Dealing with Tics and Shame: How to Cope

Ignore people who shame you. It's not anything you can control

One thing that makes me feel a bit better about my tics is that Billie eilish has them

Firstly, I'm sorry he did that to you. I don't understand why others don't get that the tics cannot be helped. That being said while suppression isn't recommended at all, perhaps try redirection. I usually tap my fingers together rapidly as a way of redirecting my tics. It doesn't always work but it does lessen the severity of them.

I find solace in knowing that the only thing I have control over is my own emotions. I do not have control over anyone else and how they’d react to my tics, and thus I don’t really concern myself with those who react negatively. Tourette’s is in large part about acceptance, and that can come from surrounding yourself by those who accept your neurodivergence. Stay strong!!

Repressing tics takes up a lot of energy, and the reality is that you can't repress them forever, and doing so typically just makes them worse. I'd be lying if I said I never repress mine (I'll attempt to quiet them or repress them until I can leave the room in places like theaters and libraries), but it's best not to do it all the time. In this situation, I personally would attempt to educate your dad on your condition and the fact that you don't at all choose to tic. Also, if you continue to have them around your dad (don't deliberately trigger them, obviously) you may find that he starts to get used to them over time; this doesn't really happen if you constantly repress them.

My mom used to get mad/annoyed by my tics. But the worst thing you can do is suppress them. As much as we don't like it, our tics are a part of us. And we shouldn't feel ashamed of them. ❤️