K.E. Semmel grew up in the 1980s in a small town where Tourette syndrome was unfamiliar. He struggled with various tics, including head jerks, snorts, grunts, and throat clearing, feeling the need to hide them due to shame and secrecy. Eventually, after a car accident, he was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome to his shock and relief.
Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder that manifests in motor and/or vocal tics. Semmel, as a teenager, was exposed to a misconstrued portrayal of the condition on TV. He experienced embarrassment and shame due to his tics, leading him to develop strategies to hide them and blend in with his peers.
Although there is no cure for Tourette syndrome, treatments such as medication, behavioral therapy, and psychotherapy can help manage the symptoms. Semmel learned to cope by suppressing his tics in public, while allowing them to surface in private. He hopes to normalize tic disorders through his writing and raise awareness to reduce stigma.
