Less Visible Fidgets

[FayetheAspie]

I was wondering what some of your suggestions would be for having a less noticable stim or fidget when I need to move to keep anxiety under control but am expecting to not rock or anything like that.

 

[717]

i am commenting so it give me notification when someone answers this question because i want to know too.

 

[Jumpinbare]

My brother was my personal ABA program. He didn't want me doing "stupid stuff" around him. So I learned invisible/inaudible stims like running my tongue over the back of my teeth, scrunching my toes, and repeating "mantras" inside my head. I should point out that I didn't seek out alternative stims. These other things emerged, and my brother couldn't tell me to stop what he didn't know about.

 

[velociraptor]

I have several fidget rings like shown below. Affordable and from Etsy.

 

[Rodafina]

I also like to use rings.
Like this one:

Never underestimate how much you can wiggle your toes inside a pair of shoes.

In certain situations, drawing/doodling can help.

Press your finger pads and tips together with varying amounts of pressure and feel the texture of your finger nails.

Choose your pen carefully - some are far more fun than others... especially if they have a removable cap.

 

[Shamar]

I was wondering what some of your suggestions would be for having a less noticable stim or fidget when I need to move to keep anxiety under control but am expecting to not rock or anything like that.

I frequently try to find new ways to interlock my fingers or make patterns. In fact, I just thought of one I don't remember doing before.

 

[grommet]

I was wondering what some of your suggestions would be for having a less noticable stim or fidget when I need to move to keep anxiety under control but am expecting to not rock or anything like that.

Do you wear shoes big enough to move your toes around or your feet inside the shoe? I have done that.

 

[FayetheAspie]

@grommet They can move some.

 

[Nervous Rex]

I make fidgets out of straws and keep one or two in my pockets. I can fidget with them with my hand in my pocket or just with my hand in my lap or at my side. They are quiet and small enough to hide.

Here's how to make it: How to make a straw fidget.


I also "mentally" fidget when I can't physically fidget. I'll pick a word out of the conversation and try to find anagrams of it, or count things in the room and then see what's interesting about that number.

Sometimes, if I'm sitting politely in a social setting and nodding my head to the conversation, I'm actually reciting song lyrics or poems in my head.

 

[Nervous Rex]

My brother was my personal ABA program. He didn't want me doing "stupid stuff" around him. So I learned invisible/inaudible stims like running my tongue over the back of my teeth, scrunching my toes, and repeating "mantras" inside my head. I should point out that I didn't seek out alternative stims. These other things emerged, and my brother couldn't tell me to stop what he didn't know about.

And then people ask why you mask.

 

[Rodafina]

...or count things in the room and then see what's interesting about that number.

I like to count things, too.

I also like to search for repeating patterns in the environment or try to rearrange the room furniture in my mind.

 

[Shamar]

I like to count things, too.

I also like to search for repeating patterns in the environment or try to rearrange the room furniture in my mind.

I seem to be compelled to look for identical pieces floor tiles or facing bricks and map them out. There are usually only 10-20 different pieces. Sometime I get so intense doing this, people think I'm in a coma. I have found that being in a coma (real or illusory) to be a good way to deal with meetings (or some entertainment).

 

[tlc]

I make fidgets out of straws and keep one or two in my pockets. I can fidget with them with my hand in my pocket or just with my hand in my lap or at my side. They are quiet and small enough to hide.

If I did that, people would probably think I was playing “pocket pool”. I try to keep it minimal when I have to adjust my keys in my pocket when they start jabbing me in the leg.

At work when I have to try to not be noticeable, I'll do the pen thing, popping the rear cap loose with my fingernail, then putting it back. Or fold my fingers back under my hand and play with my coat or shirt sleeve. Or adjusting myself in my chair, because I can never sit still or get comfortable, so I'll combine it with seeing a drawing better. Or touching my face, since people stereotypically do this when they are thinking.

 

[Nervous Rex]

At work when I have to try to not be noticeable, I'll do the pen thing, popping the rear cap loose with my fingernail, then putting it back. Or fold my fingers back under my hand and play with my coat or shirt sleeve. Or adjusting myself in my chair, because I can never sit still or get comfortable, so I'll combine it with seeing a drawing better. Or touching my face, since people stereotypically do this when they are thinking.

If I'm in a meeting at a large table, it's easy to have my hands under the table. If it's an "open" area, I cross my legs, so the leg on top hides my lap from people in front of me and put my hands in my lap to fidget.

 

[FayetheAspie]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.