2013: A year filled with Definite Possibilities

Come visit me on my Definite Possibilities website! Don’t know me? Here’s a little about me as we head into 2013:

I love to live an active life and explore. I am very passionate about helping others and I am currently in the process of putting together a fundraiser to raise money for Autism by cycling a marathon. The marathon is also being dedicated to my brother, who I am very close to and loves adventure and cycling. Unfortunately, at times, his “gift” prevents him from participating. In addition to that I am writing a book on anti-bullying.

I am a complete goofball, dorky and passionate — old-fashioned to a certain degree. I laugh every chance I get. I have a love for the outdoors and anything that involves me being around nature. Coffee. Campfires. A challenge. I love movies. Inspirational people.

New book chronicles turbulent teenage years with Tourette Syndrome

My book, “The Line, the Itch and the Rabbit Hole,” chronicles my experiences with Tourette Syndrome. I had my first tic at age 7 (a sniffling annoyance, dismissed as a “bad habit”) but wasn’t diagnosed with TS until I was 23.

My symptoms dried out through my early teenage years but worsened in my late teens after I spent a number of years experimenting with drugs and alcohol. After that, TS remained a constant in my life.

I didn’t tell anyone around me about the diagnosis, not just because it’s a heavily misunderstood illness and I didn’t want to deal with any explanations, but also because I naturally like to keep myself to myself.

With the publication of “The Line, the Itch and the Rabbit Hole,” I finally have a means of relaying that information to people around me, and while I put off doing that, I would really like to communicate with fellow sufferers to learn how they dealt with the illness and the stigma attached to it.

I also suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder, have spent numerous years addicted to drugs and alcohol (sober now) and spent some of my childhood in a psychiatric hospital after an “accidental suicide attempt.” All of these things are explained in the book, available from Amazon for just a $0.99 download!

Help me get my poetry published

Hello everyone! I am trying to get the poem I posted on Friday published. I hope that it can spread everywhere and be seen. If anyone out there knows of a way I can get this poem, and my other poems, published please let me know!

I also am now officially in Chapter 5 of my book that I am writing. I am so excited to write more. Also, there’s less than a week until homecoming! It’s going to be so much fun! My tics are still being horrible, but I am making it through like I always do. Hope you all are having a not-so-ticky day. :)

It’s a cloudy morning where I am. Unfortunately, last night was horrible for me. In the middle of dance class, I started crying because my tics were causing me so much pain and my blood sugar was low. One of my friends helped me, so I made it through the rest of the class alright. But on my way home and when I got home, I broke down.

I have been going through a lot, and I have been feeling trapped by many things — tics being one of them. I hope things get better for me. I won’t put any negative energy onto here. I just wanted to let all of you know what was going on. Hope you all are having a easy, flowing day.

The second month of school, plus things that I hate and love!

Herro der people of the interwebs and welcome to the very awesome super duper thingie majiggie WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!! It’s October 3rd, 4th week, 3rd day. Hooray! Rhymes. Just love em’. Anywho, my tics are well and nobody really asks about them — although, they DO ask why I go to the bus early.

One of the easiest but yet hardest solutions is to run out of the room, down the hall, out the back door and into the bus. Other times, it’s the person who’s coming with me to the bus. Then, that’s when I give them the lowdown. If not, it’s the person that’s running with me. Yeah. It’s pretty good. Now, to that love/hate thing I promised:

Hate:

  1. Shells at the beach stabbing my feet. I hate this one SUUUUUUUUUUUUUPER BAD!!!!! D:<
  2. Raisins. Raisins, raisins, raisins. They just suck at tasting good.
  3. Creepers. Minecraft is awesome, but creepers, don’t even get me started.
  4. GLaDoS. I don’t know if I spelled her name right, but who cares? She is a MAJOR JERK! I mean, listen to this. ”I think we can put our differences behind us. For science. You monster.” Kinda mean, don’t you think? Other than that, she’s WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more mean. If you wanna know what I mean, play Portal 2. Continue reading

COLLEGE WEEK: Meeting with Boston University admissions

Dear fellow teens with Tourette Syndrome,

I am a senior in high school and on the hunt to find a university that is “right for me. Two weeks ago, I visited Boston University. OMG! It is incredible! It has every major you could think of! The dorms are so cool! And the campus is beautiful!

Prior to my visit, I was able to schedule a meeting with an Admissions Office counselor. I learned that it is important to speak with someone from the university staff and tell them how you are interested in their school and explain your school experience with TS. I explained how I speak at schools about bullying and gave them a copy of my book, “Emily’s Tic.”

Although the one-on-one meeting was stressful, I am glad that I did it. The representative seemed impressed with my work. I strongly suggest educating others about your TS and then bringing those experiences to your college search process. The schools are now looking for students who have overcome challenges, and that is what we have done!

On another note: When I forgot all of my news articles at home showing my work with NJCTS, I was able to get a hold of Jeff at the NJCTS office, and he sent copies of them my way. Jeff always has my back :)

P.S. — If you have not already, pretty-please sign up for the Mendham Walk! It’s an amazing opportunity to have a fun day our while raising money for NJCTS’ education outreach programs. Chances are, you’ve been helped by one of those programs or know someone who has. They can’t exist without our help! So give back to the organization that has given to you — or, at the very least, has given to someone just like you! Thanks!

Please enjoy other College Week posts here!