But after a few minutes he started squirming in his chair, like a little kid who had to pee. He looked very jittery and uncomfortable. So I told the court reporter to stop recording, and asked Mr. Attorney "Are you okay? Do you need some water, or to use a restroom?"
He said: "No, but I really need to get something out of my briefcase". Me and the other lawyer said fine, so he went out to his briefcase and opened it.
He came back in a few seconds holding a large rubber band. He sat back down and began playing with it, twisting it back and forth between his fingers. After that he was fine and calm for the rest of the meeting.
11 comments:
At least it wasn't a fake cigarette.
Interesting he was using OT tools for his sensory issues.
You sure it wasn't a pair of steel balls that he twirled in his hand while he went on about the strawberries?
That's it. I am convinced as never before. There is truly not a day that goes by in which nothing weird (WEIRD!) goes on in your office. And since you don't sell tickets, I am eternally grateful for your blog. :)
I understand competely. I have my own nervous habit that if I couldn't do, I'd probably have a breakdown (ok thats an exaggeration). I fiddle with my earlobes when I talk. I have done it since I was a kid and I can tell you that stress energy goes out when I twiddle my ears. Can't explain it. I Just do it. So there, Grumpy, if you ever visit a pharmacy and see a pharmacist fiddling with her ears, you have seen the Pharmacy Chick...
WHAT does this guy do when he has to go to COURT???!!!
Get some friggin' Prozac.
Seriously, are you starting to make this shit up? It doesn't matter, it's funny as hell, but it possible for one person (who's not really does seem like it's not a psychiatrist) to have to deal with all these nutjobs.
HugeMD- No I'm not making this up.
But, like I've said, the majority of my posts are NOT timely. I wait from days to years before publishing, to protect privacy. I think most of us medical bloggers do. So even though I write in the present, that doesn't mean it is.
I have 15 years of notes that I draw from. This allows me to keep posting, even on days when crazies don't show up (which is rare). And the new ones go in the archives for future use.
My 9year old son is calm when he twirls a ribbon or string in his fingers. It's ok, and it doesn't hurt anyone. :-)
ADHD?
I can fully sympathize with the lawyer. I think it can have to do with being a kinesthetic learner. Sitting in classrooms or other places like that can be very difficult and yes, not having something to do with your hands can make those things torture. I HATE classroom settings and am not thrilled with any place I have to sit and just listen for long periods of time. A good way to be unobtrusive about it is to take lots of notes- keeps the hands busy. This lawyer just wasn't so smooth about it. He probably wouldn't have the same problem in court- there, he's standing up frequently, he's actively involved in the proceedings othewise. It's very different than just sitting listening.
Actually, it's a technique frequently recommended for those trying to quit some sort of habit, like smoking. Often people wear the rubberband on their wrist, to either play with or snap when they have cravings. It's supposed to work by helping them have something to take their attention away from the craving, and if snapped, it's supposed to associate negative experience with the cravings.
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