David Sedaris and his “Plague of Tics”

David Sedaris' "Plague of Tics" unveils his OCD tendencies and their impact on both himself and those in his life. I can empathize with Sedaris as I discovered a shared connection between our perspectives and past experiences while reading the essay. Although his household is accustomed to his peculiar habits, they don't fret and instead tease him, believing that he intentionally practices these tics. Furthermore, his teachers make it a point to meet with Sedaris' mother every year due to his unique routines.

During every conference, Mrs. Sedaris lightens the mood by offering the teachers drinks, starting with scotch and moving on to sherry, while also entertaining them with exaggerated stories about her son's actions. As Sedaris grows older, his customs continue to expand, including touching, counting, rocking, self-injury, eye-rolling, violent head shaking, and even hearing small voices.

College brings a bittersweet change for Sedaris, as it becomes more difficult to make excuses for his tics and he can no longer practice them in private. However, he takes up the more socially acceptable habit of smoking cigarettes, which eases his mind about his tics. Although some may find Sedaris' unusual OCD behaviors and characteristics difficult to comprehend, reading his essay "Plague of Tics" made me reflect on my own actions, as someone with a milder case of OCD.

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Sedaris' OCD forced him to come to a certain compromise with his identity, leaving him feeling trapped, like anyone else with a disability they cannot control.

Sedaris was often perceived as abnormal by the public, and I sympathized with him since even his family failed to take his disorder seriously. Instead of offering support, his mother was consistently sarcastic about his condition and believed that he would eventually outgrow it. His father even went so far as to threaten him if he continued with his rituals. They never comprehended the reasons behind his actions and instead made him feel like an outcast because he was different.

In my opinion, Sedaris never truly lived or loved because he allowed the thoughts and judgments of others to shape the person he could have been. Instead of working to overcome his daily struggles, he chose to prioritize social acceptance, putting himself in danger by smoking cigarettes to avoid performing his rituals. Sedaris wanted to be seen as a smoker rather than being categorized as someone with OCD and falling into the minority. The way Sedaris' mindset and the reactions of others affected him reminded me of similar situations I have experienced, and reading "Plague of Tics" provided a sense of comfort.

Since I was young, I have had peculiar habits that bother me if I do not fulfill them. One of my rituals is locking my car door. Once I exit the car, I repeatedly lock the doors until it feels right, sometimes pulling the handle up to 15 times. This habit is not limited to my car, but also extends to my house or dorm room. I pull the door handle so hard to ensure it is locked, and while others may become annoyed, I continue until it feels right.

Additionally, when I try to retrieve something from my bag, particularly my purse, I must check and recheck every important item to confirm it is there. This is a time-consuming ritual, as I count to five in my head multiple times for each object. My mind cannot rest until I have confirmed that the object is still in the same place. If I possess a valuable or important document, I must stare at it until I can convince myself that it is still present.

Sometimes, I even seek confirmation from close friends to put my mind at ease faster. I understand that these behaviors are strange, but I experience anxiety if I do not follow these routines. Although these habits provide me with temporary ease, they also generate anxiety and frustration. While I am unsure why or when these customs began, I have noticed that the more I fulfill them, the more severe they become. Although I may be able to control these traditions to a certain extent, in reality, I cannot, and this exacerbates my anxiety.

I try to keep my OCD habits hidden from others because I don't want them to judge me as weird, just like Sedaris. I value having control and assurance, but lately, it seems like my tics have taken control of me instead of the other way around. David Sedaris' essay sheds light on the challenges of living with OCD. As I read "Plague of Tics," I felt a strong connection with Sedaris, as many of his actions and feelings reflected my own experiences. While some may view his behavior as abnormal, who decides what is considered normal?

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