Random ADHD Lemon #3: The Fidgeting Thingsies
Back at it! Random ADHD Lemon round 3! Let's explore some of my favourite fidgeting tools and skills, and such I tried out and can recommend! *YEAH*
ADHDers and other neurodivergent minds often use stimming as a method of stress relief. This can involve picking the skin, biting nails, pulling out hair, or fidgeting around with or biting on all kinds of things, like pencils and erasers. Some even resort to methods like smoking or drinking as well, which as we know, can have other undesirable effects.
In situations where both hands aren’t in use at the same time, the chances of resorting to unconscious stimming increases.
Due to the severity of my nail-biting, skin picking and scratching, hair pulling, and even the complete destruction of my erasers and pencils to the point of non-usability, I had to find methods to curb this behavior—or, as I prefer to say, to redirect that energy.
After experimenting with several fidget tools, I found a few top picks for myself, which I’ve categorized by their area of usefulness. I’d like to share them in this post. Further down, I’ll also list other tools I’ve tried that no longer work for me or that I occasionally pick back up. However, they’ve certainly had, and may still have, their usefulness for you, dear fellow neurodivergent! ❤
My Top Picks:
1. 3D Geometric Fidgeting Cubic
There are several types of geometric cubes, which can be used as fidgeting tools. The one I use is endlessly foldable into a loop and has nice space-themed images printed on it. When you search for the term online, you will find different versions, including the one that stimulates your fidgeting needs.
What I use this tool for: proofreading my texts, reading on the internet, sometimes in social settings, like support group or conversations, mostly all activities that do not require both hands.
2. Spiky Massage Ball
A hedgehog balls, spiky rubber balls, or stress balls, they have different names, but I refer to them as massage balls. They come in different sizes, appearances and hardness levels. I prefer a yellow spiky one that fits in just one hand and is firm enough to hurt when squeezing it. I do not like normal stress balls, due to their chemical smell or sometimes stickiness, but the spiky ones scratch the itch. They can be bought online and, like the ones I got, from a sports accessories store.
What I use this tool for: when at the doctor, the dentist, therapy, or in stressful situations or conversations. (Trying to crush the ball in my hand reduces stress for me.)
3. Fidget Spinner with Pop-It Function
I own a small fidget spinner with a pop-it function. I bought it in a store in my town, but there are many different variations online, with and without the pop-it function. I found the combination better, because the fidget spinner itself can get boring; with this, I have a variety in the same tool. Since I do not like plain pop-it toys, this is perfect for me. I can recommend this and, generally, tools with more than one function.
What I use this tool for: to pop the bubbles when nervous, at the grocery store, sometimes as an alternative while proof-reading my texts to spin while scrolling.
4. Anti-Stress Fidget Cube
My fidget cube is a bit damaged and not as photogenic anymore, as some pieces are missing, so I decided to please your eyes with a stock image instead. It’s among the first fidget tools I bought intentionally and I still count it as one of my top picks, though I am not using it as often anymore. Most fidget tools also work best for me, if I have a jacket on, this one falls into this category. The variety of switches and buttons doesn’t make it boring for me.
What I use this tool for: to fidget when nervous, when grocery shopping, in public transport. Sometimes in social settings, but rarely due to the loud clicking noises.
5. Fidgeting Rings
Fidgeting rings come in a huge variety and have the advantage over other tools, that they don’t need pockets or a bag to be carried around. If you get the right size for your fingers, they can stay there as long as you like. Some people use normal rings and spin them, but these rings are specifically designed to be spun with ease. They are assembled of two layers, one is the base the other the fidgeting platform on top.
I prefer this kind of ring over other versions with flowers that can be twisted.
I found the rings in my image in a small local store, so I don’t have a link for these and recommend searching for fidget rings you might want to try out.
What I use this tool for: almost everywhere I go to: Social settings, public transport, waiting, grocery shopping, while working.
6. Magic Snake
The newest member of my top picks toolkit is the magic snake. Every piece can be twisted to build complex structures. It has its limits, but it can be really helpful when having to listen to something or someone for longer. I also use it in between tasks to ground myself after stressful situations and to help calm down. It is with my other top picks always in my backpack.
What I use this tool for: listening to speeches or long meeting session, watching a long video on its own and feeling attention waning off, some social settings
These were my Top Picks! I hope this “Random ADHD Lemon” gave you some great tools to start your search with! Good hunting!
Maybe some of those might also be interesting:
Acupressure Rings — the first ever fidget tool I tried out purposefully, I always broke or lost them, so I stopped using them
Magnetic Acupressure Balls — tried those out once or twice, but they are to hard and metallic and hurt too much in the hands.
Hair Tie on Wrist — since I have a shorter hairstyle now, I don’t carry hair ties around anymore, but I used to pull at them when I stored them on my wrists
Random Pebbles — still occasionally pick up stones and carry them in my pockets, some make wonderful fidget tools for some time 😅
Two Magnets in my Pockets — also something you occasionally find in my jacket’s pockets, if I haven’t lost them and don’t have any anymore.
Ok, that’s it for now! Was there any fidget tool you didn’t know about yet? Do you know of any I didn’t list here? And which ones did you know already and weren’t surprised to see in my toolkit? Let me know in the comments!
If you have questions or feedback about today’s “Random ADHD Lemon” or thoughts and wishes for the next one, let me know in the comments below!
As always: All the love and Lídiant Wíalë ❤️
JayJay out and I see you in the next post and especially in the next “Random ADHD Lemon”!
I'm a little late to the party but as always: thanks for sharing! 😁
Personally, I don't feel the urge to grab something and play around with it, although enjoying it. Yet, I have a severe issue of nail biting. But then, I also suffer from mild dermatitis resulting in constant itching of my skin (which actually might be linked to ADHD due to the relationship between serotonin, and dopamine on skin health according to some studies).
I feel like I did a lot of these things in my childhood. I remember being particularly addicted to the soft ends of pillows which I would use to tickle my face way into my teens. ^^ I also believe to have bitten my pencils a lot (or sometimes my arms). Apart from tilting with the chair, disturbing the lessons and getting disspelled from the classroom regularly. 🫣 But biting and scratching would probably top everything else.
Just noticed I picked my skin while writing this. I tend to do it more often in front of screens in breaks when I consider what to write next. Should I have a fidget toy in sight and arm's reach to redirect my (nervous) energy here? 🤔
Have you always played with fidget toys and just kept on doing so in your adulthood, or were they're different phases in your life? Did you sometimes introduce a particular fidget toy to tackle a particular issue such as nail biting, pulling your skin/hair etc.?
Love this post! Thanks for sharing! We have them all except the anti stress cube. That cube has the opposite effect on me. It’s one of very few things that can really aggravate me 🤣 and I guess it always will as it’s not something I feel I need to resolve 😅