Question For Autistic Members

[Guest guest]

Kassi, Sondra or ,

Can anyone with autism tell me how it feels when my daughter flaps her

hands? I know this might seem like a silly question but 's

major stim that we cannot extinguish is hand flapping. I was

wondering how this must feel for her and what purpose it might serve.

All I've read and been told just says its a calming mechanism. She

flaps when she's happy or excited or overwhelmed. She doesn't flap

when she's mad or sad. I tell her to hold her hands together or sit

on her hands if we're somewhere where it bothers others (the movies)

and she can comply but only for a few minutes. Now that she's 10, it's

much more obvious to others. I've tried everything I know to give her

an alternative that's more socially acceptable but nothing replaces

flapping for long. Some times it seems like her hands are flapping

literally all day long. This got me to wondering what it might really

feel like to her. Any guesses would be helpful.

Thanks,

Diane ('s Mom)