The Grand Twitch: Tourette Syndrome

I'm a teenager with severe Tourette Syndrome. If you walked by me in the supermarket, you'd realize, at best, that I avoided eye contact, and at most, you'd see me thrashing around on the floor, spitting and screaming.

But the people who know me know see past the misbehaving body and into my mind, the person I truly am.

My disorder, which causes "tics" or uncontrollable movements and sounds, has been disabling for nearly a year now.
Out of the blue, the symptoms went from barely noticeable to extreme and painful.

If you're thinking "gee, she's got Tourette's, doesn't she swear like they all do?"

Truth on that: only 5-10% of people with Tourette ever experience the symptom of cursing. I happen to be on of the unlucky few who do have to curse sporadically.

Yet even worse, like tonight, my legs have decided to quit, midstep, so I fall down continuously. It will go away, eventually, but it drives me crazy.

I've tried over twelve medications for the last nine months when my tics became disabling.

Yet somehow, none of the numerous doctors I've been to have any answers.

I've nearly been hospitalized (if you know what I mean) and I've had horrifying reactions to several medications.

But life goes on, while I wait, hoping to be able to go to high school soon...