My experiences with TS

Posted Thu 19th Dec 2024 at 12:40
by Maya Field-Cross

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TS Champion Maya shares her thoughts

My experiences with Tourette’s has been mixed, some people notice it more than others because I will become more comfortable around them and then some don't even realise that I have Tourette’s. One of my friends said to me recently "I didn't even know you had Tourette’s!" which isn't that uncommon for people to say to me because my Tourette’s is described as mild.

My Tourette’s is both verbal and external, sometimes it can just be the odd eye scrunch or nose scrunch and other times it can be repeating words or random high pitch noises. Tourette's isn't just shouting and swearing, which is what most people think of when I say I have Tourette's, and often I’ll get "Do you shout and swear?" which I don't.

The stigma around this disorder is really bad because even a teacher once said to a kid "What, do you have Tourette’s or something?" just because he was disturbing the class.

Sometimes Tourette’s can be funny but it should never be taken as "the joke syndrome" like it often is, which really disappointing and seriously should change and hopefully, with more awareness, it will.

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