Self Stimming behavior and older child

docmay25

My ds is 8 years old.  Since I can remember, maybe age 3, he has been clasping his hands together, tightly and shaking them.  He used to do this whenever he was excited about something.  We have never really acknowledged it.  Occasionally he has said that he does it, I say that I notice but don't make s big deal of it.  I just always knew it was something that he needed to do.  Lately, he has been doing it more times during the day.  He also is gripping his hands harder, more intense.  

The other day he said that he doesn't know why he does this and he feels so stupid.  He said the kids at school ask him why he does it.  he asked me to help him stop.  It makes me sad to see him upset about this.  I don't want him to feel embarrassed at school.  He has always been so confident, so to see him like this is hard.  I am not sure how to help him stop this behavior that he has done for so long and he seems to need to do as a release.  

I am thinking of getting him back into occupational therapy.  He hasn't gone since he was about 4 years old.  Any advice?  

docmay25

Thanks auntie. I thought you might have some good insight into this. This is the first time he has ever expressed wanting to stop. He has never cared before that he does it and has always said he just likes to do it. But now he is getting bothered by othe