Reacting to Fidgets!! 

Yooo, that's genius

My office had different foot rests. I would always use the bumpy one to do the same thing. It was absolutely a life saver

I love "foot fidgets". They let my desk be visually undistracting completely, they let me fidget, and I feel like they are helping to improve my NEAT levels and be healthier too. As a student I'd use the little tray built in under the desk seat, and as an adult they let you look totally professional while fidgeting.

genius

I feel like a couple of those squish balls would be good for this.

F A C T S!!!!!

Jessica, I seriously agree with this! And your reactions were quite enjoyable and entertaining. Now I wanna get one of the squishy dough ball figets that can be used in a classroom! I would use it at work for when I'd be having to talk to my supervisor. It would help me be less anxious and more confident as I recover from old work trauma. And no one could say that I would be distracting anybody with it. It would be in my uniform pocket.

Teachers deserve more pay!

#How_to_ADHD is the most important youtube_channel there ever was; I love you for that, no joke; I think without you I would be dead, and I'm dead serious 😆🤣

@@Ferno209 The most!!!

Yuuuuuuuuuuuup. Clicky pens. One of the OG fidgets 😄

I adjusted to not clicking my pens in the classroom by just straight up disassembling and reassembling them. 😂 As if that didn't result in the tiny spring getting sprung across the classroom from time to time...

@@1Aroe1 same here lmao

I would click pens during exams 😅 without even realizing it until someone shouted at me... I wish I could have listened to music while writing exams

I had a teacher in high-school who would lose her everloving Mind on those of us who clicked pens.. lol!!

I know this is a month later, but I really love this idea.

That's great to know, thanks!!

@@HowtoADHD Also, they are called "Pop Tubes"! :)

@@y0yl3c4k3_yt I actually have a short version that are made to add to if you want. Can't swing it to make the cool sound, but still satisfying to play with. 🤗

@@HowtoADHD ☝😉😁

Thx for the tip! I used to stim with these as a kid

😂 I was just wondering the other day what was inside one of my fidgets and what the outside was made of. It’s one like the color change stress ball. I wouldn’t open it to destroy mine, but it might pop. I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing a video from someone about what was inside.

It's usually a really thick jelly-like substance, it won't go flowing everywhere, but if you try to burst it on purpose with enough pressure, it can make a bit of a mess. If it's just wear and tear and eventually breaks open, it won't flow out too much. It's really sticky though! The one with the small beads inside would definitely minimize that jelly stuff quite a bit though. Although, could have projectiles if someone tries to burst it on purpose? lol

@@jw8223 sometimes it's tiny balls of jelly-like stuff. One explored in my classroom and I couldn't tidy it because of the texture! Luckily the kids really enjoyed playing hunt the tiny purple blobs 😂

@@teoz21 oh, the orbeez filled ones are so weird!!! And good for the kids for helping!!! Unfortunately one of mine (it’s a little dumpling shaped one that’s like the color change one) got a little hole a few days ago. It oooooooozed white liquid. I still want to know what it is 😅

I had a color changer get popped. Note to self can't be repaired but it did get places only because my son likes to over squish them. He is autistic but we only lost one of those and orbees ones.

I always have a coily/telephone cord style hair tie in my wrist, they made brilliant fidgets.

@@katie1353 I ruined many hair ties this way

Same here with the hair tie in class 😊

Me too! Always have one on my wrist.. when I'm in meetings at work that puppy comes off my wrist under the table and keeps me occupied enough to pay attention and sit still. Such an underrated and super effective fidget!!

I also do this :)

Definitely no bad rep here! Since a teacher sent them we kind of stuck with the idea of using them in a classroom setting, but if you're in a setting where you can use a noisy one, go for it! I use clicky pens. 👀 Something satisfying about the press and click sound.

@@HowtoADHD My fidget cube goes with me EVERYWHERE, and when I'm stuck in traffic and don't want my brain to wander, out it comes. The switch and the clicking nubs are my favorites for just that reason.

@@ladygrndr9424 I have a fidget cube keyring so whenever I'm out with my keys in my pocket/hand I'm clicking it - fellow parents on the school run must wonder where the clicking is coming from sometimes 🤣 I also have a homemade rolling bead fidget (made with metal nuts on paracord for strength) for the days where I'm feeling less clicky 👌🏻

@@HowtoADHD I started using a disc bound notebook and spinning the disks around has become a fidget for me when I am using it.

@@HowtoADHD I built a custom mechanical keyboard and the satisfying sound and feel of the keys being pressed is like a fidget while working!

The fidget cube was actually how I found Jessica and this channel! Was looking at the Kickstarter and checked her review of it, got hooked to the channel, and after a few years of watching her videos and reading the comments, began to highly suspect I have ADHD, and eventually was officially diagnosed 2 years ago at 39.

