Guest Blog: Anthony's Story

Hello, my name is Anthony. I am 16 and currently living with TS. I was diagnosed after 4th grade and have had some trouble dealing with people after my TS became more noticeable.I have A.D.H.D. aswell so it was a little harder for me to learn than the other kids. My 6th grade year i was given the nickname "twitch" and was teased. 

Everyday about it but now as a sophmore in highschool, I am in my schools A.F.J.R.O.T.C. program and am apart of its drill team. I believe my story will inspire other people with t.s. to not only cope with living with their unique problem and to push their limits because for me i found something i love and am doing great with. So just because you are a little different doesnt mean anything. I have been yelled at by Marines and have not ticked once so I know I have took t.s. by the horns and somewhat took control. When I am at attention I dont tick I tell myself 'keep be calm, don't break' and after a little bit of practice with the mindset I succeeded. So I belive i am an example of a t.s. success story,well almost anyways. So be strong and use your unique problem to have fun with your life.

You Know You Live In A TS House When.....

This post is one of the lighthearted posts that I love to make! Sometimes we just need to laugh about our tics and the unusual and sometimes very humerus situations that Tourette's puts us in. These quotes come from families who live with Tourette's everyday and who know all too well that more times than not, laughter can be the best medicine :) 

"You know you live in a TS house when kid #3 keeps burping and kid #1 is getting annoyed by it, but you know #3 can't help it, so the whole family just starts burping to lighten the mood." 

"You have one kid cussing up a storm, another kid making chirping noises, and another one clearing her throat ALL at the same time, and you still manage to hear your baby nephew crying over all the other noise."

"When your son is tired of hearing all the noises and yells "Shut up! Not a tic!""

"You know you live in a TS house when one person sets off the other person & we laugh at each other afterwards."

"The pics in the living room fly off the walls after bedtime. (The thrashing at night) ...when he opened a Christmas gift in front of family that were unaware of his "cop" and screams "S*** F*** F*** D***!" Yup I'm pretty sure they still pray for me!"

"You know you live in a TS house when the neighbors think you own a drum set!! Nope, it's just the banging on the walls, table and chairs!!"


"When you walk two steps forward and one step backwards, shake your hand and do it again all the way through the house...then suddenly realize your TS daughter isn't even there!! But your so use to doing it with her it's now become your own habit!! LOL" 

"When the neighbor/ good friend( thank God) texts you at midnight asking,"Did you hear that?", only to realize you have to inform her it's your lil' ticcer banging her hands against the walls and rod iron bed as she sleeps!! She was glad to know it wasn't an intruder!! lol Nope, just the TS house!!" 
"When you grow to enjoy hearing your child tell every street sign  "shut the f--- up" as you're driving" 

"When shoe shopping for an 8 year old involves making sure the perfect pair is not too high on the ankle but not too low, tight enough but not too tight, and doesn't involve velcro - because he it not only has to have shoes that feel right but has also been known to spend over 30 minutes fastening velcro to make sure it's lined up perfectly."

"You know you live in a TS house when it always sounds like looney toons and they haven't been watched in 4+ months... "Wooo-Hoo!" 

"Asking "do you know you just said _____?" The random echolalia leads to word play and my daughter doesn't even realize what she's said sometimes!" 

"When you wake up in the middle of the night because an arm tic is knocking on your bedroom wall..." 

"When you have to Explain to offended women that "no, she doesn't really think you're pregnant, and she's not saying you're fat... She heard 'baby doll dresses make girls look pregnant' and now she can't help saying 'you look pregnant' whenever she sees one."

"When you know your a fish because your son constantly says "my mom's a fish"

"When you are greeted with "welcome to staples" when you walk into a room...When you find yourself saying "fubble nuggets", just because you got so used to hearing it."

Kristin's Tourette Syndrome Story

Kristin's Tourette Syndrome Story:

Q:What is your name & how old are you?
A: My name is Kristen, I am 17 years old, and I am from Pennsylvania.

Q: How long have you had Tourettes?
A: I was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome 3 years ago, after my tics suddenly got more severe than they ever were. I had mild tics my whole life, but after a strep infection, they became very severe. I have a dual diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome and PANDAS.

