Condition far from a laughing matter
Some of Tourette Scotland’s members with a local kids group that helps self-confidence and self-esteem by using team-building activities It is perhaps one of the most misunderstood medical conditions in the world - and has even been a source of comedy over the years.
But for those who suffer from Tourette Syndrome (TS), it is no laughing matter.
Instead, there is a constant worry about involuntary motor and vocal tics and the stigma attached with the condition. One such sufferer is Perth woman Lauren Reid. The 42-year-old suffers from TS and bravely opened up to the PA about her condition.
When asked what it is like to have the disease, she replies: “That’s a tricky question. It’s different for everyone.
“I’ve heard people describe a tic like scratching an itch - if you have an itchy nose but don’t scratch it, the urge to scratch it becomes unbearable until you have no choice.
“That’s what it feels like trying to hold back a tic but that’s only part of it.
“Tics take a physical toll, a lot of motor tics hurt and if you have a particularly bad tic which sticks around for a while, it can become agonising.
“I actually had surgery in November to repair a damaged disc in my neck which the surgeon believed had a lot to do with a neck tic I have had for years.
“In addition to that it’s exhausting, both mentally and physically.
“A lot of people have additional co-morbid conditions such as OCD, ADHD, depression and anxiety to name a few, so you can imagine that it takes its toll mentally as well, in fact the mental tics and OCD are the most difficult to cope with for me. “I think my worst time was school. “I was very badly bullied throughout the majority of primary and secondary school.” Kids enjoyed rock wall climbing and building a crate tower at Fordel Firs, Fife, last year
With the condition causing difficulties in her life, Lauren approached Tourette Scotland, which is where her involvement with the charity really took off.
Lauren spent many years on the committee at Tourette Scotland and then after some time away returned to become a trustee again last year.
Tourette Scotland, formed in 1994, was started to fill a gap in support for TS sufferers in Scotland.
The registered charity is a national organisation that provides advice and support for children and adults with TS in Scotland.
“When I was first diagnosed, I did a lot of research and discovered Tourette Scotland,” Lauren explained.
“The most positive outcome would be the people I’ve met through Tourette Scotland over the years.
“I went along to a meeting one Saturday and suddenly met all these people who did what I did.
“I can’t explain how it feels to finally realise that you’re not alone.
“It sounds clichéd but for the most part you feel different, like a freak I suppose, and to suddenly meet people who say ‘oh, I do that too’ is just wonderful.
“The people I met were just the best people, so supportive and welcoming and with so much knowledge.
“Not long after my first visit I decided I wanted