Friday, April 2, 2010

Tourettes: A Guide to mayheim and hilarity


Imagine how great it would be to have tourettes? Seriously folks....here is a brief little tidbit about this lovely little thing we call Tourettes...

Tourette Syndrome is named after a French physician, Georges Gilles de la Tourette. Tourette Syndrome commonly appears in childhood, more often in males than females, and may worsen thereafter or subside. The absolute cause of Tourette Syndrome is unknown, nonetheless many theories and advanced information has increased considerably since 1885.


No cure yet exists, but symptoms are often treatable with various medications, behavioural therapy and alternative treatments. It should be noted that there is not any peer reviewed scientific evidence, yet, of success with "alternative therapies." Even results of behavioural therapy are unclear long-term, and are going to be studied on a well-designed TSA grant possibly starting in 2004.


The "tics" symptoms involving Tourette Syndrome are known to temporarily aggravate with increased stress. Also the tics can wax and wane or come and go through out the patient's life. It is also normal for the tics to change and return. Some of the Tourette tics can be suppressed for small periods of time, however generally return with greater aggravation. It should also be noted that most persons with Tourette Syndrome do not require medication for their tics.

Neurodevelopmental disorders including Tourette Syndrome can have substantial overlap with other disorders.

There is a possibility of common co-morbid conditions found in patients with Tourette Syndrome though they are not required for diagnosis. ("co-morbid" means the presence of one or more disorders (or diseases) in addition to a primary disease or disorder.) Examples are Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder OCD, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD.

All of the available information about co-morbid conditions in regard to Tourette Syndrome isn't clear and is considered a complicated subject between clinicians and researchers.

Patients with Tourette's Syndrome who have other conditions as well, may be at increased risk for a whole host of other problems, but many of the problems may not be due to Tourette Syndrome but to other conditions they may have.

Some of the other conditions and/or terms you may find discussed in circles that deal with Tourette Syndrome are: Tourette Syndrome "Plus", Tourette Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Depression Disorders, Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections PANDAS, Sensory Integrative Dysfunction SID, Rage Attacks - Storms, Sleep Disorders, Dysinhibition.

There are people with Tourette Syndrome that have no other co-morbid conditions, disorders or problem behaviours. They could be referred to as having "TS-Only." They would meet the minimal DSM criteria for Tourettes Disorder; which is they have had vocal and motor tics for at least 12 months.

Imagine now, you have this disease, that not only could you scream out WHATEVER the hell you wanted to during random periods of time, BUT it also can combine with OTHER mental disorders you have to form a new SUPER COMBO disorder?

Not impressed? Well, OBVIOUSLY im easily impressed, but WAIT....You could go into church, a nursery...a police station, a library, or your grandparents house, and scream random obscenities. Come on people you cant make this shit up....well you could, because I just did, but seriously....the fun times would be limitless.My imagination runs wild at the thought of people I could offend, and be given the free pass for doing such. Imagine screaming at a group of children and given the nod and the pass? Come on.

Dont like a certain police officer? Not a problem when you have tourettes!

Dont like how some little kid is acting in public? Not a problem when you have tourettes?

Feel like letting off some steam? NOT a problem when you have tourettes!

How could you be arrested for screaming about a filthy snatch or an asshole bitch fucker while at church when they wouldnt be able to prove at the scene that you DID NOT have tourettes? They cannot.Trust me, I know. I know everything, all the time.

Now imagine combining tourettes with multiple personality disorder? Holy shit. EACH personality could have its own little obscene words that you "tic" out randomly...My head is spinning at the thought of this.

I've always wanted multiple personalities...I'd call them the Crazy Eights. It sounds like a mob name, and its just awesome.

I always laugh when tourettes is described as nervous "tics"....I imagine this person sitting there ticking away....or maybe its because im typing right next to a clock that doesnt stop ticking...ever...

On a complete side note...i could never sit in a silent room with a ticking clock. Have you ever tried laying down at night to go to bed in a room where a clock is ticking away in the silence? Blissful relaxation, closing your eyes...Your head hits the pillow, and WHAM...TIC TIC TIC ....Are you kidding me? I can feel the cold sweat on my brow right now just thinking about it.

Now imagine living with a person with tourettes and them ticking away with their little gimpy tic while you're trying to sleep? Sorry jerk, but you're going to have to sleep out on the lawn again. Its not my bidding, but God's...and lets face it pal, you cant argue with God. He'll win each and every time. He just wins.

I honestly wish I had control over reality, people would either be committed or have the time of their lives. Seriously.

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