Common Questions About my Tourette's

·      Do you swear?

o  "Coprolalia" is involuntary swearing or shouting obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks.  Only about 10% of people who have Tourette's have this and I do not.  

·      How many tics do you have?

o  I have six tics

·      What tics do you have?

o  I twitch my left elbow up, my right arm out, both shoulders up and down, my neck to the left and right shoulder to my head.

·      How long have you had Tourette's?

o  I have had Tourette's since I was 15, so 5 years.

·      Do your tics change?

o  Yes, I have been through multiple tics.  They change muscle groups and intensity but I usually keep about six and usually in my arms and neck. 

·      How many times a day do you tic?

o  Depends on the day, sometimes 10-30 times.  Other days, 200-300 times.

·      Can you stop?

o  No.  The best way to describe this is, when you have a sneeze, you can hold it in for a few seconds but soon it becomes all you can think about until you finally release it.  Tics are a similar sensation.

·      Is there anything that can make your tics better?

o  I have the least amount of tics when I am on stage.  I love to dance and be in theatre productions and this seems to be the time I tic the least, if at all.  But as soon as I step off stage for a costume change or a break my tics go crazy. 

·      What makes you have a "bad" day?

o  I tic the most when I'm stressed but relaxing.  For example, I won't tic during a test, but I will tic a ton after and once I get home and I'm watching TV or eating dinner. 

·      Does everyone with Tourette's have the same tics?

o  No, each and every person is very different and has their own specific tics and way of handling them.