People usually make my tics worse

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Jacquelynn

I’m almost 16 years old, and I have Tourette Syndrome. I don’t have it as severe as others, but it’s still highly noticeable to most of the people at my school. They are smart enough — I think — to know that tics are involuntary. Yet they still get a rise out of calling me out because of it, or even mocking me. No one at this school is understanding, not even the teachers.

Some of my tics are: Jerking my neck (like a fierce nod), rapid blinking/eye rolling, quickly tensing my stomach muscles and the releasing, or making a noise in the back of my throat (sounds like I’m either laughing kind of or saying ” hut ” – the more stressed/anxious I am, the louder it gets.)

I’m normal. I have “friends,” go out on the weekend, get boyfriends, do good in school, etc. — just like everyone else. They just choose to call me out on my tics. It’s extremely hard to find someone completely understanding/supportive of my Tourette at my school.

I wouldn’t wish TS on anyone, but sometimes I wish I had a best friend or a boyfriend who had it too, so they would be more understanding. I hate my tics. They make me extremely self-conscious — like I’m a freak. And people calling me “Bobble-Head” or “Twitchy Freak” doesn’t really help my self-esteem any, soooo…

Pediatric residents learn more about Tourette Syndrome from teens

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Teens4TS

Drew Friedrich and Sarah Ethridge had a lot to say at the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome’s patient-centered training April 9 at Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, N.J. And the pediatric residents to whom they spoke absorbed every word they spoke.

The packed room of pediatric residents learned more about Tourette Syndrome in 1 hour than they did during their entire time in medical school or during on-the-job experience. NJCTS’ patient-centered trainings are, simply put, THAT effective. But don’t take our word for it. Listen to what the chief pediatric resident had to say:

“I didn’t realize that you could actually suppress the impulses of the tics. That was interesting information for me,” said Angela Mukherjee, the chief pediatric resident at Goryeb. “I think we got a really good insight into how Tourette affects children on a daily basis and the struggles that they encounter. In the textbook, we learned what Tourette is and how to treat it, but it’s different in person. It was great. It was really educational.”

NJCTS’ story about the training can be read by clicking here, but we at Teens4TS would like to provide you with some exclusive behind-the-scenes quotes and information! Continue reading →

The week of ups and downs

Posted on March 13, 2012 by RowenaM

The wisest mind has something yet to learn.
~ George Santayana

Hi everyone. This past week for me was like a roller-coaster. After my second mom’s stepmom’s friend passed, things became hard for her. She has had a lot of people that she knew die on her the past two years.

Last Monday, I decided not to do something because of a gut feeling, and my second mom became furious with me (I knew that probably would happen), and what was worse is that was on the day of dance class. The good thing is that my friends there made me laugh and feel better about life.

We all recently had a family talk, and I realized that I don’t know how to use actions to show people that I appreciate them. I’m only good with words. It is a skill that I need to practice and learn, because I was told that twice this year by two different people. I despise hurting people. It makes me feel sick to my stomach, literally. Everything is good now, but we just need to work things out with making her feel more a part of the family. Continue reading →

The significance of support

Posted on March 6, 2012 by RowenaM

There is no strength without unity.
~ Irish Proverb

Hello everyone. Last week was a pretty good week for me. I am getting much better grades in both Geometry and Biology. Stress has been lifted off of my shoulders as I persevere to the finish line in all of my courses. This is all because of a schedule that was made to help me feel less stressed and more comfortable, and my parents are cheering me on.

My tics have been up and down, but they have been mostly down. They still only get high when I become agitated. But, strangely, on Leap Day, my tics were extreme, and I honestly don’t know what it was that caused it. The day before Leap Day and the day after, my tics were barely around. I found that unusual and, yet, fascinating.

I have been out of gummies for a few days, and I have only one pill of Zoloft left. I am hoping to get both of those refilled soon so that I don’t have huge roller-coaster emotions like I did when I was in Miami two years ago.

I am writing a lot more in my book, “Sky Ward.” I have two other friends who are writers, and they are a great help with my editing. But it will take awhile for me to edit. I just got done editing chapter 1, and there are at least six chapters that I have written. So, I will still keep you guys up to date with my book. Continue reading →

Life’s A Twitch author takes tics, reactions to them as they come

Posted on December 21, 2011 by EmmaO

This is the first of two introductory posts from new contributor EmmaO, who has her blog called Life’s A Twitch. We at Teens4TS are excited that Emma will be writing in this space on a regular basis. Enjoy!

Hey people! I love to sing, dance, act and play the guitar! I have Tourette Syndrome, OCD and Anxiety Disorder. What can I say? I’m in high school. It takes up a lot of time.

Anyways, something just happened. I thought it was slightly funny. A girl I know posted a status with some weird joke I didn’t understand, but it involved Tourette’s. OK, it wasn’t “slightly funny,” it was just that I laughed when she spelled Tourette’s wrong. People always spell it: Turrets. HAHAHA.

Yeah, no. We don’t have some castle turret disorder or anything like that… Turrets… hehe. Anyways, I’ve been pretty stressed and anxious lately. Blah blah blah, the usual. You know, that’s pretty much my daily life. Part of being a teenager… plus someone with Anxiety Disorder.

So, my squatting tic has been on the rise. Or low… Get it? I don’t rise when I squat, I go low. And I said the rise because it’s been worse, but rise means up, and when you squat you don’t go up, and… OK, I think you get it. Continue reading →