Gather around for a thread that's a bit difficult to talk about. But might help with awareness I think. Spurred by a conversation with a student I'm the advisee of. He has the same problem I do. On a similar (relatively small scale. Facial Tic Disorder.

I am prone to tics like blinking or twitching or stretching facial muscles. It's not "involuntary" as such. I can not do them. And 95% of the time if not more, I don't. But there are phases where that urge just gets overwhelming. And you just have to give in.

I've been dealing with this for as long as I can remember. Still have the memory of mom having me sit in front of the mirror at age 7 or 8 to "control" the blinking "habit" I had developed. Didn't help. Because it's hard to explain that it isn't about control.

It's like an itch inside your brain kinda... that usually won't go away unless you give in to the tic that's just come on.
My blinking as a little boy went away in a few days or weeks. But then something else would set in. Like stretching my jaw. Or moving my nose. Or or or.

Lest you think my face is like a rabbit's 24/7, it's not. That's why I said, relatively smaller scale. 95% or more of the time, I don't feel that tic urge. There are good days and bad. There are good hours and bad. Once it comes, it also varies in intensity.

I have lots of friends and other loved ones here on Twitter for whom this is not breaking news. Anyone who's met me or seen me in person has likely seen my tics at one time or another. Sometimes they may go days without seeing it. Sometimes every few minutes.

I have talked to multiple doctors about this over the years. Real doctors (not homeopaths) have consistently said
- it is not a symptom of something more serious
- there is no real cause or medication
- it is just something to accept, manage, and live with

The impact it's had on my life has not been super dire, at least I don't think it has. Been lucky to have friends and loved ones who ignore it. That's the best thing to do as a friend or colleague btw. Except for one friend (who to be fair has ADHD) and obsessively asks me....

... every time he sees it, for 15 years now, all other friends ignore it.
I am somehow less prone to it when teaching or during presentations or work meetings. Still happens sometimes. But it's never been disruptive enough to stop what I'm doing.

It's been much easier to deal with in the US than in India. Society in US is more polite, indifferent, minding their own business types. If I tweet a tic bout in the subway or on the street, 99% strangers ignore it. 1% might throw a couple of stares my way. But that's it.

In India, there is a lot more staring and questioning and "are you okay" and follow-ups. Not from a place of malice I'm sure. Perhaps people are asking or staring out of genuine concern. If you read this thread, hopefully you'll know better in the future.

Btw I can be a lot more zen about this now. That I am almost 40 with a happy marriage, great social life, close lifelong friends, and a career that's not only going good, but is a career that involves lots of public speaking.
But teens and college years, different story.

Was a constant source of shame, self-loathing, self-doubt, frustration in those dates. Wondering, did I not get that interview, job, admission, second date, party invitation because my stupid face and brain refuse to act "normal"? How do I "cure" this?

I remember once at age 21, I asked an older successful wise (I thought) friend for career advice. Was bored of engineering, thinking MBA or journalism or theater. Her advice was negative and tic-based! Said with your facial tics, you'll fail at it all. Best to get a cubicle job.

"you write CAT and you go in for an IIM GD or interview and you twitch... they will throw you out. Trust me, best thing for you is software or circuit design"
Thankfully I went for it anyway. I remember giving in to tics in the interview a couple of times. Made it anyway.

No hard feelings about that friend's advice btw. She meant well. And she was a 24 yr old advising a 21 year old.
But best thing you can do as a friend or even acquaintance.. Ignore it. Don't ask if they're okay, don't offer unsolicited advice or diagnosis. Just ignore it.

And fellow facial tic prone folks, remember, it is a legit recognized disorder. Sure, it is much lower on the seriousness scale, but try not to feel ashamed or guilty or conscious. You do you the best way you can. I'm sure you having coping mechanisms like I do.

End of thread. Feel free to ask any questions you might have. I'm not a medical doctor though. But have read and researched and discussed this extensively for decades.

P.S. eeks, typo in the very first tweet. I'm the student's advisor. The student is the advisee.