Q: What kind of tics do you have?
A: Like everyone with TS, my tics change all of the time. My most common tics are head shaking, eye blinking, eye rolling, coughing, and moving my arms randomly. Other tics I have had include coprolalia, throat clearing, jumping, rolling around, and stomping. There are honestly too many to count!

Q: Do you have any associated conditions?
A: I have Tourette's, OCD, anxiety, PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Disorders Associated with Strep Infections), and some sensory problems. Sometimes they have a bigger impact on my life than the TS does!

Q: What's life like living with TS?
A: Life with TS has given me a new perspective on life. I am also on Youtube (my username is K972411) and there you can find a more detailed list of what has been going on the past few years since my TS got more severe. Without medication, I am unable to go to school/work; however, with medication, I am able to function like a pretty "normal" kid. Sometimes my tics still get bad and it can get in the way of being able to do my school work or play sports.

Q: What advice can you give others that are newly diagnosed?
Some advice I would give people who are newly diagnosed with TS is to stay positive and reach out to other people who also have Tourette's. You can do this on Facebook, youtube, or in person. Sometimes it helps to be able to ask questions to people who can actually relate. The other piece of advice I have is to not be afraid to let people know you have Tourette syndrome. You are who you are!!

Q: Whats the hardest thing about having TS?
A: The hardest thing about living with Tourette syndrome is that my body and brain are constantly exhausted from ticcing and the associated conditions. It is important to look at the positives, and realize what good things TS has brought into your life!

Q: What do you think others should know about TS?
A: Other people need to realize that we are not in control of our tics, and pointing them out or telling us to stop makes our tics worse. Understand that we don't like it any more than you do!!!

Q: What are your strengths and what do you like to do?
A: My strengths are school work. I actually partially give my OCD credit for this lol. I always try very hard in school to get all As. Outside of school, I like to work (I am a waitress), play sports, and hang out with my friends!

Q: What are your dreams & goals in life?
A: My goals in life are to go to college, study science or math (chemistry?), and possibly get a job in the pharmaceutical industry.

Steff's Tourette Syndrome Story

Steff's Tourette Syndrome Story

Q:What is your name & how old are you?
A: Steff & 23.

Q: How long have you had Tourettes?
A:I was diagnosed when I was 7.

Q: What kind of tics do you have?
A: Most facial, some arm spasm like twitches .. when I type, like now...my hands twitch alot. When there is something wrong(toothache, knee pain, headache) my tics localize to that area. I've had a wink that I have had since I was diagnosed. That gets interesting sometimes.

Q: Do you have any associated conditions?
A: I have OCD, am mildly BiPolar, & have anxiety.

Q:What's life like living with TS?
A: It's life. I take each day for what it is & hope tomorow will be good too. My tics are worse at night, or when I am stressing and my anxiety picks up, other than that, I usually get by okay.

Q: What advice can you give others that are newly diagnosed?
A: Live your life! I am a regular person, I just move around more than others. I hate people on any TS site that hate the world. Yes, its rough, but it's amazing also.

Q: Whats the hardest thing about having TS?
A: Meeting new people or getting a new job. People are so quick to judge. Seeing other people get down on themselves because of the condition.

Q:What do you think others should know about TS?
A:I am just like you, I just move more. You cant catch it, I cant help it, get over it.

Q: What are your strengths and what do you like to do?
A: I clean, alot. I also like to exercise. Not just run, but actually exercise. I also do alot with my dogs.

Q:What are your dreams & goals in life?
A: To help others with TS. To have a lovely family, with kids. They may or may not be born with Tourettes. But we will take that journey in stride when it comes.

Martyna's Story

Martyna's Story 

Q:What is your name and how old are you? 
A: My name is Martyna, I'm 15 years old, and I'm from Poland. 

Q: How long have you had Tourette Syndrome? 
A: I was diagnosed with Tourette's about 2 years ago. 

