What Is Tourette’s Syndrome?
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, or Tourette’s syndrome, is a well-known disorder. In fact, many people have teased or made fun of people with this condition. However, it is very inhibiting for those who suffer from it.
Tourette’s syndrome causes people to make repetitive sounds and movements that they cannot control. These are motor and vocal tics that are caused by an injury to the nervous system. It usually occurs in childhood at the age of five to nine.
Scientists first discovered this condition quite recently, around the 1980s. It also affects between 1 and 3 percent of the population. Although specialists do not know why it occurs, they do know that it is genetic.
Tourette’s syndrome is more than just a nerve disorder. In fact , it affects all areas of life, and especially in social aspects. We will therefore tell you everything you need to know about this disorder in this article.
What is Tourette’s Syndrome?
Most people believe that Tourette’s syndrome is a condition that causes people to insult others out of control. However, this is just one of the possible symptoms. People with Tourette’s syndrome suffer from tics they cannot control.
Tics can be repetitive movements, sounds or words. Some of these words may therefore be insults. It is also common for people with this disorder to shrug their shoulders involuntarily.
This condition is more common in men. The symptoms usually appear before they reach the age of 15. In fact, doctors now see most cases now for the first time in six years. These tics can be more or less complex and they can occur with different frequencies.
Some examples of tics are:
- To blink a lot
- Wrinkling of the nose
- Hosting
- Cremation
- Repeated sentences
- Obscene gestures and insults
It is also important to know that tics can change. In fact, they can sometimes get worse. For example, they can get worse when people are stressed or very tired. They usually get better as they get older.
Another important aspect is that Tourette’s syndrome can be associated with other conditions. It is common for these people to suffer from inattention and impulsivity. It is usually also a family history of obsessive-compulsive disorder or even the same syndrome.
How can you treat this condition?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Tourette’s syndrome. However, certain medications help control tics. There are also more and more supportive therapies available.
Medical treatment depends on the person and the severity of the tics. Some patients do not even need to take medication. The truth is that many people with this condition live relatively normal lives.
As treatment, doctors sometimes prescribe drugs that reduce dopamine levels in the brain. However, they can have many side effects, including weight gain. It is also common to use antidepressants. They reduce anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Similarly, many people with Tourette’s syndrome need to treat ADHD to improve their concentration.
In addition to medication , therapy is one of the most important parts of treatment. Children need to feel supported and work on their self-esteem. The same applies to anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, where therapy is very helpful.
Conclusion
Tourette’s syndrome is a complex nerve disorder. These people suffer from tics, both motor and vocal, continuously. The biggest problem with this syndrome is that it disrupts the patient’s social life.
It is important to know the psychological effects of this condition. We cannot allow society to continue to make fun of these people, and we must remove the stigma. That is our social responsibility.
