Talking about Tourette, school by school

Posted on January 17, 2013 by KatieD

Hey guys! If you have been following my posts, you know that I was diagnosed with tics when I was 7. Ever since then, I have been talking to my classes about it, even in college! I think it is so important to spread awareness of Tourette Syndrome.

Now, I know some of you might think that it is better to keep it in, or are afraid to tell others for being bullied or harassed, but you have to realize that you are only hurting yourself. I used to get so sick and tired of telling people about my tics person by person. It was humiliating and annoying, having people come up to me and say, why are you doing that? And having to explain it to every… single… person.

So my dad and I thought of telling my classmates about it the next year. It went fantastic. At first, he would only speak, because I was shy about it, but over time I began talking more and more about it. And now, in college, I do it all on my own!

Now, some of you might be wondering what we would do. Well, we would choose one day to go around to all of my classes and talk to the students. In grades 3-5, we would wait for each period and then go to the class. But in middle school we went around to my classes in my team (that was how we split up so many kids per grade — we were either in 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, or 6e). And in high school my dad would just wait in the guidance office with one of the guidance counselors who we were close with.

When going into the classroom, I would introduce myself and then tell them that I had Tourette and say what it was. My dad would then go on to talk about what it is like and some famous people such as Mozart and Tim Howard who had/have Tourette. The kids all found it very interesting. At the end, we would take questions. In college, I just go up to my classes and tell them about what it is.

The best way, I have found out, is to be open about it. You want people to learn about it and enlighten them on this disability.

It was actually pretty cool because recently, a friend of mine who is still in high school had a young man go to his school and talk about Tourette, and when asked how many people knew what Tourette was, he was able to raise his hand because of me. The man that had spoken was Marc Elliot. He had brought me home a book that Marc Elliot had written on his journey living with Tourette.

So you can do it, too! Do you have any questions for me?

Looking for chances to raise awareness!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by KatieD

Hey guys! It has been a while! I have been thinking a lot about wanting to raise more awareness of Tourette Syndrome, OCD and anxiety disorders. I have talked about it in some events, but I truly want to go places talking about it and raising awareness for it, as well as helping other people out by telling them my story and letting them know that there is hope.

I have always had this dream of touring the world, talking about it. I just want to help people out. If anyone knows anyone I could talk to to try and make this dream happen, please let me know!

COLLEGE WEEK: Tics and OCD not dampening my sophomore year!

Posted on September 10, 2012 by KatieD

EDITOR’S NOTE: Our first College Week a few weeks back was such a success, we’ve decided to have another one! Please enjoy posts through Friday about the college experiences of students with Tourette Syndrome!

Hey guys! I am back at college, first year behind me! Classes are going great, and I am loving all of my teachers so far. Ratemyprofessor.com is incredible with finding good teachers, and I definitely recommend that for kids who are going into college or already are in college.

Moving in was a rough day for me. My OCD acted up the earliest it ever had, around 12:30. Also, it didnt help that my tics weren’t the best, either. I had been trying to not eat at night, and I would chew gum so I wouldn’t go looking for food, but something in the gum made my tics worse. They are slowly getting better, but it’s still a struggle.

Anyways, moving in was rough for me, but I got through it. It’s always hard in the moment to think of anything else for me. My therapist said that I have purely obsessive OCD, where all I have are the thoughts, and the few compulsions I have are because of my thoughts. So I’m there, trying to concentrate on anything but my crazy OCD thoughts, and they’re just there — hitting me with little thoughts throughout the day.

I got through it, though, but it was hard. I was just so overwhelmed with everything that day that I couldn’t take it. Now, being here for almost a week, it’s been alot easier. I feel more comfortable here than ever before, especially because all of my friends are living on the same floor as I am. I had a lot of ups and downs freshman year, and now, being a sophomore, it’s a lot better.

I am loving my sophomore year, and my tics and OCD are not holding me back — just as they should not for you! Remember, your tics and OCD are only as strong as you let them be!

Difficulties growing up with OCD and Tourette Syndrome

Posted on August 9, 2012 by KatieD

Being diagnosed at the age of 7 with Tourette Syndrome was a challenge. Thankfully, though, my parents were so understanding and caring about it. They tried everything in their power to get me help and try to make things better. Finally, after a long struggle and battle with Tourette, they finally got better my senior year in high school.

Finally, I thought, life is going to be easier now. Boy, was I ever so wrong. Being diagnosed a little over a year ago with OCD has been a struggle. Mainly because with my parents being so accepting with my Tourette, it was a hard change when they didn’t accept my OCD. They didn’t even believe I had it!

After going to Dare to Dream, we met a wonderful woman named Sue Connors who helped my parents understand my OCD. Sadly, though, what they learned apparently was only temporary, because my father once again does not believe that I have it. My sister never believed it, and I’m praying to God that my mom still believes it — or will at least still be with me through the rough times when its hard for me to handle.

I don’t think she fully believes it either, but at least she’s there for me. My dad, on the other hand, does not believe that I have it. He just thinks that I have too much time on my hands, and that’s why it acts up. He thinks is exists because of certain events I had done that had ruined my summer — that that’s why I am having such difficulty.

And even worse, whenever I try to explain it to him, he winds up yelling at me. He just doesn’t get it, and I don’t know how to make him believe me. One of the reasons why I want to go back to college so much is because I will finally be around people who understand me and my OCD, and who love and accept me for it.

My roommate believes me and is there for me 100 percent of the time. Part of me just wants to get out of this house and just go back to college, where I am accepted and there’s no one to ride me about how I’m too much of a drama queen, or how I’m making things worse for myself, or how its my fault that my OCD acts up.

I just want to be somewhere where I’m accepted, and at school, I feel that way. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my parents, but its just frustrating because they don’t fully understand. Hopefully one day, they’ll understand, or maybe my OCD will just go away –who knows.

All I do know is that everything happens for a reason and there has to be a reason why this is all happening. If nothing happens in the end, at least I’m stronger from it.

Dare To Dream Conference was a total success!

Posted on May 23, 2012 by KatieD

Hey everyone! It was such a thrill getting to speak at and take part in the Dare To Dream Student Leadership Conference on Monday at Rutgers University. That is me above speaking, and I had such a blast! There were so many people there, including students, teachers and parents.

It was great of the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and the New Jersey Department of Education to put this event on. I am so thankful to them and want to make sure they know it!

I got to introduce the panel of speakers and speak a little bit myself, both in the beginning and at the end during the open mic session. Here is a little bit of what I shared:

As I was growing up, I’m not gonna lie, I remember days where my tics were so bad that I would be on the floor crying all day. My parents are incredible, they’ve always helped me through everything. My mom would hold me during those times and tell me everything is going to be OK. Some days I would be so exhausted that I would just lay in my bed and hope to God that everything would be OK.

Kids would stare at me, and that’s what got me the most. They were judging me, and they didn’t even know me. That’s what they thought of me in their heads. I thought it wasn’t going to get better, but it did. I went from my tics controlling me to me controlling my tics.

I still have days where I get frustrated, but now I’m able to calm myself down. Even if you break down every single time, it’s OK – it makes you stronger. Eventually, there will be that one time where you won’t break down because you will be strong.

That’s just a little bit of my story. There is so much more, and I am so blessed to be a college student now at Montclair State University — just finished my freshman year! I hope any of you who attended the conference got as much out of it as I did.

And I hope that those of you who didn’t got a little taste of what it was like from reading my post. Just remember: Nothing is impossible for anyone, whether you have Tourette Syndrome, OCD or some other disorder. You have everything you need within you to succeed. Now go show the world!