipment options. Sign in to save favourites and add your own stims. Harmless stimming does not need to be stopped or justified.
Start with what you need
What kind of input are you looking for?
Any practical preference?
Optional. Choose one if the situation matters, or skip this step.
A few options
Try what feels right — ignore what does not.
These are ideas, not instructions. Your body gets the final say.
No ideas in this library match all your choices yet. Use Start again to change your choices.
Stimming examples
A few ideas from the library. Preferences differ: explore what feels comfortable for you.
Chewing a suitable chew item
Some people seek oral input through chewing. Use only items designed to be safely chewed, check them for damage, and follow the maker guidance for the person using them.
Finger tapping
A small repetitive movement using fingers against a surface or each other. It can provide rhythm with relatively little movement.
Hand movement
Flapping, shaking, opening and closing the hands, or other repeated hand movements can express excitement, release energy, or support regulation.
Stim library
Explore different kinds of input.
There is no single correct way to stim. Use the filters only if they make finding something easier.
Personal
My Stims
Keep a simple record of stims that feel useful, enjoyable or important to you. This is not a progress score.
If useful, you can bring this summary to a therapy, school, work or support conversation. It is your personal record, not a clinical report.
Stimming can have a purpose.
Repetitive movement, sound or sensory input can be connected with regulation, focus, enjoyment, expression, processing or releasing energy.
It does not always need a purpose.
Sometimes a stim simply feels good, is fun, or expresses excitement. You do not need to turn every stim into a therapeutic strategy.
Different people need different input.
A stim that feels grounding for one person may feel unpleasant to another. You are allowed to reject suggestions that do not suit you.
Harmless does not mean inappropriate.
A harmless stim does not need to be removed just because it is noticeable. Context can matter, but masking is not the goal of this tool.
If something hurts, understand the need first.
If a stim is causing pain, injury or another genuine safety risk, it can help to ask what the stim is providing and whether a safer form of similar input is available.
Stimming can communicate something.
For some people, changes in movement or sound can express excitement, distress, concentration or a need for space even when words are difficult.
This tool offers general ideas, not medical or occupational-therapy advice. Stop an activity that causes pain, breathing difficulty, dizziness, injury or another safety concern. If a stim is repeatedly causing harm, personalised professional advice may be useful.
Questions about using the Stimming tool
Is the Stimming tool free, and do I need an account?
The tool is free. You can use Find a Stim, explore the library and read the Understand section without signing in. Sign in when you want to save favourites or add your own stims.
Should I start with Find a Stim or Explore?
Choose Find a Stim for suggestions based on the input you are looking for and an optional practical preference. Choose Explore to browse ideas by sensory type. You can switch between them whenever you like.
Can I find quiet stimming ideas or options without equipment?
Yes. In Find a Stim, choose the input you want, then select a quiet or no-equipment preference when offered. These filters help you find ideas for your situation; you do not have to hide harmless stimming to use this tool.
What if no ideas match my choices?
It means the current library has no ideas tagged with all those choices. Use Start again to change your choices, or Search without this preference if you want a wider selection. You can also browse Explore. An empty result does not mean your needs are wrong.
Can I save ideas and add my own stims?
Yes. Sign in, save library ideas to My Stims, or add your own entries there. Your saved list is linked to your account so you can return to it when signed in. It is a personal collection, not a score or a list of things you must do.
Can I print or save my stimming summary?
When signed in, open My Stims and choose Print / save summary. Use your browser print options to print it or save as PDF if supported. You choose whether to share it with someone; it is your personal record, not a clinical assessment.