Tourette Syndrome

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tic attacks

hey everybody, i hope you're having a good day. I was wondering what you all do during tic attacks, how you manage and the aftereffects. anyone have any advice? #TouretteSyndrome

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I'm new here!

Hi, my name is TMCampbell8. I'm here because I'm looking for options for treatment for my son, age 14, who has Tourette Syndrome and two kids and other family members with OCD.

#MightyTogether #Anxiety #ADHD #OCD #Grief

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What’s the most “inconvenient” symptom you experience?

Ummm… all of them!?

It’s incredibly relatable if you read this question and thought, “all my symptoms are inconvenient!”. Why? Because symptoms cause discomfort, trouble, or disruption to our daily lives (and we won’t stop shouting that from the rooftops anytime soon).

But, if you had to choose, what’s the MOST “inconvenient” one you experience? What makes working hard? Or traveling? Or eating at a restaurant? Or dating?

If you feel comfortable sharing, we’d love to hear what helps you cope with it.

#CheckInWithMe #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #BipolarDisorder #TouretteSyndrome #CrohnsDisease #Migraine #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #RareDisease #Disability #ADHD #PTSD #MightyMinute

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Walking in my Shoes

Talking about mental health is a challenging topic. Asking for help is a hard thing to do, and many people struggle with it. I was fortunate to have a great support group at a young age- My family, teachers, and the Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada (where I met many amazing people I still talk to these days). My family was and remained my biggest support group. It was specifically my Dad who got involved with the Tourette Syndrome Foundation right away, not to say my Mom wasn’t a huge factor; she was, in many ways.

I was diagnosed with four disorders pretty much at the same time at age seven — Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Tourette Syndrome (TS). Speaking of OCD, notice how I alphabetically listed my disorders????. It is a chore (to say the least) carrying all these disorders with me.

At the age of seven, I was taught how to advocate for myself and seek help when needed. My parents and teachers taught me this. It saddens me to see how many people don’t have the support to help them. I love helping people, and I want to educate people about my story and about mental health and how it can impact someone’s life.

For those who don’t know what Tourette Syndrome is — A neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics. For example, one of my tics is making facial movements, and if someone tells me to stop, unfortunately, I can’t. Having tics is similar to sneezing, coughing, and breathing — You don’t tell someone to stop any of these as this is part of life. I have good and bad tic days. Tourette Syndrome is a misunderstood disorder — 1 in 100 Canadians are diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome.

My other disorders came as a package with my TS (yes, I got free shipping), and they impact my life (sometimes even more than my TS). My anxiety and OCD is something I struggle with. For example, I always apologize, and I always ask if people are mad at me — This is part of my OCD and anxiety — I do see how it can come across as annoying to some people, but imagine how I feel? I don’t want to bother or annoy anyone. My ADHD has increasingly been a struggle — I am impulsive, and I have a hard time NOT interrupting — But, I am trying to deal with this by realizing what I am doing (as you can imagine, it is tough to do).

People in this world think mental health is not real and who thinks it is something you can “snap out of.” Trust me; it isn’t — I don’t want to be impulsive, but people with ADHD (like me) only notice it after someone has pointed out or after I have had time to think about the situation.

My brain is full of random thoughts, sometimes no thoughts, and I always have this knot in my stomach (like butterflies) that has stayed with me for as long as I can remember. I don’t know how to relax, and I have a hard time falling asleep because of what is going on in my mind. I would never want anybody to go through what I go through — It is not fun, but I try to manage with coping mechanisms I have acquired over the years. I am resilient.

Since I am new to “The Mighty” I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to tell the world about my story and my life with mental health. I wouldn’t be here today without the love and support from my family and friends. Helping someone can bring a great sense of feeling, and I hope my story can help those struggling. I hope to write more about my life, and I hope people know that you can count on me for help.

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