I for one really love the feel of hologram cards, and LOVE the “many magnets” sensation, but I totally understand where you’re coming from since for the longest time as a kid I hated the feel and especially the sound of certain rain jackets. That and expo markers on paper just sent chills down my spine(still do just thinking about it)

My “kryptonite” would probably be trying on shoes - when they’re too small or tight my brain just kinda panics and I have to get the shoe off NOW!

My "kriptonyte" is anything that appears to be slimy. So it was quite hard for me to watch when Jessica used the stress balls or this tentacle ball in the beginning.

@@ANPaige this reminds me of when the neck on the shirt does the pully thing over my head 🥶

My kryptonite is the sound of a weared off pencil eraser, it physically hurts me ☹

Definitely and at the end of the day it'll likely be dependent on the students in the class and the teacher of the class... or... work.... if it's used at work! So the caveats may change pending location. That's definitely great to point out, glad you brought it up!

Yeah I. Definitely felt weird about that thing, as someone who’s been told my spasms, involuntary vocal stims , wheelchair, even just how I look (trans and disabled) have been classed as distracting just for me existing, I feel like fidgets are a disability and neurodivergence tool and them making noise or being visually stimulating, where other things like that are usually banned, are a reasonable disability adjustment and the kids who need them shouldn’t have a harder time just bc other kids see them as toys (unless it’s distracting another kid that finds it hard to focus bc of neurodivergence or disability, or or triggering another disabled or neurodivergent kids sensory issues, then that’d need figuring out.)💜

@@frocktopus9429 i understand that sounds can be over stimulating to others. Especially autistic people. But that just gets me into thinking that maybe we should start putting more consideration into what kids we put in certain classes together. Like ADHD and autism are usually pretty compatible in gym or art but maybe a division between noisy and quiet classes should be considered for things like math and language

At a minimum it needs to be less distracting to others than what the student would be without another form of stimulation. Cost to benefit ratio

@@Prometheus720 I don't like this take. It feels like my high school dress code, where boys could wear basically whatever they wanted but a girl showing her knees or shoulders was punished because "it's a distraction to the boys." The possibility that a boy could ogle her was somehow her fault even though she's literally just wearing jeans and a tank top and minding her business. If a student with ADHD needs auditory simulation to be able to complete a test, the potential distraction to other students *is not their responsibility.* Let the teachers, parents, and any associated professionals worry about that. Besides that, if major distractions are a concern then either A) your students are rather young and your classroom isn't providing enough stimulation, or B) your students are old enough they should be able to self-regulate. Classroom design is the problem in the former, and if a student is noticeably distracted in the latter, *they* probably need a fidget or stim too. Imo fidgets are accommodations, and the point of accommodations isn't to make the disabled/neurodiverse student easier to have in class - it's to ensure *the student receiving the accommodation* is able to fully participate and reach their highest potential.

Came here to say this. They're known as "Buckyballs". They were previously outlawed because kids eat them and they can tear up your intestines. I had to keep taking them away from my daughter because a friend at school kept giving them to her.

I totally almost choked on one of those when I was 5. I was playing in my room alone and no one heard me either and I had to hack it up myself... never put on in my mouth after that though

THIS! I struggle with constantly dropping things, (hoping to get evaluated for that soon), so getting an Otterbox + PopSocket phone case (They did a collab line, you guys!) was a lifesaver! I have 4 different PopSockets for my phone, each with a different texture I can switch out seasonally, so I don't get bored: Spring is a white iridescent series of concentric ripples (like a drop on water) with a rose gold edge, Summer is 3D iridescent BUBBLES! (my favorite), Autumn is a smooth teal aluminum faceted/beveled to look like a gemstone, & Winter is an actual polished smooth Amethyst (my birthstone)!

I accidentally broke a popsocket because I fidgeted with it so much 🤣

@@wurdnurd1 Me too! xD I broke a little plastic mount that probably no one ever breaks

Oh god, i literally was that one kid in the class who clicked the pen. Literally one time, i was on math and we had an exam and I was clicking my pen so fast that the teacher literally got up and took the pen away from me and at first got scared, then i got sad bc it was a gift from my girlfriend at the time (we switch up pens, i gave her my purple pen bc it's my favorite color abd she gave me the orange bc it's her fave color too) and then i got mad and didn't even do the rest of my exam after that. I got the pen the back the next day and got a bad grade too o(-(

@@briliitos_negros3098 oh bro... I hope you graduate well

Oh my gosh that's so creative and I love it! I wish I would've thought of that when I was younger! 😂 I looooove a good light switch!

So glad you found the channel - it is such a treasure trove of quality information! In case you’re interested, I’ve also found these channels v helpful: Therapy In A Nutshell Dr Tracy Marks Take care 💚

There is a word for it! Thank you for mentioning misophonia, I had never heard the term, but it describes exactly what I feel.

