Billie Eilish shares how she suppresses Tourette's Syndrome tics 'constantly'
Billie Eilish opened up about her experience with Tourette's Syndrome, including how she suppresses tics while on camera.
The Grammy-winning singer, on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast, shared that she experiences vocal tics. According to the Mayo Clinic, tics are sudden, brief, intermittent movements or sounds.
"Luckily for me and for everyone else, they're (tics) mostly just noises, and I can keep them pretty quiet. I go through phases of words becoming tics," Billie said.
The 24-year-old artist then went on to share that she suppresses her tics when she's doing interviews.
"I'm doing everything in my power to suppress all of my tics constantly and then as soon as I leave the room, I have to let them all out with whatever."
Bille also shared her thoughts on people's misunderstandings of Tourette's Syndrome, which she was diagnosed with when she was 11.
“Imagine those intrusive thoughts but your mouth has to say them out loud—and that is Tourette syndrome," she said.
“What’s troubling about the way that people do not understand what Tourette’s is, if I start having a tic attack or a lot of tics in a row, people are like, ‘Are you OK?’ This is very much normal," the singer continued.
She added that her tics appear in different ways, like through her knees and elbows. "Because I'm on camera, and I'm having a conversation and I'm trying not to be distracting. I'm really doing—this whole time, as much fun as I'm having—I'm doing everything I can to suppress every single tic that's visible. That's how we people with Tourette's pretty much spend our days," Billie said, while also acknowledging that some people can't control their tics.
Tourette's Syndrome is a neurological disorder that may cause repetitive involuntary movements and sounds. Its exact cause is unknown, but it's likely caused by genetic and environmental factors, as per the Mayo Clinic.