#tic attack

Complex tic: when multiple muscle groups are used, multiple words (e.g., throwing something)

Premonitory urge: a very uncomfortable sensation (a build up of energy, electric/fiery/bubbling/tickling/crawling) that builds up before a tic. Not everyone experiences this and it doesn't happen before every tic.

Suppressing: the act of 'holding in' tics, often increasing the premonitory urge and making them worse later. Not everyone can suppress and it can only be done for so long. People may do it to avoid judgement, for safety.

Coprolalia: a socially inappropriate vocal tic (e.g., swearing, a slur)

Copropraxia: a socially inappropriate motor (physical) tic (e.g., 🖕)

Echolalia: vocally repeating other people's words or sounds, can also extend to animal sounds

Echopraxia: physically repeating others actions

Waxing: a period of increased frequency or intensity of tics, or a flare up

Waning: a period of decreased tic frequency/intensity

Tic attack: a highly intense period of constant, often intense, tics, completely uncontrollable and unstoppable

Trigger: something that sets off a person's tics or a particular tic

Dystonic tics: slower tics, abnormal posture or straining of a body part

Blocking tics: a tic which takes away a person's ability to move/speak

Also because the really violent tics are the ones that are less frequent for me people forget that I do them and then it hurts and they're staring at me like I'm possessed.

I don't see people talk about this very often and I think we should talk about it more.

*tic attack*

Oftentimes it’s about how to make us more palatable to those who don’t have tics, whether that is being in good humour and allowing them to laugh at us regardless of whether we are comfortable with that, locking ourselves up at home so people don’t have to see something “icky”, putting ourselves in the constant discomfort of suppressing tics for no reason but the fact that other people are ignorant.

Tourette’s Awareness Month continues until June 15th 🩵⚡️