Tourette Syndrome

Now let's consider the struggles that people with Tourette's have. Coping with the tics are just one of many struggles that they have to go through. They worsen during times of stress, anxiety, fatigue, illness or excitement. Tics relieve a bodily urge "like an itch you can't scratch". There are a lot of conditions also associated with having TS that add to their struggles seen listed here. (Point to the poster and list a few) A final struggle that people with TS have is low self-esteem. Their self-esteem may suffer; they may also be embarrassed about their tics. They may hesitate to engage in social activities such as dating or going out in public. As a result, they're at increased risk of depression and substance abuse.

Lastly let's talk about why people with Tourette's are judged. A lot of people with TS are misunderstood because of their behaviors. According to Tourette's life stories.com this is how an 18 year old girl remembers the worst experience in her life. (READ THE GIRL IN THE CLASSROOM STORY)

This girl, like many others with TS, was humiliated because she was doing something that seemed weird to others but was actually perfectly normal to her because that was how she was relieving her tic. They also have a low tolerance for distractions. Even the simplest of things like doing homework are a challenge because some people have a hard time focusing on what they are supposed to do because they are so overwhelmed by everything that is going on around and inside them. Although there are therapies that can help lessen the tics there is no cure/ no way to eliminate their tics.

In conclusion knowing what TS actually is, the struggles that people with TS experience on a daily basis, and why they are judged are all reasons for people to think twice before discriminating against others. We've all heard the saying "Never judge a book by its cover" well now take that simple saying into context thinking about people with Tourette's. They may seem weird and different but it's not their fault, they can't control their tics because it's what makes them actually feel better. Many people laugh and make jokes about people with mental illnesses, such as Tourette's all the time.

Now imagine that you are one of those people. Think about having to wake up every day and get made fun of for something that you can't even control. Being worried that people are going to stare at you and say mean things. Sometimes people with TS are scared to go out in public or even ask out the pretty girl at school because they are afraid of the outcome. So next time that you start to make a joke about someone who seems different stop and take a moment to consider what it would be like to be in their shoes.