Socially-acceptable fidgetting/stimming

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I wear dog tags and when I feel nervous I take it off and trace the letters.

I'll break the chain and say that I actually don't restrict myself. If I feel the need to flap my hand, wiggle my fingers, bounce, etc., I do it. I mean, I don't go all out flailing and jumping; I think it's only something people would notice if they were looking right at me.

For one, I do this because I never found an effective substitute. I tried carrying certain bracelets or objects around with me, but they didn't work. Physical movement just helps me a lot more.

For two, I've never been concerned about how I look in public. I've sported green mohawks, the tackiest of thrift store clothing, gruesome horror movie t-shirts, you name it. Just like with self-stimulatory behavior, that's just who I am and how I express myself, and I don't see a need to repress it just because some stranger on the street might think I'm weird. Of course, that's just my own experience.

If I feel particularly stressed, I tend to dig the nails of one hand into the flesh of the other but in a way that doesn't draw attention. It's very soothing. When I was a child, I would ask my father to hold my hand very tight because I found that very calming.

Ones I tend to do a lot which don't seem to bother people much (I asked my partner who is NT to help evaluate, but results may vary):

# Twirling a pendant necklace around on its chain.

# Playing with the ends of my scarf (I wear them a lot in the winter, even indoors, because they're soft and quite soothing to play with).

# Depending on type of chair I might be sitting in, swinging my feet or twirling on swivel chairs

# Cleaning my fingernails and making sure they are nice and even with all the cuticles pushed down symmetrically (I know sometimes people might not like that one but I can't stand untidy nails ).

# Just rubbing my hands together like if I was washing them, which I do a lot when nervous if I don't have something else to play with.

I found the StimTastic website today and some of their wearables look pretty good too - I don't tend to chew, which a lot of the stuff is for, but their fidget jewellery is definitely my sort of thing.

Velcro is always fun....lol rip it apart, put it together, rip it apart, put it together...people love that noise oh wait this is socially acceptable stimming, perhaps that does not fit the category.

I've always liked popping bubblewrap, but it wouldn't have occurred to me that it's a form of stimming, until I read the above post.

Maybe it is?

In meetings I used to move my toes about in patterns, back and forth then alternate feet and then do both at same time, endless variety and to the music in my head that never stops either,(ear ringing sort of ).Of course screwing water bottle caps on and off can help too.

try finger wriggling and counting.