For people who find it challenging to sit still, fidget toys can come in various formats (such as cubes, spinners, and balls). Toys such as these are widely used to alleviate stress and anxiety, despite the lack of large-scale scientific evidence to the contrary.
Fidget toys promise to help alleviate restlessness which is on the rise globally.
Anxiety and fear are persistent companions of GAD sufferers. Certain people may be on edge or restless, and their daily activities, such as work or school, may be affected by this. For some people, fidget toys might help alleviate these sensations of worry.
Research into whether or not fidget toys might help alleviate anxiety is currently ongoing.
Do fidgeting toys work?
Many studies have examined the effects of fidget toys on people with ADHD, anxiety, autism, and other learning and concentration disorders. Some data suggests that fidget toys may alter people’s fine motor control skills, which produce slight, exact movements. Despite this, conclusions in these sectors remain unproven.
A 2018 study found that fidget toys can improve motor control skills in 81 participants.
Each participant took part in one of three experiments: one in which they could not move their fidget spinner at all, one in which they could. Before and after the trial, each person drew a spiral on a computer tablet. They couldn’t rely on anything but direct pen-to-tablet communication for support.
Both the experimental and control groups improved, although the improvement in the experimental group was more pronounced. However, the researchers were only able to look at the short-term effects of this good influence.
Scientists discovered that fidgeting in most situations is a form of stress relief, and they found that fidgeting is associated with stress. Fidget toys seem to provide a physical outlet as an anxiety treatment.
What’s the deal with fidget toys?
Some people find that moving, whirling, or manipulating objects soothes or calms them down. In the case of OCD, for example, repetitive acts like twisting one’s hair or picking one’s cuticles can provide a sense of relief.
Repetitive actions seem to calm worries.
Even though it can bring temporary relief, this response may not help alleviate some of the long-term symptoms of worry. Treatments for OCD include exposure therapy, which exposes patients to anxiety-inducing situations. Using this method, they learn to confront the source of their anxiety and quit engaging in obsessive behaviors.
Fidgeting can activate areas of the brain associated with attention in some people. As a kind of stress relief, it is possible to engage in habitual movements. Fidgeting may have varied effects on different people, but some study has shown that it is more beneficial for men in stressful situations.
Fidget toys, such as spinners and cubes, are promoted as stress relievers and focus boosters. Research paints the opposite picture. In a 2018 study involving 60 children with ADHD, fidget spinners were found to decrease activity, distract youngsters, and lessen their attentiveness to their surroundings.
Spinners can be a distraction since they involve movement and fidgeting distracting. Other studies have shown that inadvertent fidgeting may aid in concentration. There is currently no proof that fidget toys have a positive impact on children’s attention span.
There aren’t enough studies showing that fidget spinners reduce anxiety. Therefore the additional research is needed.
Types of Fidget Toys
Anxiety sufferers might find relief from their symptoms using a variety of fidget toys. It’s possible to categorize them into the following:
- Squeezable stress balls
- Fidget spinners
- Playdough or putty
- Chewable pendants or straws
- Sensory diffusers
- Fidget cubes
Toys for each of the five senses can also be purchased. Olfactory, oral and tactile toys can all be found in this category.
There are many fidget toys on the market that claim to alleviate stress and boost focus. There is no solid evidence that these toys function for all children.
Consult a physician or mental health professional to determine what media could be best for you.
Empowering Knowledge
Decisions based on knowledge rather than speculation provide true and lasting benefits.
Anxiety treatment options that don’t include medication.
Psychiatrists and authors have been describing anxiety since the late 18th century. Since then, psychiatrists and therapists have treated many forms of stress, each requiring a particular therapeutic technique.
Researchers have not yet demonstrated the effectiveness of fidget spinners as a therapy method. Instead, clinicians employ the following techniques to treat anxiety:
- Developing Stress Management Techniques
- Developing Deep Breathing Skills
- Learning Guided Meditation
- Changing Diet Away from Calorie-Dense foods to Nutrient-Dense foods.
- Incorporating Exercise Into Daily Activities
- Practicing Mindfulness
- Using Counseling Therapy
A competent licensed health care provider is your best resource for determining the best course of treatment. Medications may not be necessary if a person can control their symptoms through counseling or psychotherapy.