Everyone Stims. Stimming is anything that engages with any of your senses. It can be used to self regulate- like tapping your foot when you’re stressed. It can be used to help yourself focus, like lighting a specific candle when you’re doing homework. And it can be used to just have fun, like swinging or jumping on a trampoline.
Neurodivergent people, particularly Autistic & ADHD people need to stim more frequently, and often when we suppress our stims as a masking technique, or because we were forced by a teacher or parent to sit still- it makes us agitated & experience emotional dysregualtion and meltdowns.
One way I love stimming is by listening to music. It’s not just any music thought. It’s complex, mulit-layered music. When I listen to music specifically to stim it’s like the world melts away. I can close my eyes & hear all the layered melodies. Often it gives me goosebumps or makes me catch my breath to be completely enveloped in music.
So here is a playlist of songs I find really stimmy. There are multiple songs by the same artists. So put on some headphones, close your eyes and listen to these songs!
Harlem, Cathedrals
Beautiful Wreck, MØ
Awakening, Aurora
The Emotion, Borns
Trampoline, Shaed
What’s it gonna Be?, Shura
Golden, Harry Stiles
Freak of Nature, Broods
Heaven, Troye Sivan
Roses, The Chainsmokers & Rozes
Solar Power, Lorde,
Excuses, Mount Saint
Dust, Broods
Make it Up, Shura
Ease, Troye Sivan
Tilted, Christine and the Queens
Human, Dodie
The River, Aurora
Too Late, Minke
Moon (and it went like) Kid Francescoli
And here is a second Bonus playlist of songs that help when I’m having a meltdown or feeling overwhelmed. Which is a different type of stimming that’s needed. This one is more related to regulating my emotions and helping me feel grounded & safe.
Old Pine, Ben Howard
Silver Moon, Roo Plains
Cherry, Harry Styles
I love you, Billie Eilish
Bodies, Pale Seas
Cherry Wine, Hozier
Lovely, Billie Eilish
Runaway, Aurora
Tiger Striped Sky, Roo Plains
Sweet Disposition, The Temper Trap
Hopefully you enjoy these stimmy music recommendations!