Q: What kinds of tics do you have? 
A: When I was younger I had a lot of different tics like eye rolling but they weren't very noticeable. When I was 13 I started to shout and I didn't know what was happening to me. My parents were really sad and angry. Now, I'm taking a medicine that really works for me so my tics are a lot better. 

Q:What is life like for you living with Tourette Syndrome? 
A: Life with Tourette's is really hard. When I first started to have tics it is very difficult, but it got easier as time went on. 

Q: What's the hardest part about having Tourette's? 
A: I think the hardest part about having Tourette's is meeting new people. They don't know why I'm shouting and sometimes they are scared. It's hard going to the movies and my main problem is going to church! I can't stop ticcing in church. 

Q: What advice can you give others who are newly diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome?
A: Don't worry, just be happy! You must live the life! Dont worry about people who don't understand. Think positively! 

Q:What do you think other people should know about Tourette Syndrome?
A: Other people should know that our tics aren't our fault and they should accept us. 

Q:What are your strengths and what do you like to do? 
A: I really love reading books! My favorite genre is fantasy. I am interested in learning more of the English language and next year I'm going to be in a special English competition. 

Q: What are your goals in life?
A: When I grow up I want to be a doctor and help polish people who have Tourette Syndrome. I will be a doctor with my own experience with having Tourette's. I would like to say you more but I can't find enough words in English.

Success Story #1!! Katy's Life with Tourette's Syndrome

Success Story: Katy's Life with Tourette Syndrome

Q: What is your name and how old are you?
A: My name is Katy, I'm 17 years old (almost 18!) and I live in Wales in the UK.

Q: How long have you had Tourette Syndrome?
A:I was diagnosed with Tourettes 9 months ago after I suddenly started developing a throat clearing tic.

Q: What kinds of tics do you have?
A: My tics quickly developed to head jerking, clapping, tapping, coprolalia, copropraxia, echolalia, punching my chest, clicking my knuckles and facial grimaces. But I like to think of my signature tic as my squeak (my friends often call me guinea pig now because I squeak so much!)

Q: Do you have any associated conditions?
A: I also have anxiety, panic disorder, OCD and some issues with sensory processing.

Q: What is life like for you living with Tourette Syndrome?
A: Life has been pretty up and down with tourettes especially because I developed it so suddenly and at such a strange time in my life! I'd already become used to life as a teen without tics but then suddenly developing tourettes really turned my life upside down. People around me, like my friends and teachers had to be informed about everything and there have been times that I've felt like a burden because everyone has had to adjust to my tics.
I felt like I wanted to record with journey and show people what it's like to live with tourettes, so that's when I started my YouTube channel 'LetsTalkTics'. My channel has been such a help to me because I can talk about tourettes openly and it has helped me to come to terms with the fact that I might be living with tourettes for the rest of my life.

Q: What advice can you give others who are newly diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome?
A: The largest piece of advice that I can give to those who are newly diagnosed with tourettes is that being open about your tourettes is much easier than being closed about it and you'll end up gaining the best support if you talk to people about what you are going through.

Q: What is the hardest thing about living with Tourette Syndrome?
A: The hardest thing about living with tourettes for me is the swearing tics. I hate saying these horrible words in front of my friends and family and coming to terms with this has been really difficult and I'm still not very comfortable releasing my swearing tics in public.

Q: What do you think other people should know about Tourette Syndrome?
A: I think people need to know that tourettes is not just about tics. It runs so much deeper than that because tourettes can cause physical and emotional pain, tiredness and almost always comes with co-morbid conditions so it's not always just about the funny movements and sounds.

Q: What are your strengths and what do you like to do?
A: Despite having vocal tics, I absolutely love to compete in public speaking competitions. I always feel so confident and standing on the stage reminds me of my life before tourettes. But it also shows me that tourettes has not limited me in any way.

Q: .What are your goals in life?
A: I'm about to start my last year in school before moving off to university, hopefully to study psychology. I'd love to work in a rehabilitation centre or an inpatient care facility.

