I live with Tourette Syndrome
Decided to write one of my rambling posts about my life that few if any will read. But the act of publicly putting it out there is the important bit for me.
I don't remember ever not having tics but being in my mother's chaotic environment and in and out of care homes means I was 17 when diagnosed.
I'd been arrested in Central London for public order offences. I was therefore stressed held in Charing Cross Police Station. Duty solicitor turned up and an interview was to start. I kept ticing which then mostly was me pulling a sort of gurning face (still a regular one) and my shoulders shrugged repeatedly.
But with the stress the noise one started. I growled basically. I couldn't stop and it was getting worse. Interview starts and copper thinks I'm being troublesome. Luckily the duty solicitor says "Katy can you stop these things or not?". I said not and I was discharged on bail pending medical reports. Inside five minutes in a room with a doctor a few weeks later she says "Tourette Sydrome". I thought it was only the swearing and hitting yourself characters that had that.
Over the years using behaviour therapy and particularly after I stopped drinking it's much more manageable. My most noticeable tic now Is I jump. I've never got rid of that one at all since it started.
This week is the start of a very busy, stressful time at work. I'd had two weeks off but that was busy with personal matters. Into a big meeting I led on Tuesday with loads of folks I've never met. I'm essentially lining up my expectations for them during this period.
I'm at the front. Stood up presenting. The jumping starts to increase. Then the facial tic I have always had when stressed happens.
Meeting breaks. One of my staff ask if I'm OK. I say "I have Tourette's and this is stressful". She just said "Tell everyone".
Something that for years and years and years I've been ashamed of and she's so accepting and encouraging.
Meeting reconvenes. I stand up and immediately jump. I say "Just so you know I have Tourette's and when stressed my tics show up. That little jump is my most common one".
A guy at the front just started to clap followed by the entire room.
I was overwhelmed and cried.
Big, big, big moment for me.
So hello I'm Katy recovering alcoholic and addict that lives with Tourette Syndrome.
Oh BTW after that throughout that meeting a few jumps but no other tics at all. 😁
I don't remember ever not having tics but being in my mother's chaotic environment and in and out of care homes means I was 17 when diagnosed.
I'd been arrested in Central London for public order offences. I was therefore stressed held in Charing Cross Police Station. Duty solicitor turned up and an interview was to start. I kept ticing which then mostly was me pulling a sort of gurning face (still a regular one) and my shoulders shrugged repeatedly.
But with the stress the noise one started. I growled basically. I couldn't stop and it was getting worse. Interview starts and copper thinks I'm being troublesome. Luckily the duty solicitor says "Katy can you stop these things or not?". I said not and I was discharged on bail pending medical reports. Inside five minutes in a room with a doctor a few weeks later she says "Tourette Sydrome". I thought it was only the swearing and hitting yourself characters that had that.
Over the years using behaviour therapy and particularly after I stopped drinking it's much more manageable. My most noticeable tic now Is I jump. I've never got rid of that one at all since it started.
This week is the start of a very busy, stressful time at work. I'd had two weeks off but that was busy with personal matters. Into a big meeting I led on Tuesday with loads of folks I've never met. I'm essentially lining up my expectations for them during this period.
I'm at the front. Stood up presenting. The jumping starts to increase. Then the facial tic I have always had when stressed happens.
Meeting breaks. One of my staff ask if I'm OK. I say "I have Tourette's and this is stressful". She just said "Tell everyone".
Something that for years and years and years I've been ashamed of and she's so accepting and encouraging.
Meeting reconvenes. I stand up and immediately jump. I say "Just so you know I have Tourette's and when stressed my tics show up. That little jump is my most common one".
A guy at the front just started to clap followed by the entire room.
I was overwhelmed and cried.
Big, big, big moment for me.
So hello I'm Katy recovering alcoholic and addict that lives with Tourette Syndrome.
Oh BTW after that throughout that meeting a few jumps but no other tics at all. 😁
