Notice Your Need to Fidget
Stimming, short for self-stimulation, is a common behavior for most folks but a more frequent habit for people with ADHD. This might look like chronic hair twisting, finger drumming, or knee bouncing, among other things. For most, it happens in a state of hyperfocus or boredom. Some people stim to manage anxiety or sensory overwhelm. There’s nothing wrong with the need to stim, but bringing mindfulness to the habit can be a stress management exercise that also helps you understand why you stim, and if there’s something else going on that needs addressing.
A Mindfulness Practice for Working with ADHD and Anxiety
Try this 10-minute practice to explore any anxiety you may be feeling and how you tend to react to it.
What’s Your Name?
Narrative psychotherapy uses something called “externalizing” to remind us we’re not the problem—the problem is the problem. This is done by naming the problem and talking to and about the problem as if it were something external from you. Along with deep, mindful breathing, this practice can help you to regulate your emotions when you feel that big emotions and struggles with executive functioning seem to define who you are.
A Mindfulness Practice to Help Regulate Emotions
You can take about 10 minutes for this practice.
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Sue Hutton October 13, 2020
Sue Hutton October 8, 2020
Andres Gonzalez August 9, 2022