Tourette Syndrome and Positivity- Christopher's Story

Christopher's Story: 

By: Jennifer Boies Fraser

Christopher (the red head) was diagnosed with Tourette's (and ADHD and OCD tendencies) when he was 4 years old. Because he was so young, we didn't really tell him. We felt he was too young to properly process his diagnosis. Besides, as far as we were concerned the diagnosis was valuable only in the context of giving us more information to help him.

We are very active in our community. Because we home school, there aren't many situations where Christopher has met kids before I have met them and their parents. Also, being home schooled he never had to get an IEP. His diagnosis just never came up.

Before we knew it, he was in upper elementary school and had never been told he has Tourette's. We knew we needed to talk to him. We didn't know how to tell him he had this thing - this DISorder - and not make it a negative thing.

He got this tic where he was sticking out his tongue, especially when he had food in his mouth. I told his best friend's mom about it, who is also a close friend of mine. I wanted her to talk to her children about it so that if they saw it they knew he wasn't trying to be rude or gross; he could not help it.

A few days later during bedtime cuddles Christopher looked at me and said, "Mommy, did you know that the reason I stick my tongue out is because I have tics. Do you know what a tic is?" He proceeded to tell me all about tics and how he has them. I asked him where he learned about this and he said," Oh, Ian told me."

My eyes filled with tears of love and gratitude. I was so amazed that this 9-year-old boy was able to talk to Christopher about his tics and did it in a way that left Christopher feeling very positive about it. While I felt bad that he had beat me to it, I was amazed at how well this precious child was able to communicate normalcy to Christopher. It was then that I was sure how much Ian and his family would always mean to us!

Guest Blog- Living With the Puppet Master

Living With the Puppet Master

By: Coleen Root 

            Throughout my life I have been in various situations where I felt like I had no control. However, I never really knew what feeling completely powerless was like until my middle child was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome, a little-understood neurological disorder with no cure or treatment.

           Jayden squeezed his eyes shut so hard it seemed as if he was trying to make his eyes disappear altogether. I had seen other people with this particular habit so I didn’t speculate on it too much. It wasn’t until he started shrugging his shoulders repetitively that I took notice. I turned to my good ol’ friend, Google. The words I typed into the long rectangular box were “child with shoulder tic”. A page flooded with informational sites and forums of concerned parents looking for answers in regards to their own child’s tics appeared. One word connected each entry: “Tourette’s”. I thought to myself, “Tourette’s? But isn’t that a foul language disorder? My son doesn’t do that.” I did another search with different wording. Then another. And another. Every single time, I got the same results; the kindling that ignited the fire inside me to do everything within my power to help my son.

         I educated myself on TS so extensively that I couldn’t extract any new information on the subject. The more I learned, the more I noticed Jayden’s more subtle tics that had previously gone unnoticed. As soon as I came to the conclusion that he did in fact have Tourette’s syndrome, it vanished without a trace. It wasn’t until two years later when he started 1st grade that the TS decided to return. The eye blinking brought a new friend with it, which caused Jayden’s eyes to roll into the back of his head. His hands felt left out and decided they wanted to join the party with a little bit of fist clenching. This made holding a pencil decidedly difficult. All of a sudden TS was interfering with my child’s life! Something had to be done. 

        It took over a year of jumping though the school board’s and my medical insurance company’s hoops to get a diagnosis. With that, the school transformed into one of Jayden’s most important support systems. His education has been saved. His life, on the other hand, could be an entirely different story.

        Jayden is fairing exceptionally well despite his constant companion. He is highly intelligent and quickly wins the hearts of anyone who has the pleasure to converse with him; conversations that are becoming increasingly difficult and drawn out. Some of his new tics interfere with his speaking, kind of like a stutter, but more like a breath blown out, silently stealing his voice. As time goes by and adolescence draws nearer, the tics become more complicated, frequent, and intense. Sometimes I can hear a quiet whispering of the word, “Ow.” escape his mouth as he succumbs to his puppeteer. There is nothing I can do about it. I am powerless against the puppet master that has taken my son hostage.

