pen spinning mainly
this post was submitted on 25 Sep 2023
39 points (100.0% liked)
neurodiverse
1783 readers
19 users here now
What is Neurodivergence?
It's ADHD, Autism, OCD, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, bi-polar, aspd, etc etc etc etc
“neurologically atypical patterns of thought or behavior”
So, it’s very broad, if you feel like it describes you then it does as far as we're concerned
Rules
1.) ableist language=post or comment will probably get removed (enforced case by case, some comments will be removed and restored due to complex situations). repeated use of ableist language=banned from comm and possibly site depending on severity. properly tagged posts with CW can use them for the purposes of discussing them
2.) always assume good faith when dealing with a fellow nd comrade especially due to lack of social awareness being a common symptom of neurodivergence
2.5) right to disengage is rigidly enforced. violations will get you purged from the comm. see rule 3 for explanation on appeals
3.) no talking over nd comrades about things you haven't personally experienced as a neurotypical chapo, you will be purged. If you're ND it is absolutely fine to give your own perspective if it conflicts with another's, but do so with empathy and the intention to learn about each other, not prove who's experience is valid. Appeal process is like appealing in user union but you dm the nd comrade you talked over with your appeal (so make it a good one) and then dm the mods with screenshot proof that you resolved it. fake screenies will get you banned from the site, we will confirm with the comrade you dm'd.
3.5) everyone has their own lived experiences, and to invalidate them is to post cringe. comments will be removed on a case by case basis depending on determined level of awareness and faith
4.) Interest Policing will not be tolerated in any form. Support your comrades in their joy!
Further rules to be added/ rules to be changed based on community input
RULES NOTE: For this community more than most we understand that the clarity and understandability of these rules is very important for allowing folks to feel comfortable, to that end please don't be afraid to be outspoken about amendments and addendums to these rules, as well as any we may have missed
founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
I tried and failed miserably at spinning. I used to yo-yo a bit but fell out of the hobby. Then I got a set of begleri beads and could do some simple stuff but transfers(like with pen spinning) just did not like me lol. I even made a homemade pen spin mod from a Bic at one point. I've also looked into knucklebones as well because it seems maybe easier? But the cost of entry is a bit higher than an old Bic pen.
My preferred stim seems odd amongst people with Autism and ADHD, but I love smooth things. Those nylon size tags facing each other on the side of your shirt or pants, I love rubbing the smoothness together. The ultimate version of this is well worn silk, like my pillow cases. Great stim that makes very little noise and can easily be kept in your pocket
Another one I recommend that's more popular with the nerd circles is mechanical keyboard test boards. Little boards with a bunch of different mechanical key types that you can switch out for your preferred mix of quiet, clicky, and bumpy. They're usually about $20, and can sometimes double as a macro setup for your computer.
I like buying stims that also have a function outside of being stims. It makes me feel less guilty about retail therapy. It also doubles by letting me stim in front of neurotypicals without ever being bothered for it.
I don't think fabric rubbing is at all weird! I know Taggies exist for early childhood sensory but I've always gravitated towards the corduroy style tags and not so much the silk ones. But also my SO called me out a few weeks ago for only wearing tagless t-shirts so there is that. I think the fabric might work for me if it came with few other functions? There is a magnet slider by Prits that has a worry stone groove in it that I feel might do the same thing. I almost got it over the micarta.
For keyboards, one of my hobbies is actually mechanical keyboards. I have 2 hot-swap boards both with tactiles. I have a few soldered with low pro tactiles. And I recently built a low profile clicky board. I love the snap of clickies but not so much the sound(when around other people since it can bug them) so I gravitated towards big tactile bumps. When typing fast it can feel amazing. I might make a keychain out of a leftover clicky though. 🤔
I like buying stims that also have a function outside of being stims. It makes me feel less guilty about retail therapy. It also doubles by letting me stim in front of neurotypicals without ever being bothered for it.
I feel this. My main right now is a magnetic slider and it ends up coming out in social interactions a lot. I get a bit self conscious about it at times. My last job interview didn't go well and I feel like part of it was that. I think that is part of why I wanted to make this post is maybe glean some from the stealth/sleeper fidgets. There was a magnetic pen I saw the other day that comes apart and you can sort of stack the pieces or build things.
Do you have any recs for fidgets with another function?
load more comments
(1 replies)
load more comments
(1 replies)
This is, imo, the ultimate fidget toy: https://purple.com/squishy
Funny enough, being in the keyboard hobby, I know some people use these as wrist rests. Do you just squish it? Is the texture super rubbery?
load more comments
(4 replies)
I have a beaded bracelet that I use to fidget when I need to.
I think a wearable isn't too far outside the realm of possibilities. I used to wear candy bracelets back in high school when I thought I was a cool raver lol.
I like it cause it isn't too loud when I fiddle with it, I'm always worried that any fidgeting I do is bothering people around me lol.
An online friend also just recommended a rubber bracelet for similar. She's also on the spectrum and has audio sensory sensitivity. Hey google find me fidget bracelets.
fwiw, I have two beaded bracelets I wear out, one brown beads and one gray stones. I'll often wiggle my wrist, looks like I'm adjusting my hands, but the bracelets makes a nice rattle noise and feeling when they rub together.
I dig it. What keeps me from really getting back into bracelets is with how I rest my wrists when typing, they mostly get in the way. I wear a G-Shock watch but the strap is barely noticeable. I could try a fidget friendly bracelet for when I am out and about and don't wanna be super annoying.
I did find these earlier today: https://www.etsy.com/se-en/listing/1163673744/sensory-fidget-bracelet-anxiety-relief?external=1&sts=1
What keeps me from really getting back into bracelets is with how I rest my wrists when typing
Definitely this, which is why I'm not wearing them right now 
.
