I Swear - Netflix
After some cajoling from a friend I watched the Netflix film about John Davidson. I've met John a couple of times through Tourettes Action. All I've ever thought of him is that he is a lovely, caring, sensitive man who truly helps those of us in the Tourettes community. I have seen the documentaries made about him in the past. I still feel that they're exploitative of him and his condition. John is highlighted in the media (like the recent Bafta controversy) because of the swearing, the spitting, the hitting people. Many of us with Tourette Syndrome don't have those tics. Mine are my jumpy skippy thing, the face gurning and my occasional vocal tic which is more like a growl. I don't swear etc.
Anywoo - the film is very touching. I never knew he'd tried to kill himself as a teenager. 😭 I know he was severely beaten up by some guys after he said something inappropriate to a girl. Those are excellently portrayed and tear inducing. If you know nothing or think you do about Tourette Syndrome watch it if it is available. I am reluctantly agreeing that it's a worthwhile watch despite my misgivings about it exploiting John again.
I took my Level 7 exam this week. It was near my university in London. Because of my condition I was given a maximum time of 4 hours rather than 3 and was sat at the back of the hall a few rows back from the others taking exams that day. Firstly that meant all eyes are forward, not looking at me, so if I get stressed and start to tic then I'm not conscious of others looking at me making it worse and if I growl (I didn't) it would be less offputting for anyone close to me. I had my chew with me - a necklace with a plastic piece on it I clamp in my mouth if stressed. It helps esp stopping the growling.
In the end I wasn't too bad - some leg kicking out and twitching and face pulling as I first read through the paper but once I was "on task" it was better like it always is. In the end I was just finishing my read through as time was called for the others. So I attracted the invigilator over and left at the back of the whole cohort.
There was another woman there, bit younger than me who I met at a weekend workshop back in the summer when I started this course. She said "Boy I need a drink!" I laughed and explained I don't drink but she didn't know that bit of London so I took her to my work local. A couple of my team were in there (typically) and it was nice to unwind with a sandwich and a coffee while they started to get merry. The woman asked why I was at the back on my own and my colleague said "That'll be because of her jumping about".🤦🏼♀ It did make me laugh though how people accept something for years I was so conscious of.
Anywoo - the film is very touching. I never knew he'd tried to kill himself as a teenager. 😭 I know he was severely beaten up by some guys after he said something inappropriate to a girl. Those are excellently portrayed and tear inducing. If you know nothing or think you do about Tourette Syndrome watch it if it is available. I am reluctantly agreeing that it's a worthwhile watch despite my misgivings about it exploiting John again.
I took my Level 7 exam this week. It was near my university in London. Because of my condition I was given a maximum time of 4 hours rather than 3 and was sat at the back of the hall a few rows back from the others taking exams that day. Firstly that meant all eyes are forward, not looking at me, so if I get stressed and start to tic then I'm not conscious of others looking at me making it worse and if I growl (I didn't) it would be less offputting for anyone close to me. I had my chew with me - a necklace with a plastic piece on it I clamp in my mouth if stressed. It helps esp stopping the growling.
In the end I wasn't too bad - some leg kicking out and twitching and face pulling as I first read through the paper but once I was "on task" it was better like it always is. In the end I was just finishing my read through as time was called for the others. So I attracted the invigilator over and left at the back of the whole cohort.
There was another woman there, bit younger than me who I met at a weekend workshop back in the summer when I started this course. She said "Boy I need a drink!" I laughed and explained I don't drink but she didn't know that bit of London so I took her to my work local. A couple of my team were in there (typically) and it was nice to unwind with a sandwich and a coffee while they started to get merry. The woman asked why I was at the back on my own and my colleague said "That'll be because of her jumping about".🤦🏼♀ It did make me laugh though how people accept something for years I was so conscious of.