Meet Ab: A Guest Blog from A Mother of a Child with Tourette's

Meet Ab: A Guest Blog from A Mother of a Child with Tourette's: 

My daughter "Ab" has been dealing with many different issues since the age of 4. Right after she turned 4, she started displaying tics such as eye blinking, finger bending/stretching, and a low, quiet "uh" sound. I brought her in to her Pediatrician's office for an appointment, and ended up seeing another Dr. at the small clinic because her Dr. was on vacation. The man had the audacity to tell me that my daughter had nothing wrong with her, and she was just acting out because I didn't give her enough love and attention! Those were his exact words... "You don't give her enough love and attention". I was appalled!! Yes, I was only 27 years old (and looked 18), but that doesn't make me a bad parent. I was a VERY involved, AT HOME mother. My daughter had my 24/7 attention!! We were ALWAYS playing, exploring outside, mommy & me classes, going to parks, riding bike, roller skating, playing sports, cuddling, doing crafts, pizza day parties, picnics, spa play, learning, etc. She had SO much love and attention from me (and her father, grandparents, uncles, cousins, and neighborhood friends). We even co-slept!! I'm sure you can imagine how upset, royally mad, offended, and confused I was.

I brought her into a different clinic the following day and met with a new Pediatrician. He diagnosed my daughter with "tic disorder" and spent a good 10 minutes reassuring me that the last Dr I had seen was incompetent and horrible, that I had done NOTHING wrong to cause this, and that it's either a childhood phase or a neurological condition called Tourette Syndrome. He explained to me that tics, both motor and vocal, need to be present for at least a year before a diagnosis of Tourette would be given, and that I should just continue to monitor to the tics. He said that they could go away, or may get worse. He shortly after left the clinic to "move back to his home state".

The tics continued, constantly waxing and waning (coming and going, like a rollercoaster), and every time a set disappeared, a new set would shortly take it's place. In the beginning, most of the sets would bring all new tics. After a bit, previous tics started to re-emerge but she always has a different combination of tics each cycle. Most of her tics have been harmless but there have been a few that have become quit painful, aggravating, and embarrassing for her. As soon as the pain and frustration started, I brought her in to her current Pediatrician for a referral.

We were referred to a Pediatric Neurologist for evaluation, and he did fully diagnose Tourette Syndrome. This was at age 6.5, so 2.5 years after the tics started. Ab is currently 3 months shy of turning 8 years old.

We've begun to experience many more ailments with Ab within this past year, and are now getting further testing and treatment for those. Tourette Syndrome has quite a few common co-morbid disorders, and it seems like Ab has gotten hit with them all. She suffers from extreme anxiety (and now looking back, I believe she's had this all her life and we mistakenly took it as shyness and timidness), severe insomnia, migraines, OCD, sensory integration, and some difficulty with learning; slightly with reading, a lot with math, and some speech pronunciation issues at ages 4-5 that required therapy at school. She may possibly be ADHD, but it's so hard to know with so many of her current problems having overlapping symptoms with ADHD. I guess we'll find out soon.

We haven't medicated Ab up until now, but due to the severity that everything has become within the last few months, we are presently looking into a (hopefully mild) medication to help her. She is so overtaken with frustration, anger, and sadness lately that I feel it's required for her at this point. I hate the idea of medicating my 7 year old, and even more so seeing as the medication choices are so potent, but it really has come to the point that it's required for her happiness and health.

Aside from Tourette's and all it's co-morbid issues, Ab is an amazing, beautiful, hilarious, creative, spunky, sweet kid. When she isn't overly frustrated from her tics, she is the funniest little kid in town. She loves to make jokes, do goofy things, and pull little pranks on people... a whoopee cushion being her current fav She excels naturally in ballet and jazz, and also loves gymnastics, baseball, swimming, and just being a crazy wild kid. She is an absolute blessing, a gift straight from the heavens, and no doubt the apple of my eye.

Tic loud, and Tic proud! Love who you are no matter what that entails, and never, EVER let anyone bring you down!

**I love you Ab, you make me more proud than anything in this world. You are the reason I wake up every day! Never forget how special, how wonderful, and how loved you truly are.**

-Michelle

Ab at 4 years old when her first tics started: 

Ab at 6 years old when she was diagnosed: 

Ab today at 7 1/2 years old:

Meet Johanna! Johanna's Bio for the Documentary!

