Finding My Voice Through Storytelling

Posted Mon 20th Oct 2025 at 11:32
by Paul Stevenson

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Why I Wrote 'My Tics and Me'

Growing up, I didn’t have the words or understanding to explain why I did the things I did. I was that fidgety, noisy kid who was often told off for being “disruptive” or “not trying hard enough”. In reality, I had Tourette syndrome, ADHD, OCD, and sensory processing differences, but back then no one knew what that meant.

It took me until adulthood to finally receive a diagnosis, and while that brought clarity, it also made me reflect deeply on how different life could have been if people had understood earlier. If my teachers, classmates, and even I had been educated about Tourette’s, it might have replaced confusion and shame with understanding and kindness.

That is what inspired me to write My Tics and Me.

The book follows Jamie, a young boy who discovers that his tics don’t make him strange or broken, they make him who he is. It is a story told with warmth and gentle rhyme, designed to help children understand Tourette syndrome in a way that feels simple, honest, and hopeful. It also helps children with tics see themselves represented in a positive light, something I never had growing up.

I believe early education is vital. Children are naturally curious and open-minded, and if we give them the right language and understanding early on, they grow up to be more compassionate adults. Awareness at a young age helps reduce stigma, encourages inclusion, and builds empathy in classrooms and playgrounds before misconceptions take root.

My hope is that My Tics and Me opens up conversations between parents and children, teachers and pupils, and within families who might be walking a similar path. I want children with tics to feel proud of who they are, and for their peers to see that difference is something to celebrate, not to fear.

It is also a way for me to give back to the Tourette’s community that has supported me so much. If this book helps just one child feel seen or one adult better understand a young person with tics, then it has done its job.

You can purchase My Tics and Me directly here. by emailing me at  MyTicsandMeSeries@outlook.com

Thank you to Tourettes Action for continuing to raise awareness and support families across the UK. Together, we can make sure every child feels accepted for who they are.

Paul Stevenson

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