Got picked on for possible stim maybe...

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Basically one of the things I do when nervous is prop one leg up on top of the other leg and shake my foot to an extreme amount, I just can't help it.

Anyway, today I was doing this downstairs of my apartment complex and a man said "If you put your foot in the water behind a boat, the boat would go faster" and then he just walked off. He's a mean guy in the first place, but that really hurt for some reason...

Like, I also pick at my nails BADLY and move my legs in and out and sometimes rock. People don't seem to understand these movements and it upsets me, good things to say to them?

As a kid I got busted for sucking my thumb behind a playset. Around 3rd grade. I told him I was just picking my nose. So much for quick thinking.

As for what to say to this guy? Um.... Your wife sure enjoys it?

nevermind

It may have been a smart ass observation on his part but I'm not sure it was intentionally cruel - unless he does that sort of thing all the time. All sorts of people have nervous ticks and it seems most people just point them out to break the ice or to just acknowledge your nervousness. The majority of people don't know what a stim is.

On the phone, I pace. When intensely focused or nervous I hair twirl. And when sitting and watching tv I full on braid my entire head. In line at the store, I rock. I did get called out on that once by a very nice woman. She pointed out she could always tell the mothers in line because they rock side to side like I do even long after their kids are grown. After that, I paid alot more attention to other people's nervous habits and found that lots of people do lots and lots of little quirky things - maybe not for the same reasons, but they are there.

Come back lines:
It's freezing out here! (giving a reason he can understand)
So much for my poker face. ( playful and engaging)
Gee thanks, I would never have noticed. ( very sarcastic)
Wow, that was rude. ( I use that alot - careful, it will not make you friends!)