Tag Archives: Stress

Therapy works

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I’ve been trolling a lot from my private group just because so much gold has been mined. I can’t help but share some of the nuggets. I promised them, even though I keep their names anonymous, that I won’t be “using” them forever for their stories. But sometimes I can’t help myself.

And since my group is called “Twitch and Bitch” I occasionally have to take advantage of my bitches. (Margaret, I’m sorry. That really was kind of crass. Please forgive me. It’s bad enough that I went through 3 takes of a video I’m making because I accidentally used my kids’ real names. Your security motions are slaying me!)

The other day, a mom — who I’ve known over 5 years — was freaking out over upping her son’s medication. She is nervous about upping it, even though she thinks he needs it, because she’s worried about what will happen if it doesn’t work. She’s afraid she might not be able to handle the disappointment.

I TOTALLY understand this. For you new moms out there, this is so very very valid. For you old-time TS moms, this is a valid feeling. The only difference between newbies and old timers, however, is that I get to be harder on the old timers. They are tougher, and if they are not, I make them tougher by giving them a little Andrea boot camp. I call it the Twitch and Bitch Slap.

Maybe you could benefit from this, too. If I hurt your feelings, I’m sorry. Please know it’s for your own good. And if you disagree, feel free to say so! (But it doesn’t change my mind.)

My Note to Old Timer Sad Mom

Here’s your Twitch and Bitch-slap: Continue reading →

Conditional Corner: Depression & the need for governmental support

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Conditional Corner is a series that runs Fridays on TSParentsOnline. All stories, including this one by Vrinda Pendred, were originally published at Conditional Publications.

I am 35 years old. I have been diaganosed with Major Depression since I was 21. I spent my 21st birthday in the hospital. Most days I can handle it well. But when something changes too much in my life, it’s hard for me to deal with that.

Example: my SSDI check and my hubby’s check have been cut because of the goverment.  There is no funding to pay the insurance for our meds.  So they have taken a total of $261 from our collective check.  Now they say they are on the way to getting it back to us but we haven’t heard anything yet.

So how I deal with it is I watch a lot of TV.  TV has always been an outlet for me.  Even when I was a kid and there would be a lot of yelling going on and verbal abuse in the house, I would turn to TV.  It soothed me and made me feel like my problems were going away. To this day it does the same for me. The only difference now is that when I’m done watching TV I am so down that I want to do nothing. Continue reading →

Conditional Corner: I hoped to become the doctor I never had

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Conditional Corner is a series that runs Fridays on TSParentsOnline. All stories, including this one by Robaire Beckwith, were originally published at Conditional Publications.

Knowing what growing up with Tourette Syndrome was like, and remembering the difficulties with understanding the problems experienced as a child and what caused them, led me to finding ways I could help children with TS and other “special” needs caused by neurodevelopmental disorders. There was almost no useful advice or support available and I don’t believe things have moved on much now that I am an adult.

I wanted to find a way I could make a difference and be able to improve awareness, influence professional attitudes, improve diagnosis and subsequent provision and treatment. I determined that the best way to do this was to become a doctor myself and specialize in developmental pediatrics or neurology.

I could not only become directly involved in the diagnosis and treatment of TS but also become involved in clinical research. Having TS myself would, I hoped, give me a unique insight and ensure I had some idea of the issues that children with TS and their parents face. I hoped my own “disability” would allow me to connect better with and relate to others who are similarly affected.

After gaining my first degree in biological sciences, I taught for several years in a “special school” as a teaching assistant but eventually found this frustrating, as, although I was helping with educational aspects, I became very aware of the profound lack of understanding about Tourette Syndrome among both health and educational professionals. The misconceptions of the medical profession and very poor advice given to parents and their children was something I found truly astounding and worrying. Continue reading →

At a loss with my son’s integrity and not sure he will grow out of it

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I have been struggling with my son’s integrity for some time, but as a 15-year-old he has increasingly become more oppositional. It is as if when I tell him not to do something, he will do it  because I put the thought in his head.

I go out of my way to plant the warning seed hoping to avoid conflict, but that seed appears to grow into the opposite no matter what the approach is.  I truly don’t believe it is my son’s intent to do this, but he is really good at it. It does not make sense to do something you know will not end well but this is not part of the equation.

I have always been strict and very consistent with following up on every unfavorable act, so it feels like a losing battle at this point. I know impulsive behavior is not something one can reason with because it does not require thought before acting on something.

I understood why my son lied when he was younger he always stood out and on a daily basis a teacher or child would be “tattling” on him when I picked him up. For many years his dishonesty has been transformed from a defensive mechanism into denial of something he did or said with his own version of “the truth.”

It is easy for me to see that it is a deficit but not holding him accountable is not something I am comfortable with doing. His sensory challenges make sense (no pun) because there are times he is called on something right when he does it but he will ask, “What?” with an authentic look of confusion and then moments later, he is on the same page. Continue reading →

Advocacy and awareness: Necessities and parts of daily life, part 2

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This is the continuation from my post yesterday. Read that one first, if you haven’t yet! :)

My son had complex tics when he was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, but those tics subsided once life stresses were reduced and we were on the right path.  We were running away from tics with a trial and error of two pages of medication because we were told by my son’s Child Psychiatrist that it was the meds, while never suggesting it could be TS. Once we knew better, after consulting with a Child Neurologist, everything started falling into place, and his tics subsided. My son’s meds have been handled under the same Neurologist which simplifies our lives.

We are more fortunate than others because my son’s tics are mild in comparison to others, which often makes for a great conversation after they have been around my son long enough. They are surprised when I share the facts and they are intrigued enough to ask questions. Like many, they presumed Tourettes was just complex tics. Though I appreciate TS Awareness, I feel that only showing the severe cases of tics has made it more difficult when it comes to people really believing that my son has TS.

My advice to other parents is to never to accept the opinions of professionals as fact or what is best for your child while ignoring your expertise on your child. Ask questions and question what does not sound right. No one knows your child better than you.

Getting professional help is essential, but a one-sided approach is not realistic or beneficial when it comes to TS.  Ignore those who make judgements, and don’t feel guilty if you choose medication because it is not a decision made lightly. Continue reading →