Guy really have tourettes, or is this simply a joke?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of Tourette's syndrome and whether a specific individual is genuinely exhibiting symptoms of the disorder or if their behavior is intended as a joke. Participants explore various aspects of Tourette's, including its symptoms, misconceptions, and comparisons with other conditions like OCD.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that the behavior in question is a joke, while others suggest it could be a genuine expression of Tourette's syndrome.
  • One participant shares personal experience with a colleague who had Tourette's, describing involuntary vocalizations that were not context-dependent.
  • Another participant recounts an encounter with a child who exhibited both Tourette's and possible autism, highlighting the complexity of symptoms.
  • There is a discussion about the distinction between Tourette's and OCD, with some participants suggesting that certain behaviors described may align more closely with OCD rather than Tourette's.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential for misdiagnosis of Tourette's, with references to the variability in symptoms and severity.
  • Participants express curiosity about the co-morbidity of Tourette's and OCD, noting that compulsions in OCD are often linked to intrusive thoughts, unlike the involuntary tics associated with Tourette's.
  • One participant shares their own experience with OCD, describing how it manifested in their behavior and how it can fluctuate over time.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether the individual in question genuinely has Tourette's or if their behavior is a joke. There are multiple competing views regarding the nature of Tourette's and its distinction from OCD, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that Tourette's can be misdiagnosed and that symptoms can vary widely among individuals. The discussion reflects a range of personal experiences and interpretations of the conditions involved.

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So, does this guy really have tourettes, or is this simply a joke?

Warning, bad language:

 
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It's a joke. A very bad joke.

Warning, there is a lot of bad language in that video, so don't link to it if you are offended by language. I will probably delete it.

Tourettes sufferers have no control and make noises and in some rare occurences shout obscenities, but completely random and not in response to what is happening.

I used to work with an engineer that had tourettes and he would bark like a seal. He would get worse if he got nervous.
 


Children with Tourette's talking about their disorder:
 
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When I went bowling there was a kid with tourette's but I think he was also autistic or something.

He had trouble controlling his umm... volume. Whenever someone got a good hit he'd just yell "YEAH!", then his dad would tell him to calm down and be quiet (not shut up, just talk quieter), and he'd go "YEAH!"

Tourette's is misunderstood like Schizophrenia is. People think the latter is about multiple personalities, where that's completely different.
 


The girl that puts the pencil on the floor when she feels a need to do something like "press on her stomach" sounds like she has OCD, not tourettes. She's feeling a compulsion coming on. Another boy spoke about a compulsion.

I thought tourettes was something that just happened, not that they felt a compulsion coming on and could control it and cover it up. I know the guy that I worked with would just let out a bark mid sentence and had no idea it was going to happen.

Is tourettes often mis-diagnosed? I know it can be physical tics or verbal and severity can span a considerable range.

Ah, a quick google search shows that it is very mis-diagnosed.
 
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Evo said:
The girl that puts the pencil on the floor when she feels a need to do something like "press on her stomach" sounds like she has OCD, not tourettes. She's feeling a compulsion coming on. Another boy spoke about a compulsion.

I thought tourettes was something that just happened, not that they felt a compulsion coming on and could control it and cover it up. I know the guy that I worked with would just let out a bark mid sentence and had no idea it was going to happen.

Is tourettes often mis-diagnosed? I know it can be physical ticks or verbal and severity can span a considerable range.

My understanding is that with OCD the compulsions have to do with stopping intrusive unpleasant thoughts (obsessions). For instance, checking if the door is locked over and over because of worry that it's been left unlocked or not properly locked. It sounds like with Tourette's, the compulsions aren't something a person does to alleviate unpleasant thoughts, just something that can't be supressed. I wonder if there is a lot of co-morbidity with Tourette's and OCD.
 


Math Is Hard said:
My understanding is that with OCD the compulsions have to do with stopping intrusive unpleasant thoughts (obsessions). For instance, checking if the door is locked over and over because of worry that it's been left unlocked or not properly locked. It sounds like with Tourette's, the compulsions aren't something a person does to alleviate unpleasant thoughts, just something that can't be supressed. I wonder if there is a lot of co-morbidity with Tourette's and OCD.
No, OCD is just a compulsion to do something. It can be different for everyone and what a couple of those kids described is OCD. I developed a mild form of OCD when I was 12, it was referred to as an auditory form where I would tap out rythyms. I have outgrown it. OCD can come and go. It can be brought on or made worse by stress.

Trichtilomania, for instance, is a type of OCD that is done purely for the pleasure that it gives.

I've studied OCD quite a bit and know a number of people that have it in different forms and to different degrees.
 


http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors such as handwashing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. Performing these so-called "rituals," however, provides only temporary relief, and not performing them markedly increases anxiety.
 
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I knew a kid who had tourette's and had it mostly under control, but when he got excited, for instance playing with our dogs, he would have a slight tick, but it wasn't really a big deal.
 

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