I could try a fidget friendly bracelet for when I am out and about and don't wanna be super annoying.
That is exactly what I do. It's almost everyday carry along with my keys, phone, and wallet (and pen lmao)
I get this. Like just stash it with my wallet and keys and knife and grab it on my way out. I got into light edc while working from home at my last job that was very sedentary so I write my own jokes lol.
a spinning ring so i look cool. and sadly the front of my shirt sometime, so I guess I need something to chew on.
Ironically our oldest is a chewer. We got him a few rubberized chew toys pretty early after his diagnosis(ADHD) and he chewed right through the first one we got him.
I'm not much of an actual ring wearer, otherwise the spinning one would have already been bought. My SO has one she wore for a bit.
load more comments
(1 replies)
If you're interested in mechanical keyboards, I have a 3d printed switch tester cube I bought from a keyboard site. Pop in whatever switches you like and click away. I have an assortment of clicky and silent switches, I love it!
Do you have a link? I've been thinking of getting something like this for ages.
load more comments
(3 replies)
load more comments
(3 replies)
Whatever is on my desk at the time.
After meetings with my boss, which are always stressful, I look down at my desk and usually find some random item torn into tiny pieces
I hate buying things, so I just use old stuff I have lying around. At home I play a lot with cigarette lighters and small boxes, but outside I usually either play Antimatter Dimensions (it's kinda like a fidget) or open and close a broken top half of one of those cheap pens. Opening and closing those old pre-smartphone phones was also a joy.
Antimatter Dimensions is probably the best game ever made.
Idk why but I guess I just never think about repurposing stuff for fidgeting with that I already have. Also def yes on clamshell and slide keyboard phones lol.
I know this isn't a convenient option for everyone, but instead of fidgeting I tend to just get up from my chair and pace around my room. I like it because, while it's a stretch to call it "exercise", it's healthier than sitting in my chair for hours on end.
Actually kinda proud of that change I made in my life. Before, when I put on a 40 minute Hasanabi vid, I'd take out my phone and play Subway Surfer, now I get up and walk around until my legs get tired. When I first started doing this, I walked around so much that my legs were sore the next few days lmao.
load more comments
(1 replies)
Not ASD/ADHD (probably) but I love to fidget
Just got some Greek worry beads and these things are amazing
load more comments
(7 replies)
There are a lot of great suggestions in this thread.
I have one of these finger strengthening things for guitar (even though I don’t play). Works well to keep my hand occupied instead of picking at my beard
Apologies for the amazon link https://a.co/d/e2vyZH1
No need to apologize. I've been all over Amazon, Etsy and Ali over the last 3 days.
I definitely kind of like this idea. Thanks!
I have a set of worry beads I got in Turkey that I replaced the string with fishing line because I tend to be so rough with it. Can be played with almost silently or I can swing it around to make a racket.
That's amother for worry beads. I think I should have went with those instead of belgeri beads. I like the clacky rattle noises they make from the videos I watched.
I learned how to solder and cut copper pipe for my job. I made a little fidgety thingamajig and I just spin it in my hand all the time. It has a hilt kind of like a sword but you can move it around in different directions. It's kind of cool like meditation balls or a wind chime because it rings when it hits my thumb nail
Curious about this. Would you be willing to share a pic of it? I occasionally peruse some of the DIY fidget stuff but I lack in the creativity dept.
load more comments
(2 replies)
My partner loved these pea pod squeeze keychains.. The cute face does rub off after a while but she got a lot of use out of it.
I may have looked into these already lol ❤️
Dumb question maybe but does it actually feel like edamame?
load more comments
(1 replies)
My partner uses this thing a lot:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5100727
and this one: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1752508
They're easy to 3d print and use less than a dollar's worth of filament to make.
Edit: if you want one and don't have a 3d printer, I can send you one if you feel comfortable with that
load more comments
(2 replies)
I always carry around with me an empty tic-tac container to open and close.
I think I can keep an eye out for stuff like that that could have fidget potential. Someone else in this thread mentioned a bottlecap.
I used to just chew my nails, sharpen pencils with my nails, or absentmindedly eat bookmarks. Since getting into fidget spinners a year or two ago, it's just spinners and nail biting these days.
Overshare time but I was never a nailbiter but I am a nose picker(sorry if it's gross) and only really recently made the connection that it's a stim. Idk why but I sort of equate the two.
No harsh judgement there. Then again, my sinuses at points have necessitated some pickin'.
I fidget with clicky pens. I love G-2s for their writing, but I'll also play with the pen idly.
G-2 and Zebra have the best click. I don't handwrite a whole lot so I guess I never considered basically the OG fidget. Zebra is a bonus because they use smear-free ink and I'm a lefty leftist.
I have the 
G-2 10s, which is just shy of a sharpie in thickness. It's so satisfying and smooth to write. Looking at some of the other comments about "texture" I wonder if the smoothness is why I hated pencils growing up.
Zebra is a bonus because they use smear-free ink and I'm a lefty leftist.
The number of times I've smeared ink even as a righty is too damn high! I might have to give a Zebra a try
The Zebra G-402 is what settled on after doing too much research. It just glides across paper. I also carry a tiny felt tip in my wallet for like signing when I pay with credit at restaurants but it's nothing fancy, just super tiny.
The pencil graphite scratch is almost as bad as like Styrofoam or nails on a chalkboard lol.Just typing that made me physically cringe from memories.
I had one of those fidget toys and I really enjoyed it until some asshole co worker stole it. Now I use a spiky dryer ball. Which sounds super weird but it's all the right textures. A lil bit of give, lots of spikes that aren't too sharp since it's a dryer ball, and it's shaped like a cute animal so that also makes me smile
load more comments
(2 replies)
view more: next ›