Tourettes has a minion!

Boss Ross the Artistic Blob Kitty

A day in a coffee shop:


“Robin, get in the batmobile!” Damien clamped a hand over his mouth blushing as his group of friends broke out in laughter. While it was funny, he couldn't help feel embarrassed as he noticed a guy from another table turn to glare at him again. Throwing his hands together as the tried to reel in the tics, but trying to ignore or hold them in usually made them act up more. The anxiety of trying to not stand out and just stand still, hoping that something didn't break free. Trying to think of something else but it would come rearing its ugly head back to the front, wishing you could ignore the fact you are having a bad day with them and struggling to keep them in. It was as if it was a teenager who just realized a perfect way to rebel.

“That's a new one Damien.” He looked up to his sister who had a faint smile on her face. Out of the group, she was the only one who chuckled lightly but didn't break out in laughter. She was also the only one there that understood his pain. He smiled back at her gratefully. “Yeah, it just appeared a few days ago. I’m glad it was that and not something else.”

“Yeah! It could've been something real bad! Like you could've said the B word.” And there was Angelina, the youngest member of their pack who was a bouncing bundle of hyperness and never ending flow of words. While she could grate on your nerves quickly, her fast paced mind made the words fall out of her mouth so fast that she sometimes didn't even realized they had escaped her. Especially when she got angry which usually happened when she would defend him. For that, he was grateful. “Yeah, I’m definitely glad it was not that.”

“Ha-ha-ha! I'm a rooster wearing pants!” Damien snapped his head back and his hands came untangled which quickly slammed down on the table. “Dadgummit!” The coffee guy scrapped his chair loudly as he stood up, pulling out his wallet and threw done some money. “Some kids have no manners, thinking they are funny barking like a damn dog. Think they are so-”

“Hey! Look here BUB!” Angelina voice rang out in anger that was slowly appearing on her face. She was trying to get up but his sister managed to grab her arm and was struggling to keep her at bay. “He isn't playing or acting! He has Tourette's! It’s a neurological disorder that uncontrollable that he doesn't get to choose what he does or say! Think about that next time before you run you damn mouth-”

“Angie hush! It's okay, leave it alone!” Damien was sure his face was bright red with all the commotion and it wasn't helping his tics at all. In fact, they were making it worse. He hands were starting to hurt from how much he was hitting the table.

“Hmp- Sure looks like he either on crack or throwing a tantrum to me. Can't fool me with coming up with some made up disorder that the doctors labeled him just to get more money.” He shook his head and left before Angelina could respond and he was actually very thankful of that. “OOH THAT MAN!” He watched her as she inhaled air and held it, looking like a very angry chipmunk who was about to pop. He chuckled at the sight. “You know you look more cute when you are angry rather than intimidating.”

“Yeah, so I've been told.” She grumbled as she stabbed her salad with her fork. Damien watched as the waitress finish cleaning up the other table and walk back there direction. “Is everything okay?” She look at Angelina who was still angrily eating her salad. “Magenta cookies derivatives from sheep's!” Her face went from inquiry to confusion and he knew just from that face what she was about to say next. “I'm sorry?”

Damien wondered how bright his face was as he said, “I have Tourette's, sometimes I don't even understand what I'm saying.”

He smiled when the light bulb appeared. “OH! Isn't that the cursing disorder where you just randomly scream out profanities?” And there it goes. Damien growled as this was the one misconception he got so much it pissed him off. “Actually,” His sister piped in. “To have coprolalia or copropraxia is actually pretty rare. It affects less than 10% of people who have Tourette’s. The media just soaks that portion up and spits it back out because it seems funny. It does more harm more than anything really. You know, were not in any hurry to leave and you have been slow for a while now. The coffee guy just left if you can take a break, I can tell you more about it?”

“Well..” She looked around the cafe and sighed. “You know what, sure. Let me get a drink first and I'll be right back.” They watch as she bounced around the corner before she coming back with her drink and chair in hand.

