Vocalist.org archive


To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
From: Sally Collyer
Subject: Re: Tourette's
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

A few little extra bits on Tourette's Syndrome.

"Some can control their symptoms by concentrating very hard on some
cerebral activity (a dozen or so Touretters work, quite safely, as surgeons.)"

"A survey of 135 people with Tourette's syndrome found that 93 per cent
could identify 'premonitory urges' and that they could - by making a
conscious effort - suppress the movement that would normally follow.
Blocking tics like this does not, however, stop them. Until the urge has
been translated into movement it continues to beat up against the walls of
consciousness like an ever-intensifying itch demanding to be satisfied ...
'People say to me then: "'If you can control it, why do you do it at all?"
I explain to them: it's like holding your breath - you can do it for so
long, but eventually you have to let go. And when you do, you pant for a
while.'"

Quotes from 'Mapping the mind' by Rita Carter.

Sally