Meet Johanna! She and many others who live with Tourette's Syndrome will be featured in our upcoming documentary! 

"Hey, I'm Johanna! I'm 18 years old and live in Lititz, PA.

I've had TS for as long as I remember, but it was very mild until age 16. My tics range from neck tics, to full body convulsions, to screaming obscenities, to screaming fun words like MOM BIT ME!. I have to many tics to nam

e!

The hardest part about my TS is the severity. My tics are constant and sometimes I struggle to do simple tasks such as feed myself. TS comes in a wide-range of symptoms. Unfortunately mine is at the very severe end.

One of my favorite things to do is bowl. Most people don't know that when us with TS, no matter how bad, the tics can calm when focused. Did you know, there's a surgeon with severe TS? Yep! That's right! When he's performing surgery he doesn't tic at all!

I think people should know that Tourette's isn't a funny swearing disorder. Only 6-10% of people with TS display Coprolalia (which is a comorbid disorder which is associated with Tourette's). Tourette's is a movement disorder and uncontrollable vocalizations i.e. grunting or humming. My wish is that people understand we can't help it. We can't control it, and I promise you it bothers us more than it bothers you. At least you can walk away from it, we can't."

Meet Molly! Molly's Bio for the Documentary!

Meet Molly! She and many others who live with Tourette's Syndrome will be featured in our upcoming documentary. 

"My name is Molly Barton, I'm 18 and I live near Grand Rapids, MN.

I have had TS since I was 7. Some of my tics are tensing up my muscles in my arms, legs, and back, jerking my head, shaking my head, jerking my arms out to the side, a humming noise, a sniffing noise, blinking my eyes

, rolling my eyes. facial grimaces.

The hardest part about having TS is either having to deal with tics when they get really bad and out of control, or dealing with ignorant people. Dealing with the aftermath of being bullied and ostracized my whole life.

I guess I'd say my biggest strengths are my determination and compassion that have been brought on by my struggles with TS. I love to read, write, sing, play guitar, and bowl.

I think other people should know how hard it really is to live with TS. Some people think it's not that difficult, but in reality, it is. TS can bring some good things, but it can also bring alot of bad things, too. We struggle with things that most people don't have to worry about, and it can be heartbreaking to have to deal with. The pain never really goes away, no matter how good you can become at hiding it and making clever excuses. But with that comes alot of strength, determination, and compassion. Always give someone with TS a chance. They just might surprise you."

Meet Elizabeth! Elizabeth's Bio for the Documentary!

Meet Elizabeth! She and many others who live with Tourette's Syndrome will be featured in our upcoming documentary. 

"My name is Elizabeth Klein; I am 19 years old, and go to college at the University of Maryland in Baltimore County.

I was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome in 2004 but have had tics since I was a little sprout. 

My tics like to cycle, and over the years I have had blinking, muscle clenching, shoulder shrugging, head bobbing, exhaling, breath holding, chirping, and other various tics.

The hardest part is when I’m in stressful classes and my tics spike – it’s loud, people sneak glances at me, and I get headaches from a few of my more troublesome tics.

Despite being in almost constant motion I am very good at crafting jewelry and figures out of paper, clay, wire, almost anything – most of my jewelry and holiday gifts are handmade. I’m also a very avid reader. I love to read and craft, and when I get really absorbed my tics tend to lessen in intensity.

One thing I would love for others to know about TS is that it is a part of me, like a large, very visible mole. I’ve had it since I was small and have learned to live with it. It bugs others more than it bugs me, and I’m usually not aware of it unless people bring it to my attention or I’ve had a particularly stressful day. Another thing others should know is that people with TS are all different – not one of us has exactly the same symptoms and tics and not all of us are affected the same way."

Meet Grant! Grant's Bio for the Documentary!

Meet Grant! Grant and many others who live with Tourette's Syndrome will be featured in our upcoming documentary. 

