Ok, so we are now in Tourettes Awarness month. I regularly chat to people on here and other forums, in real life and day to day about Tourettes Syndrome, and still people think it is something to be scared of, laugh at or mock. I and many others try and support and educate parents and other people affected by TS.
People on here and elsewhere regularly use tourettes as an alternative word for swearing, people still think tourettes jokes are amusing and fine to be published all over social media sites in a way that no other disability or condition would be. People fear tourettes and if their child is showing tics desperately try to find any other diagnosis it could be. I can understand the fear - It is almost impossible for me to leave the house without someone imitating or mocking my tics but it doesn't have to be this way.
Tourettes is a lifelong and complex condition, yes some children do outgrow tourettes, but many do not. It is a whole spectrum from very mild to very severe. Some people's tics are so mild it causes almost no impact in their lives. Others are so severe it makes even the most basic functioning impossible. ADHD, OCD, depression and anxiety are some of the conditions that often come with tourettes, in lots of cases it is these that cause as much or more difficulties than the tics. Swearing only affects 10 - 15 % with tourettes and when it does it is rarely as portrayed by the media. Motor tics are movement and can be anything from head shaking, blinking, jumping, waving arms, nodding, touching, grimacing and many more. Vocal tics include coughing, popping, clicking sounds, animal noises, stuttering, repeating phrases, shouting words or sentences, whistling, grunting and many more. They come and go and change frequently, some days can be lots of tics, some days less, this can lead to kids being accused of putting it on, or faking it, they certainly are not. I believe no one could fake tourettes long enough to get a diagnosis of it, and why whould they want to?! People with tics often learn to disguise some Tics or surpress them - but they always need to be let out at some time and are often worse when been surpressed and can cause you to feel ill. People living with severe tourettes often go through many different medications to try and find one to reduce the tics, these can come with many side effects. Is no cure for Tourette's syndrome.
Tics can be painful physiclally, humiliating, exhausting and isolating, and it is my passion to educate others so the children and teenagers with tourettes live in a more accepting world.
So please, if you are angry and are swearing then please don't say your having a 'Tourette's moment' , if you see someone ticcing please don't mock them, or pull your children away as if we were infectious, don't share 'jokes' about tourettes as all this reinforces the stereotypes and makes life that little bit harder for someone who already is having a difficult time.
