I’m a pacer. If I cannot pace, I hurt myself discreetly. Digging my nails or my mechanical pencil into my skin (under the desk) tends to work. Not too much, just enough to create a sharp sensation to keep me focused.
My hands would always be covered in ink because i was fidgeting with my pen, most of the time pressing the mine into my skin. I wouldn’t even realise it, I always just wondered when I’d paint my hands haha
Wild. I’m a pacer when I need to think, and a leg jiggler, but this is really interesting to me. That sharp sensation lets you focus on something other than the sensation?
Yes. It kind of replaces the need to fidget or rock. Pacing truly increases my focus and effectiveness (read superpowers engage). Pain is just a coping mechanism to make sure my performance doesn’t degrade right into fully disconnected from the moment.
Figure out how to give yourself muscle cramps, its a great way to get pain and not have to worry about any marks. I learned how to do that as a kid and its helped me so much over the years.
This makes me wonder if anyone else kind of bites on their fingers near the edge of their nail - not the tip of it, but the side perpendicular to it.
I say “kind of bites” because sometimes it’s like a nip, sometimes I just press it against my teeth. Something about the sensation really hits the spot for me and I have no idea how long it’s been a habit. It feels as satisfying as scratching an itch.
This might be more of my autistic sensory experience leaking into the ADHD forum, though.
I’m not a pacer but a leg bouncer who did something similar. When I was young I figured out how to give myself foot cramps so I didn’t have to get yelled at for the bouncing. Still do it periodically just for the sensation.
I’m a pacer. If I cannot pace, I hurt myself discreetly. Digging my nails or my mechanical pencil into my skin (under the desk) tends to work. Not too much, just enough to create a sharp sensation to keep me focused.
My hands would always be covered in ink because i was fidgeting with my pen, most of the time pressing the mine into my skin. I wouldn’t even realise it, I always just wondered when I’d paint my hands haha
Wild. I’m a pacer when I need to think, and a leg jiggler, but this is really interesting to me. That sharp sensation lets you focus on something other than the sensation?
Yes. It kind of replaces the need to fidget or rock. Pacing truly increases my focus and effectiveness (read superpowers engage). Pain is just a coping mechanism to make sure my performance doesn’t degrade right into fully disconnected from the moment.
I stopped doing it because the marks stopped fading, now im just back to tweaking internally
Figure out how to give yourself muscle cramps, its a great way to get pain and not have to worry about any marks. I learned how to do that as a kid and its helped me so much over the years.
This makes me wonder if anyone else kind of bites on their fingers near the edge of their nail - not the tip of it, but the side perpendicular to it.
I say “kind of bites” because sometimes it’s like a nip, sometimes I just press it against my teeth. Something about the sensation really hits the spot for me and I have no idea how long it’s been a habit. It feels as satisfying as scratching an itch.
This might be more of my autistic sensory experience leaking into the ADHD forum, though.
I do, but I’m also AuDHD so it’s not really useful information.
I’m not a pacer but a leg bouncer who did something similar. When I was young I figured out how to give myself foot cramps so I didn’t have to get yelled at for the bouncing. Still do it periodically just for the sensation.