"My name is Grant Russell Jarboe and I am 10 years old. I live in a small town near Indianapolis, Indiana. I’m in the 5th grade and I love math the most. I love playing soccer and I’m on a travel team. Mostly I play defense. 

I’m not sure how long I’ve had Tourette Syndrome but I do

n’t remember a time when I didn’t have it. My mom says that I have had it since I was very little but wasn’t officially diagnosed until 2009.

I have lots of tics that I do all of the time but sometimes I have some that come and go. The tics that I do all the time are a head nod, some noises I make with my throat, a hand shake, a jump, nose wiggle, running my finger under my nose, grabbing my privates, and smelling my blankies when they are around. Sometimes I have different vocal noises. There is an order that my tics go when they come out but it depends on the situation that I am in.

The hardest part of living with TS for me is when I’m running and have a tic, it makes me stop and do it. I could do it on the way but I worry about landing wrong and getting hurt so I have to stop to let my tic go."

I am good at my position in soccer. I work very hard to defend the goal when I’m playing. One of my strengths during soccer is when I tic and it distracts the opponents. I don’t let my tics bother me or slow me down. They are who I am.

I want to bring awareness to help people that are made fun of because of their TS. Even though I’ve only had it happen once it made me realize that sometimes it happens to other people more often and I want to make people understand what TS is and that they can’t help it."

Meet Brendon! Brendon's Bio for the Documentary!

Meet Brendon! Brendon and many others will be featured in our upcoming Tourette's Documentary. 

"My name is Brendon. I'm 6yrs old and I am from Louisiana.

I was diagnosed with TS when I was 4. My tics include: head shaking, blinking, hand flapping, the need to stop while walking, and occasionally a few vocal tics.

The hardest part is my head shaking tic. When I can't stop shaking my head, it gives me a really bad headache.

I like to draw, play soccer, and do flips.

I want people to understand that I can't help my tics and that they bother me."

Meet Jeffrey! Jeffrey's Bio for the Documentary!

Meet Jeffrey! Jeffery and many others will be featured in our upcoming Tourette's Documentary. 

"Hello my name is Jeffrey Spaargaren. I am 12 years old. I live with my mom, dad, sister and uncle in Romeoville, Illinois. I am in middle school. I have been informing kids since 3rd grade about Tourette Syndrome.

I was dianosed with Tourettes at the age of 6. I have many tics, such as head jerking, 

chest punching and completely freezing in the middle of a sentence, holding my breath, and squeezing my face muscles.

The hardest part about having Tourettes Syndrome is getting no sleep an then having to go to school, the less I sleep the more I act up in school. It makes it very hard to pay attention.

Since I was diagnosed with Tourettes Syndrome I personally think I have become braver and more edjucated. I like to play and wacth sports. Like basketball, baseball, hockey and more. I also like drawing. every time I draw I forget I ever had Tourettes.

Meet Phillip! Phillip's Bio for the Documentary!

Meet Phillip! Phillip and many others will be featured in our upcoming Tourette's documentary! 

"Hi my name is Phillip Muddiman and am 11years old in 6th grade. 

I was diagnosed with TS when I was In 3rd grade. 

My tics are blinking, throat clearing, tapping and hand movements.

It is hard to look at something without blinking and controlling tics. I often lose my concentration

When I am sad, stressed, or angry I like to write. I like to skateboard and hang out with my friends. I also love Taekwondo, I am a green belt and working to get my black belt someday

I wish people knew that I can not control my tics, and I can not help doing them. I have to do my tics"

Meet Cassandra! Cassandra's Bio for the Documentary!

Meet Cassandra! She and many others will be featured in our upcoming Tourette's documentary. 

"I'm Cassandra, I'm 18, and I live in New York. I run the Tourette's Toucan tumblr!

I've had symptoms of TS since I was 5, but wasn't formally diagnosed until I was 9. 

My most consistent tics are a head jerk, an arm jerk, a few scratching tics, and a vocal tic where I basically make a "P" sound. I've also had blinking tics, throat-clearing tics, and muscle-contraction tics.

The hardest thing about living with TS is definitely the pain that comes with it, and the fact that it prevents me from doing certain things like brushing my teeth as efficiently.

