What is TOURETTES SYNDROME? and is it for real??

Question

I know a girl who swears a bunch and does bizarre crap- and she claims to have Tourettes syndrome I don't believe it I think shes just making excuses for her behaviour, is it for real? Or just a fallacy?

Answer 1

"You bet your sweet bippi it's real."
Tourettes Syndrome is a recognized medical condition.

According to Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourettes_syndrome
"Tourette syndrome (also called Tourette's syndrome, Tourette's disorder, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, GTS or the more common Tourette's or TS) is an inherited neurological disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by the presence of multiple physical (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic; these tics characteristically wax and wane. Tourette's is defined as part of a spectrum of tic disorders, which includes transient and chronic tics.

Tourette's was once considered a rare and bizarre syndrome, most often associated with the exclamation of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks (coprolalia). However, this symptom is present in only a small minority of people with Tourette's.[1] It is no longer considered a rare condition, but it may not always be correctly identified because of the wide range of severity, with most cases classified as mild. Genetic and environmental factors each play a role in the etiology of Tourette's, but the exact causes are unknown."

According to my friend who had Tourettes it was a very real condition and he couldn't help it when these ticks, utterances, and movements came over him. He didn't plan on it, he didn't want to do it, and he couldn't control it. It is a recognized disability and it was a surprise to me that it did not ban him from joining the US Army. If the US Army recognizes it then the US Government recognizes it and that is pretty darn good reorganization for me.

As for your girlfriend, it depends on if she does it only around you or not. What do her parents say about her condition? Ask her what kind of treatment she is getting for it, if any. Ask her if anything special brings it on or does it always happen (it could be either). When you ask people for details then the lie, if there is one, begins to fall apart.

The Wikipedia Article continues:
"Most people with Tourette's require no medication, but medication is available to help when symptoms interfere with functioning.[10] Because children with tics often present to physicians when their tics are most severe, and because of the waxing and waning nature of tics, it is recommended that medication not be started immediately or changed often.[3] Frequently, the tics subside with explanation, reassurance, understanding of the condition and a supportive environment.[3] When medication is used, the goal is not to eliminate symptoms: it should be used at the lowest possible dose that manages symptoms without adverse effects, given that these may be more disturbing than the symptoms for which they were prescribed.[3]

The classes of medication with the most proven efficacy in treating tics—typical and atypical neuroleptics—can have long-term and short-term adverse effects.[7] The antihypertensive agents, clonidine (Catapres®) and guanfacine (Tenex®), are also used to treat tics. Stimulants and other medications may be useful in treating ADHD when it co-occurs with tic disorders. Drugs from several other classes of medications can be used when stimulant trials fail, including guanfacine, atomoxetine and tricyclics. Clomipramine (Anafranil®), a tricyclic antidepressant, and SSRIs—a class of antidepressants including fluoxetine, sertraline, and fluvoxamine—may be prescribed when a Tourette's patient also has symptoms of obsessive–compulsive disorder.[31]"

So there is no single treatment for the condition. I also don't think that anyone would fake this condition. Yes, it is bizarre, but then so is being in a wheelchair or being blind. As disabilities go this is a minor one, and she can be a full functioning person. If you DON'T believe that she is NOT LYING to you then dump her (and be the louse, I’m sure she is used to this kind of prejudice, after all it is weird so that makes her some sort of weirdo and she has probably felt that all her life) unless you truly care for her. People like her need a little extra love and support.

Now if she really is faking it then she won’t want to talk about it. Also it is going to be hard to keep this kind of thing up for long. Ask her friends about it, and what they think of her having Tourette’s. If they don’t know what you are talking about, or if they laugh at you then you then you will know that she is indeed faking it.

Answer 2

I have worked with many people that have tourettes in a school and a camp setting. It is real, and in the cases i have seen the ticks will become more frequent when one is put under stress. On the other hand I had an autistic student that had tourettes. He would move his head to the right and make a clicking sound and shake his hand. There are a few times he would do this on purpose and would admit to doing so. He also screamed bad words out a couple times, and would say I did it because i have tourettes. He would then say he did it for attention.

Answer 3

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder that strikes roughly 1 in 1000 children, usually between the ages of 6 and 9, but can occur as late as 21 years of age. It is more common in boys than it is in girls, and manifests itself in the form of facial and/or body "tics." Verbal tics are much less common in occurrence, but because of the disturbance and disruption verbal tics often cause in public, they are the most common symptom the unknowing public associates with the disease.

The good news for many TS patients is that their tics can often be controlled or minimized by medication. It's important to find a physician that has experience in treating Tourette Syndrome patients when considering any treatment for the disorder, because caution must be taken in determining the proper dosage levels. To date, no one medicine has been invented specifically for TS. The pharmaceuticals that have been found to minimize tics are normally used to treat other serious illnesses (i.e., high blood pressure). Hence, these drugs can often cause side effects or present risks serious enough to cause some TS patients to opt for living with the tics rather than take medication.

Fortunately, for some who suffer with Tourette Syndrome, the disorder and its tics disappear sometime between the ages of 20 and 24 -- almost as quickly as the tics first appeared in childhood. Most are not this lucky. But for anyone that has lived with Tourette's, regardless of age, this disorder can often wreak havoc on the mind and personality of the victim, and cause pressure and stress in the immediate household. Children struck by Tourette's often suffer from emotional problems, embarrassment, humiliation, various degrees of depression and loss of self-esteem. And for many Tourette victims, even the lucky ones who live to see their tics go away, the teasing and humiliation they experienced during their youth and the loneliness or isolation they felt, often produces emotional scars and self-esteem destruction that can last a lifetime.

Treat the comorbid conditions. SSRIs seems to reduce tics.

Answer 4

Tourettes is indeed for real. My little brother has it and while he doesn't really swear a lot, he has a lot of tics, like jerking his arm and scrunching up his face sometimes. She's not making up the syndrome itself. I'm not saying it's impossible for someone to claim that they have it in order to get away with acting strange, but I kind of doubt that's what she's doing.

Answer 5

Yes tourettes syndrome is for real.
It's a neurological disfunction in the brain which makes you do weird things like swear randomly and have little ticks that are out of that persons control. They can't help it, it's beyond their control and believe it or not, it's extremly embarrassing for them.

Answer 6

Tourettes syndrome is very real, just ask anyone who suffers from it.

Answer 7

yes, it's for real.
i worked w/ a guy in college in a tutoring lab. i had to type his papers as he dictated them. he had a mental thing where he couldn't stand or sit still. he would bounce and hop around the room and had weird little ticks in his breathing and speach. i never heard him swear, but he made audible grunts and breathing 'stutters'. Some people swear instead of making the sounds or ticks. If she does have the condition, it it embarrassing for her and you should just ignore the things she does.

Answer 8

It's very real. go to : www.google.com and put in the word Tourettes .. you will get lots of links with info. Good Luck! :)

Answer 9

Tourettes is for real. Go to:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourettes_syndrome
and check the symptoms against her behavior.

Answer 10

Tourettes is real. wether the girl has it or not, i dont know. but it is real and it is very possible that she does have it.