Hey, I found that these work great for me, they are stern but don't make noise: chenille wire's. Maybe they could work for you as well

Yes! Me too!

Yep. There's a reason I have a Rubik's cube at my work desk. And I think speed cubes are quieter too.

Yes! Very much this! Learn to solve ‘em and move on to 4x4 and 5x5 ones. Not hard just more work = calm time. Also feels like an analogy of my mind. Going from extremely chaotic to satisfyingly ordered.

Problem is they're loud af (edit: at high speeds). I wish i could use my cube as a fidget everywhere but I'd be super annoying

@@sofiamn_05 have you tried a speed cube? They‘re usually quieter :)

@@leahpy yes, they're still really loud when you turn them fast enough, which is what's soothing for me

Have you seen Crankgameplays aka Ethan Nesters. It was one of his that started me on my path to discovering my adhd

@@StealthyGamerGirl2020 I've seen the first one he's done; I'll have to check out the other two as well! 👍

*quietly takes notes* 😜

Me too! I just watched the markiplier one with my son bc he likes him. It was cute but this video is much more helpful to me :)

Lucets and drop-spindles for the fidget.

Thanks for sharing! It looks amazing.

Her paragraph in the middle about friendships, how hard they are to start and keep and how as we get older we just expect the rejection, right in the feels. A jess truth bomb in the middle of a fidget toy reaction video! 💚

update: after realizing i needed to take my meds, I proceeded to continue lying on the floor and commenting on this video like 3 more times instead of actually going to get them. woohooo reminder to take your meds so you can remember that you need to take your meds

Not me realising I forgot to take my meds halfway through reading your comment... WHOOPS. 🤝 Thanks for the reminder! 🤣

omg thanks for reminding me. I think I also need to eat lol

Awwwwww, I hope the video was a nice brief break from stress

@@HowtoADHD yes! Thank you! Even my ears are happier than before; I had a very loud day today

I love how you said "summon the energy" 😀 some days, some things are require too much energy that you need to summon

What how do you have no replies 😅 I think I’m dreaming ☹️

Hope it helps! :)

@@HowtoADHD your channel has been a great resource. Thanks

That's totally fair, fidgets help a lot of people but they don't always work for everyone! Or sometimes there are only a small collection that actually work for someone.

Our brains like to grab on every little thing that takes attention. They need a little more stimulation than average. So if your fidgeting with something that requires mental energy, you're giving your brain some of that stimulation and it allows you to spend more time focusing on what you need to. Not perfect by any stretch but I did learn a long time ago long before my diagnosis that if I was doodling in class I had a much easier time following what the teacher was saying then if I didn't

Oooh, sounds like a good idea. Just make sure it doesn’t pop on you lol

i got diagnosed on my 3rd try, at an adhd specialist when i was 40, after two negative results from general "psycho-educational assessments" from psychologists at around age 16 and 27, so they can definitely be wrong. Going to an ADHD specialist is unfortunately the best bet if you don't have what you might call a stereotypical presentation, since stereotypical presentation is often the only type of case the generalized tests will recognize (the specialist made me take different tests and had a different interview).

There is always room for error, but there is also always the chance it could be something else. And if it's something accessible where you live, it's ok to get re-assessed now that you're older as well. Also what has helped some people is finding an ADHD specialist, so that could be worth looking into if you have any available to you.

I can speak from experience on this one. Your doctors/therapist may not have been “wrong”, but your brain also wasn’t as developed as it is now. When I was 13, I (supposedly) screened for ADHD and it came out negative. Then about a year ago, I decided to get tested again because doing college during COVID-19 while undiagnosed really brought my GPA down. I got tested (same doctor, but different therapist) and they found I have ADHD, Depression, and insomnia. If you have the resources to go get tested again, then absolutely go and do it! It never hurts to have a second opinion/look at things. I hope this answers your question!

I agree with the other replies, plus there's the fact that ADHD was not as well understood back then, as it is now. Even now, they're still not entirely sure about how it works, but they've learned that there's more to it than the previously short list of symptoms, & they now know a bit more about the physiological aspects of the condition as well. Getting reassessed is definitely reasonable & advisable, at least to help narrow things down. Enough time has passed that it definitely might make a difference in assessment parameters.

Ahahahahah right?!

It can, it just depends on the person!

For me, focusing on some tasks requires a “Goldilocks zone” of background simulation. Too little and my brain flits around looking for something else to grab onto, too much and it becomes the foreground instead. I usually use music, but I’ve also considered getting a fidget of some kind to provide a more physical sensation and to let me stim in more public places.

Welcome! Thank you so much!

Hello! Welcome!

@@HowtoADHD hii :D I love you