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.

[–] sumsinj@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

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

[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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?

[–] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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.

[–] dil@piefed.zip 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I stopped doing it because the marks stopped fading, now im just back to tweaking internally

[–] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

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.

[–] Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] Simon_Shitewood@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

I do, but I'm also AuDHD so it's not really useful information.

[–] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

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.