I'm a double major in Psychology and English at Stony Brook, which takes up most of my time. I love to read and write, and music is a huge part of my life.

The number one thing people need to know about TS is that it doesn't make us weird or bad. It's just another part of who we are, and we've all accepted that. :]"

Meet Shawnna! Shawnna's Bio for the Documentary!

Meet Shawnna! She and many others will be featured in our upcoming Tourette's documentary!

"I'm Shawnna Rhey Moses & I'm From Boston MA.

I've had TS since I was around 5 years old & My Tics are Cracking every single bone In my body every second Its extremly Painful & Somedays I can't walk or move, My other Tics are , Blinking at lights for a long period of time & Noises with my throat & Deep bre

aths out of my mouth & Nose , Making a noise with my tongue &+ Making a noise after I drink something..

The hardest part about living with TS for Me Is, Accepting It may never go away or get any better & The Pain I go through from my Tics.. It makes everything I do feel like Its Impossible & It gives Me a lot of Anxiety , Stress & Sometimes Depression.

I love to be outside, I love Animals , I love doing anything with My Husband , I love Acting , Writing , Reading, Fashion, Art, Working with Kids & Music &+ I love Disney Movies..

I believe People should know how hard It Is & That Its different for everyone & Just what People really go through & How Painful It Is, I believe there should be more Knowledge In general & More Support!"

Meet Colton! Colton's Bio for the Documentary!

Meet Colton! He will be featured in our upcoming Tourette's documentary. 

"My name is Colton Semonasky. I am 10 years old.
I live in Leesburg, Florida.

I have had Tourette Syndrome for 1 1/2 years.

Some of my tics include yelling out No, shaking my head fast, and full upper body (sometimes full body) tics where my arms and face go stiff.

I feel the hardest part of living with TS is how everyone stares at me and going to school and to focus because I yell out a lot.

One of my strengths is making friends. I like to hunt, fish, and ride four wheelers.

I think other people should know that we can not help it that we tic and it is hard when people stare at you. It is hard to live with Tourettes.

Meet Juliet! Juliet's Bio for the Documentary!

Meet Juliet! She and many others will be featured in our upcoming Tourette's documentary.

"I’m the lovely, beautiful and always bursting with fruit flavor, Juliet Michelle. And I live in Bethlehem, PA and... if you must know... I am 26

I started to have tics about 7 or 8 years old...so 19 years. Some of my tics are full body jerks, facial grimacing, blinking, scratching, head shaking, throat cl

earing, sniffling, hiccuping, ear popping, ear scratching, shoulder jerking, arm/hand shaking... Echoing things I say... Echoing things other people say such as shrieking, whistling, chirping, bleeking, and hissing. Teeth chattering, full body shuddering and spinning are just a few. IF my body can do it... i probably tic there


The hardest part for me is having full blown, full body tics that look like seizures... or being triggered by something stupid like a screaming kid... or a whistle...


I’m a very talented wedding cake decorator, when the tics don’t get in the way... um... I love to play piano and im good at that too...Ive had lessons since I was 5...and I love having pets like my big oscar fish! Oh, and I'm very smart. I've got my Masters degree in the history of religon... and plan on going straight for my PH.D.

People should know that Tourette's is not the pretty little disorder that National and most doctors explain away. It's so much more than just throat clearing and eye blinking... and I'm not saying that to say that people with those tics are less important. they are very important and their expiriences are valuable for all of us to learn from...But, I come from the point of view of a TS patient who is severe, and that is how I speak.
It’s not as simple as “oh, you’ll age out of it” or… “it remits when you get into adulthood”. This can be a severe, lifelong problem for many people… and we get forgotten about. BUT, BUT BUT BUT… that doesn’t mean we’re any less capable. Talented… or anything else. It just means that we’re STRONGER, Strive HARDER, work SMARTER, and have learned to be much more adaptable to difficult situations because we have to work against something bigger than us on the inside. We’re resourceful, diligent and often times frustrated because we know we can do more but our bodies wont let us… but even with that. We don’t give up."