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Tourette Syndrome is a highly misunderstood neurological disorder. It is depicted throughout popular media as an uncontrollable urge to shout profanities—usually as a comedic crutch for lazy writers (damnit!). In reality, such involuntary cursing is a very rare subset of Tourette symptoms, and few tourettics ever experience it.
More commonly, Tourette sufferers are gripped with an intense inclination to repeatedly make certain movements or sounds, called “tics.” Someone with vocal tics might feel an urge to repeat words spoken by oneself or another person; to say words aloud after reading them; or to make repeated moaning or grunting sounds. Motor-related Tourette’s tics can be an endless variety of repeated, unnecessary movements, such as face contortions, hand-clapping, spinning, or even some highly disabling tics, such as punching oneself in the face.
Although these tics are involuntary, individuals with Tourette’s can usually sense the impending tic, much like an approaching yawn or sneeze, and postpone its expression for several minutes or several hours. But symptoms cannot be resisted indefinitely, and a delay often exacerbates their severity, so people with Tourette’s will often exert effort to resist their tics until they can find seclusion, and release the pent-up symptoms all at once.
Tourette Syndrome is usually inherited genetically, and is three to four times more frequent in males. While medication is available to treat a few specific symptoms, the cure in many ways is worse than the disease, having unwanted short- and long-term side effects. Experimental surgery with implanted brain electrodes has shown dramatic improvement in some tourettics, however such drastic measures are unlikely to become widespread owing to the risks inherent in invasive brain surgery.
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That behaviour sounds very much like Brad Pitt’s character in Twelve Monkeys. I’ve long pondered what sort of an infliction would cause that sort of tics and repetition. Now I know. Thanks.
I have a series of health problems and two of them can be managed with implanted devices: one in the brain, the other in the spine. I’ve never seen the potential risk to be at all comparable to the chronic discomfort. It’s like killing a raccoon with a nuclear weapon.
PERKY_NIHILIST said: “I have a series of health problems and two of them can be managed with implanted devices: one in the brain, the other in the spine. I’ve never seen the potential risk to be at all comparable to the chronic discomfort. It’s like killing a raccoon with a nuclear weapon.”
Good point. In cases of Tourette’s, the tics are not usually disabling, they’re mostly just socially disagreeable. Moreover, the tics can almost always be supressed for some time, so life can be arranged around them to a large degree.
I don’t mean to trivialize the symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome, I just mean to point out that the risk-to-benefit ratio for undergoing surgery is less for a Tourette’s sufferer than for many other disabilities, hence the medical community’s reluctance to introduce brain electrodes as a common treatment.
I’m all for reluctance in the medical community. It sure beats the old attitude of, “When in doubt cut it out.” *grin*
The media’s portrayal of Tourette’s is shameful. I had no idea that it extended beyond foul language or that it was controllable.
I agree, here is a helpful site for information on Tourette’s syndrome:
http://www.tourettesguy.com
enjoy!
Thanks for the site, superfart. You are right; it is really informative. The video documentation really adds perspective to the problem. Good find!
I’ve dated 2 guys who have been diagnosed with having Tourette’s. I’ve only had a serious relatinship with about 10 guys (I’m 24 years old). I didnt’ know either one had Tourette’s until after I met them. Pretty big coincidence, either that or it’s more common than people realize. The first guy’s case was somewhat severe where he would repeat words either he or someone else would say. The other not so severe, consisting of mainly facial tics and some OCD-like behavior. In fact I wasn’t sure he knew he had Tourette’s. These guys were normal, social, well-liked and had successful careers (and cute if you don’t mind me saying so). One said he was sensitive to people making fun of him but he wasn’t ashamed of it, it was just something he had to deal with. Unfortunely he chose a less conventional way of treatment that included an “herbal” remedyas a way of relaxation, if you know what I mean.
Thanks supfart for that website heres one that also might help
http://www.playboy.com
Look it up its top quality. you need some girls in your life
PS You are Gay
I remember reading that it is not so much that tourettes sufferers have uncontrollable tics while others don’t, it is more like *everyone* has these urges but tourettes sufferers are unable to resist them.
This is the closest I can find to a source: if memory serves, this seems to be a brief summary of something of much more depth:
http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/1999/C/199902506.html
You may want to view this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fyfXS1knqg
Enter your reply text here. OK
As a little kid I (said) the word, “gay.” I stopped (saying) it when I made an actual gay kid cry.
My lession learned. What the hell was on the now gone video?
WIRELESS warfare can do all the same things.If the R/F or microwave broadcast is designed to it can kill anyone.I have seen and heard alot in my 50 years but I think most of what you are taking about here is warfare.HA HA I broadcast and you jump remote controlled livestock in 1972 and tesla said he could control anyone in 1890 by R/F.
EARTH MIC satellite age sound scan projections both in sound and light images.RADAR broadcasters kill off and control those they want to masonics SS.I have a few bullets and damages to my skull brain and body a arrow lodged left mid brain and yes I know they got all the money by useing people left &right.With a broadcast tower every two miles in the citys VFR and satellites covering the whole world BROADCAST SYSTEM I know it is just a take away like they did to armstrong inventor of A/C and tesla inventor of FM and wireless warfare.
If you ever see anyone with this look around is there a radar or tower near?,or do you see a satellite training a broadcast at them..That all I see I`ve never seen a real case only remotes on good looking females by mobster broadcasters or warfares on the RICH or poor.Broadcast in a R/F around the subject… a stable R/F without any imputs and they will be just normal as can bee…I should know I still have my R/F gennerators from my childhood that DAD howard Hughes JR gave to my doctor DOCTOR PLACE lincoln ne 1964.They were radar broadcasting into me kill N off hughes dad got them and I remember most of that.
Check smart brain interactives bio-computer feedback loops with heat images of the brainwave.the self can reprogram the brain with this loop system.TOM SLICK HHMI brain studies since the 1950`s.Like I said a stable R/F base can block radar and VRF plus some other forms of broadcasting into so called test subjects.the closer humans live to high energy broadcast and electrical death rates go up and reproduction drops.The brainwave is a mini broadcast itself and that is what they designed the broadcast towers based on.Many bugs use sonar.radar and can see it radio images without any eyes nothing new here all based on our own earth and life forms.
Why is it that people with this disorder shout out curses? Why not names of animals or fruits? Or are they just as likely to to that too?
I found this article very interesting and decide to make a translation of it. Here is this article in Russian: http://chitach.ru/posts/1/
No mention of the fact that certain medications can worsen/awaken previously hidden Tourette’s? My family carries the gene for Tourette’s syndrome, but it’s apparently dormant – except in my aunt’s case. She was on Ritalin (or something similar) for behavioral problems, but it caused the minor tics previously unnoticed to become more prominent. (Unfortunately, she blames my grandparents for not knowing that this could happen, and is now estranged from the rest of the family.)
IF I am in mistaken in interpreting this situation, please inform me. I am, after all, only getting this information secondhand.
Well, at least I know that this is one thing that is not wrong with me.