8 "odd" behaviors autistic people think are normal

Key Wellness / Self-Regulation Strategies Mentioned

• Skin picking as self-regulation (stimming)

  • Picking scabs, nails, hair, or skin can feel soothing and regulating—especially under your nails.
  • The speaker emphasizes this isn’t autism-exclusive, though it’s common in autistic/ADHD populations.

• Repetitive sensory behaviors for calming

  • Repeating noises back (echoing sounds or looping them)
  • Loving/rubbing textures (blankets, sheets, bedding, fabric)
  • These are framed as stimming behaviors that can be soothing and regulating.

• Quoting movies/shows as a supportive pattern

  • Replaying dialogue or quotes (often in the “right” context) is described as hard to stop and part of repetitive behavior.
  • Presented as something that can feel normal or automatic.

• Need for predictability (reducing anxiety through routine)

  • Choosing the same routes, same seats, or repeating the same way of doing things because it creates stability and expectation.
  • “Predictive dynamics” are described as a core comfort need.

• Using water (visual/auditory/tactile regulation)

  • Watching fountains, the ocean, rivers, or lakes; listening to water sounds.
  • Framed as soothing regulating input across multiple senses (visual, auditory, tactile).

• Managing social impact of facial expression (“RBF” / resting face)

  • The video discusses a “resting face” that can be misunderstood by others.
  • Wellness angle: recognizing it as a non-intentional baseline others may misread, reducing shame or self-blame.

• Correcting errors as a mental control strategy

  • “Syntax/vocabulary police” behavior internally or externally—correcting words/messages as they’re processed.
  • Paired with bluntness, which can be misinterpreted as unkind even if intended as accurate or inquisitive.

• Crying/meltdowns as emotional + sensory dysregulation signals

  • Being a “crier” or having meltdowns is linked to overwhelming sensory dynamics and difficulty regulating mood.
  • Adult coping may change outward behavior, but the underlying intensity is described as similar.

Self-Acceptance / Reframing Takeaway

• The speaker repeatedly emphasizes that these behaviors don’t automatically mean someone is autistic—but they are common among autistic people.
• A key wellness message is normalizing and validating that these patterns can be part of regulation and self-management rather than “weirdness” or failure.

Presented List of the 8 Behaviors (As Described)

1. Skin picking (self-regulation)
2. Repeating noises back and rubbing textures (stimming/soothing)
3. Quoting movie/show dialogue (repetitive behavior)
4. Strict need for predictability (routes/seats/consistent patterns)
5. Watching water (visual/auditory/tactile regulation)
6. Resting face / “RBF” (misunderstood baseline expression)
7. Correcting others’ errors (language/text corrections; “police” framing) and often bluntness
8. Crying and meltdowns (emotional + sensory dysregulation)

Presenters / Sources

• Dr. (Licensed Clinical Psychologist) — the speaker in the video
• Book (Barnes & Noble listing) — not named explicitly in the subtitles
• DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) — referenced as context for autism presentations
• Barnes & Noble — referenced for discounts/pre-order (store/premium memberships)