Tic Talk
How would you feel if you weren’t always in control of your own body and, at times, it was impossible to know what words would come out of your mouth? People with Tourette Syndrome know this feeling well.
Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder that typically begins in adolescence and can continue for the rest of a person’s life. Tourette’s causes tics, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, are “sudden, brief, intermittent movements or sounds.” There are a wide variety of tics ranging from mild to severe. Some people might have quick, uncontrolled blinking, while others might make obscene gestures or statements. There is no known cure for Tourette’s and there is no specific cause.
This all may seem very grim to know that as many as 1% of kids have a disorder that manifests itself in actions and vocalizations that are very difficult to live with. But, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of an entertaining YouTube channel called “Tourettes Teen” where Ryleigh shares videos of her life with TS. With comedy and candor, Ryleigh displays the hardship and the humanity of those afflicted by this neurological disorder.
One of her most popular videos is “TOURETTES vs EGG”. At first glance, this video might seem self-deprecating to the point where it might be sad. This is because she has such difficulty accomplishing simple tasks like holding or cracking an egg. But, after watching the video for a while, you come to realize that this video is a coping mechanism. She can provide levity for herself and for her viewers by poking fun at her disorder.
“Any noticeable tic disorder is…going to be potentially a stigma,” Sue Hagerman, the psychologist for the Windsor Central Supervisory Union School District, explains. With a tic disorder comes disruption and uncomfortable situations that many people find hard to deal with. But, as Hagerman puts it, “the community needs some education.” In other words, to effectively cope with Tourette’s, the community needs to understand their role: ignoring tics.
Many tics can be disruptive, annoying, or offensive, but it is the role of communities to understand that these spasms are unintentional and impersonal. With her YouTube Channel, Ryleigh is engaging the world in a humorous conversation about this disorder.
On top of teaching the broader community about Tourette’s, Ryleigh is speaking to those with Tourette’s specifically. She is embracing her disorder through comedy and is showing those afflicted with TS that it is not as debilitating as they might think.
Hagerman says that people with Tourette’s must “separate [their] self-image from the disorder” and understand that it is not their fault. They are not to blame for accidentally throwing four eggs simultaneously. If you have Tourette’s you should, in the words of Ms. Hagerman, “own your thing” and, as Ryleigh shows us, have fun in the process.