Fidget toys that you can spin, click or toggle, and which are now becoming a rage, are said to help those with Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) focus better. But, do they really work? What are the other options that one can resort to, to calm oneself, and focus on the jobs at hand?
Aarathi Selvan, clinical psychologist, says that fidgeting is helpful only if the person is doing it with full awareness. “If a person is fidgety, it is an expression of restlessness or anxiety. So, if it is done without being conscious of it, it may just keep you in a restless state. Which is why, using a gadget or doodling will be helpful because you will then expend that energy by channelising it into a repetitive motion, which is calming. I think schools should take up mindful activities like breathing exercises,” she says.
Parul Khona, counsellor and psychotherapist
Parul Khona, counsellor and psychotherapist, shares a few more tricks. “If you’re in an important meeting or an interview, using a squishy ball or counting will help. I think fidget toys are a welcome move if a psychologist suggests, since they’re easily portable and hidden.”
Dr Shyam Bhatt, psychiatrist and mental wellness expert is sceptical, but positive. “There has not been substantial amount of study that says that fidgeting helps people with ADHD, but if psychologists, parents and the persons themselves find that using a fidget toy is helpful, it’s great,” he says.
