Tourette Syndrome
Tips, Tricks, Support and News all about TS
What is Tourettes?
Neurological
Tourettes is a neurological condition which means it is in the brain and is thought to be a difference in how the brain is wired which causes brain signals to misfire resulting in involuntary movements and sounds called Tics
Not what we're thinking
Tics are sometimes thought to be just a lack of filter or intrusive thoughts being said out loud. This is not the case, tics are not based on what a person thinks or believes and although they can be "triggered" by your surroundings and thoughts making them situational they don't reflect exactly
Not just swearing
The most common stereotype we find is often related to coprolalia - the socially inappropriate or obscene tics. This only actually affects 10-15% of people with TS
Involuntary
Tics are entirely involuntary and although they can be "suppressed" or "held in" they aren't a choice or a conscious action but rather a brain signal which fires when it isn't supposed to.
Not "Bad Parenting"
Tourettes isn't a result of "bad parenting" or just a "naughty child" and putting this shame on parents and children can cause shame and guilt for something that is out of our control
Nothing to be ashamed about!
Tourettes is a disability which for a lot of people means that it impairs daily life and how we function. We can be frustrated at our TS but still be proud to be who we are
Tourettes is not Rare!
The statistic 1 in 100 school children seems to come up quite often and that's because Tourette Syndrome is so much more common than people think.
Because TS presents differently for everyone, someone you know could have it without you realising. For some it is more obvious but that's why its described as a spectrum!