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

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The discussion centers around the misunderstanding of Tourette's syndrome, particularly in relation to a video that may be perceived as a joke. Participants clarify that Tourette's is characterized by involuntary tics and, in some cases, the utterance of obscenities, which are not controlled by the individual. Personal anecdotes highlight the variability of symptoms, including physical and verbal tics, and the challenges faced by those with the condition. The conversation also touches on the misdiagnosis of Tourette's, with some behaviors being confused with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Key distinctions are made between the compulsions associated with OCD, which are often linked to alleviating anxiety, and the involuntary nature of Tourette's tics. The potential for co-morbidity between Tourette's and OCD is mentioned, emphasizing the complexity of these disorders and the need for better understanding and awareness.
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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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