{"id":8656,"date":"2025-11-23T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=8656"},"modified":"2025-11-26T21:33:47","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T21:33:47","slug":"theres-more-to-tourettes-than-swearing-im-living-proof","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/23\/theres-more-to-tourettes-than-swearing-im-living-proof\/","title":{"rendered":"There\u2019s more to Tourette\u2019s than swearing \u2013 I\u2019m living proof"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Person\t<\/div>
Stress and anxiety from work exaggerated my tics and my general health began to crumble (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is August 2024, and my Tourette\u2019s Syndrome (TS)<\/a> \u2013 always worse in the claustrophobic heat of summer \u2013 has become unbearably intrusive<\/a>, with<\/strong> perpetual tremors and tensions anchoring my mood. <\/p>\n

At the same time, mounting stress<\/a> and anxiety<\/a> \u2013 mainly from pressures at work \u2013 had led to a diagnosis of first high blood pressure<\/a>, then depression<\/a> and, finally, moderate to severe ADHD<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And my usual defence, a finely tuned but exhausting \u2018masking\u2019<\/a> \u2013 the physical suppression of tics \u2013 is failing me. My <\/strong>usual bullet-proof resilience <\/strong>is weakening under this strain.<\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t diagnosed with TS until I was <\/strong>32 years old \u2013 22 years ago. <\/strong>From what I remember, seeking a diagnosis was influenced by a documentary about footballer Paul Gascoigne<\/a>, although my memory is a little hazy on this. I spoke to my GP and was then referred to a specialist who made the diagnosis. <\/p>\n

I don\u2019t have the \u2018swearing\u2019 kind (Corprolalia) that most people are familiar with; my Tourette\u2019s produces other involuntary movements and sounds, tics, tensions, hums, and sighs. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\""I\t<\/div>
Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson has a vocal version of TS and was the inspiration for new film I Swear (Picture: Dave Benett\/WireImage)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond a little bullying<\/a> at school, and the odd comment since, I\u2019d largely kept my condition under wraps. So much so, that on the very rare occasions I\u2019ve told anyone I have Tourette\u2019s, the most common response has been: \u2018No you haven\u2019t.\u2019 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Even after my diagnosis, and a brief period of sharing the news with close friends and family, I packed it all away again. I didn\u2019t feel <\/strong>like I would gain anything from sharing my condition more widely.<\/p>\n

And, having become adept at suppressing most of my tics, especially in social or work situations, I felt strong enough to carry on alone.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"(Picture:\t<\/div>
I had to acknowledge this was a nose-dive I couldn\u2019t prevent, says Richard (Picture: Richard King)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But that all changed in the summer of 2024. Stress and anxiety from work exaggerated my tics, which made suppressing them harder; and, as a result, my general health began to slump, then crumble.<\/p>\n

Tension headaches<\/a> that I used to get fortnightly now struck almost daily, and my blood pressure spiralled to levels that medication couldn\u2019t bring down.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t want to go to work \u2013 or anywhere, <\/em>really. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tWhat are tics and Tourette's syndrome?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Tics are sudden and involuntary body movements or sounds that people do repetitively.<\/p>\n

Tics are the main symptom of Tourette’s syndrome, a condition that can be diagnosed after an individual has experienced several tics for over a year.<\/p>\n

The NHS outlines<\/a> that different tics include: <\/p>\n