“Alright, so let’s get to the basics of Tourette's. Tourette's is made up of at least one vocal tic and 2 motor tics. If you have either or but not both you have just tics. What are tics? Tics are a neurological uncontrollable movement or sound that can range from simplicity such as blinking, grinding of teeth, and making a sound like hooting to complex which means that it involves more than one body part such as; clapping and hoping at the same time or vocalization that involves more than one word, such as forming a sentence just like I did earlier. Now even though I said it uncontrollable, this is true, but the longer you have the condition the more control you have to suppress it or redirect it. What I mean is, I’ve had my Tourettes going on twenty years now and I have gotten my main tic from throwing my hands in my face to doing the weird curling and uncurling sensation to my side, that redirecting it. Now I can hold it in but It will come back out later and it like a explosion when it does. I tell people, when I hold them in and finally release it, it like closing a dam then finally opening it. It worse than if you just let it all out at once. Then there are days that I can’t even do that. “

“Now, you also have to have these conditions for at least a year without a break to be considered to have Tourette's. If you have it for a short time and it goes away, then that is what we called transit tic, which is the most common of them all to have. Ever hear of nervous tic? This falls into the same category. 1 out of 5 children in a classroom will at least experience a tic once in his or her lifetime. Usually it to small to be noticed or to be seen by the doctor for and or goes away as quickly as it comes. Now, Tourette's is not rare but is uncommon and mainly males are affected by it. 4 out of 5 times Tourette's is found in the male population. They know it’s hereditary and it only needs one parent to carry the gene and if they have the active gene then their child is more likely to have Tourette's or at least tics as a result of the gene, too. They have found that it can jump many generations and can still be activated.”

“Tourette's is unlikely to go away but there is a small chance that it will. Tics and Tourette's show up before the person is of 18 years of age, usually showing signs between the ages of 7-10. In order for the disorder to go away it has to be done by early adulthood. Tourette's get worse typically during puberty due to hormones changes and environment. Seeing as it is highly affected by the emotional state of teenagers, high school is a horrible time to have it. “

“I'm sorry to cut in, but why do you say that?” Damien stopped, and smiled faintly. “Well I was diagnosed when I was in fifth grade but it showed up when I was three years old. I was bullied relentlessly for the disorder I was unsure how to explain because when it first showed up I only had complex motor tics. Funny enough, it took 3 doctors and a EEG just to get properly diagnose. They thought I had seizures at first. I mean, they get mistaken a lot. It doesn't help you cant just take blood to get a diagnosis for Tourette's or tics. You have to have a process of elimination. So when I said I had tics I constantly got 'Eww, you have bugs! Stay away from me!' so I switched to ‘I have Tourette's’ which then resulted one of two things. 'Oh so you get to cuss for fun!' or 'I wish I had Tourette's! Then I could cuss all the time without getting into trouble!'”

He watched as her face turned a deeper shade of red. “Of course you didn't know this and I'm thankful for you learn better. Its okay really. Anyways, each person who has tics or Tourette's is like a snowflake. None are in the same situation but can be similar. What's funny is if you put two people with tics in a room, they will tic off each other. I know that may sound confusing so let me give you an example to try and help understand what I mean. Lets say Adam and Susan both have tics. They are both relaxing together and Adam starts to do his laughing tic. Which triggers Susan clapping tic to happen. It’s like a pinging effect where one tic triggers another tic in another ticcer. Why this Occurs is still unsure but it can be stressful and relaxing. The reason I say this is because ticcing so much can be annoying but being able to fully relax without judgment is amazing feeling as well. I've even had many tics I gained from other ticcers. No, it not contagious either. You can't catch shaking my hand or breathing in the same air. I promise.”

“There are also co-morbidities that come with the disorder. 25% of people who have Tourette's also have ADHD, Anxiety, Depression and OCD. Now with this disorder can range in severity from so mild you can barely tell the person has it and doesn't affect their daily life as much to so severe that it causes them harm and unable to work or take care of themselves. Myself I am in between, It affects my daily life but not the point I am unable to work or take care of myself. I just get enough stares and comments. Tics can also be harmful. Some tics may cause you to hit yourself, bite yourself or scratch. While that seems harmless, you don't get to chose how hard or long it will last. I know a person who lost their eyesight because of a tic they developed.”

Damien jumped as he looked at the front door as a couple walked in. To be honest, he forget where he was while he was talking to the waitress. “Oh! You have customers. I'm pretty much done anyways. Did you have any last questions?”

“Welcome. Please sit anywhere and I will be right with you.” She smiled at Damien and shook her head as she got up.“No! I learned a lot and thank you for that. It good to understand others more and what they go through.” Damien smiled at the group as she walked away to help the couple. “I hope she remembers at least the main points of that.”“I'm sure she will, if anything, she at least now knows it not a cursing disorder.” His sister replied softly. “Maybe she will even educate others on this notion.”

“Yeah, yeah...hopefully she will.”