The Quiet Movements No One Talks About

ReflectionStudent

Jan 30

Understanding ADHD Stimming in the Fire & EMS World

You’re sitting in class.

Your leg won’t stop bouncing.

You twist your pen. Click it. Spin it. Tap it.
You rub your thumb against the seam of your glove.
You pace in the bay longer than necessary.
You chew the inside of your cheek during report.

And somewhere in the back of your mind, you think:

Why can’t I just sit still like everyone else?

Let’s slow this down.

That movement?
That tapping?
That quiet, almost automatic rhythm your body creates?

That’s called stimming.

And for many ADHD students, responders, and officers — it’s not a flaw.

It’s regulation.

What Is Stimming?

Stimming (self-stimulatory behavior) is a repetitive movement or sound the body uses to regulate the nervous system.

For ADHD, it’s rarely dramatic.
It’s often subtle.
Sometimes invisible unless you’re looking for it.

In the firehouse or classroom, it might look like:

Leg bouncing under the table
Pen clicking or spinning
Tapping fingers on the counter
Shifting weight repeatedly while standing
Pacing during downtime
Adjusting gear repeatedly
Cracking knuckles
Humming quietly
Playing with radio cords or hoodie strings
Re-reading the same line while rocking slightly

Not because you’re bored.

Not because you’re disrespectful.

Because your nervous system is trying to balance itself.

The Purpose of Stimming

Stimming isn’t random. It serves a function.

For the ADHD brain, stimulation is currency.
When the environment provides too little — or too much — your body creates its own rhythm.

Stimming can help with:

1. Increasing Focus

In low-stimulation environments (lectures, meetings, paperwork), small movements provide just enough input to help your brain stay online.

That pen clicking?
It may be the reason you’re actually listening.

2. Releasing Excess Energy

On high-adrenaline jobs, your body ramps up.
After the call? That energy doesn’t disappear immediately.

Pacing. Shaking out your hands. Adjusting gear.
It’s your nervous system discharging.

3. Managing Anxiety

Before a scenario.
During a skills test.
Waiting for promotion results.

The repetitive motion becomes an anchor. Something predictable. Something controlled.

4. Regulating Overstimulation

Stations are loud.
Classrooms are fluorescent.
Radios crackle. Tones drop.

When your system is overloaded, small repetitive movements help ground you.

Stimming is often the body saying:

“I’m trying to stay steady.”

When Stimming Happens

You’ll usually notice it in three environments:

1. Under-Stimulation

Long lectures. Reports. Downtime at the station.

Your brain searches for input.

2. Over-Stimulation

Multi-patient scenes. Loud bays. Busy shift changes.

Your system searches for regulation.

3. Emotional Activation

Conflict with a coworker.
Critical feedback.
High-pressure evaluations.

Your body tries to discharge stress.

The key insight?

Stimming isn’t always about distraction.
It’s often about stability.

The Shame Layer

Many ADHD responders learn early to hide it.

You tuck your leg behind the chair.
You grip your hands tight so they don’t move.
You stop pacing because someone called you “antsy.”

And now you’re using energy not just to focus — but to mask.

That double load is exhausting.

The goal isn’t to stim loudly or disruptively.
The goal is to understand what your body is doing — and why.

Awareness reduces shame.

When Stimming Becomes a Problem

Stimming only becomes an issue when:

It interferes with patient care
It distracts teammates
It becomes physically harmful (skin picking, nail biting to injury)
It replaces emotional processing instead of supporting it

In those cases, the solution isn’t “just stop.”

It’s replacement.

Healthier anchors. Quieter regulation strategies.

Field-Appropriate Regulation Strategies

If you’re in Fire or EMS and want functional regulation tools, try:

A small textured object in your pocket
Pressing boots firmly into the ground before report
Controlled breathing paired with subtle hand pressure
Taking structured movement breaks
Using a pen you can rotate silently instead of click
Stretching forearms between calls
Chewing gum during lectures (if appropriate)

You don’t need to eliminate movement.
You need to channel it intentionally.

For Officers & Instructors

If a student is tapping, pacing, or shifting — pause before labeling it as inattentive.

Ask yourself:

Are they actually missing information?
Or are they regulating?

Many high-performing ADHD responders look restless while fully engaged.

Correction without understanding can accidentally remove the very tool that helps them focus.

The better approach?

“Hey — if you need to stand in the back to focus, that’s fine. Just stay engaged.”

That one sentence builds trust.

Reflective Pause

If you stim, ask yourself:

When does it happen most?
Is it during boredom, stress, or overload?
What happens if I try to suppress it?
What small, professional adjustment could make it functional instead of shameful?

Stimming is data.

Your body is communicating.

The Quiet Reframe

In a culture that values stillness as discipline, movement can look like weakness.

But sometimes the responder who bounces their leg…
Is the one whose brain is working the hardest to stay steady.

Sometimes the quiet tapping under the table
Is not distraction.