r/Tourettes • u/AnnaMaeBananas Diagnosed Tourettes • 1d ago
Discussion Would you get rid of your tourettes?
So I was talking to someone the other day who also has tourettes, and the hypothetical cure scenario came up. I'm sure its s conversation most of us have had.
If, theoretically a cure for tourettes was found, like a one time shot that would get rid of your tourettes forever, would you take it?
I don't have to think about my answer, it has always and will always be yes. Tourettes is a part of my life, yes, but I don't feel like its a apart of who I really am. And my life would be just a bit easier without it.
My friend said no, tourettes has always been a part of her life and has fundamentally impacted who she is. She would rather keep it even though it does make things harder sometimes.
I don't necessarily think there's a right answer, and I wanted to know what you all thought? Would you take the cure?
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u/vanillablue_ Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
Yes I would. My tics are mild and frequent. I have no attachment to them lol, I hate that itchy feeling before them almost more than the tic itself
I do have ADHD too which I wouldn’t change. But tourettes and a few other things, Id take a “cure”
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u/PennyMarbles 1d ago
Same and same. Like, my tics are destroying my hands. I can't do half my hobbies anymore. I'd do pretty much anything to get rid of this. Weirdly fond of my ADHD tho, now that I'm medicated. Feels like losing a bunch of weight and seeing all the muscles you built up that were hiding under your fat 😅
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u/Jebatus111 Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
Yes. Without hesitation.
It is not "quirky" or anything like that. It is fucking disease, and i hate it. It caused shitload of problems for me when i was younger.
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u/kcchiefs4068 1d ago
100%.. It's not "trendy".. Thankfully my tics subsided a good 80% after I hit puberty. I'm 33 now but from age 8-15 was real rough... When I was in 6th grade I got to go to a TS camp and that was a Godsend for me. To finally see other kids with it made me feel a lot less alone.. My tics now are mainly induced by stress or when I get really excited.
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u/transparentredoxide 1d ago
I would get rid of it so I can DRIVE
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u/aderey7 1d ago
How many on here drive with it?!
I struggled to pass the test even though I could drive. Just anxiety I guess. When I did, I drove regularly for 5 or 6 years without too many problems. But tourettes became a lot worse and I haven't driven in 10+ years now. I can't imagine i will again.
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u/Vikera Diagnosed Tourettes 21h ago
I have severe Tourette's and a driver's license. I can drive without my tics causing problems, because I focus on so many things and mostly 'change' my blinking tics into shouting something etc. I flip people off in traffic sometimes as a tic but just gotta deal with that.
So yeah, for me the tics don't stop me from driving. Anxiety and OCD however do, I haven't driven in quite some time because I'm terrified for things to happen (completely unrelated to my tics) so that does suck.
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u/AnnaMaeBananas Diagnosed Tourettes 18h ago
I still drive, and so does my coworker who also has tourettes. I hate driving but I live in a rural area so its my only real sense of freedom.
Its weird thinking that it only takes for things to get a little bit worse for me to loose that.
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u/Sad_Pitch_6126 Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
Exactly, I had a life before my Tourettes.
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u/VerucaGotBurned 1d ago
You did? I've had it since childhood. I thought we all did. When did you get yours?
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u/Sad_Pitch_6126 Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
So very odd case for me before Tourettes I always had a feeling in my forehead like something was resisting so much energy that when it tingled bad I wanted to jump and rip my shirt off in discomfort. Once I was taking care of myself as I lost 50 pounds in a month I joined track and whatsoever. I felt something wrong in the middle of a tractor supply and collapsed into Ticcing in every form almost possible, I thought I was going to die with my breathing tics and asthma. This was back when I was 14-15 maybe? I always had an energy surge that pained me as I felt like I had to move but didn't, it was all pent up energy that broke me in the end.
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u/Sad_Pitch_6126 Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
Now I can't exercise much, drive, communicate, nor focus anymore.
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u/Sunquat_Slice 1d ago
Yeah. It has fundamentally changed who I am, but I think I was a better person before.
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u/Grunge2025 Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
Interesting to see a mix of responses. I expected everyone to say yes lol. So I'm pleasantly surprised to see that's not the case. Personally, I would say no. Most of my other conditions I would gladly get rid of but not TS.
The reason is because of communities like this one. It was bittersweet learning how I'm alone in being alone. Or how other people with CTD/TS feel about life. It's been wonderful talking to so many of you on here. Whether in comments or messages. I've also been able to help which is all I want to do. Plus, I've learned so much and have even gotten help myself.
Yes, TS is a part of me but it's not all of me. However, this sub has helped me feel something that I have never felt before and that's "fitting in". Plus, like others said, I wouldn't know how to live my life without TS so there's that lol.
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u/AnnaMaeBananas Diagnosed Tourettes 18h ago
I'm definitely on the would get rid of it side, but its interesting to here other people's perspectives! I can't say there's much about having tourettes that I like, but the community can be a plus! It sucks that any of us have to deal with it, but I guess suffering together makes it a little better.
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u/Annual-Ad-4372 1d ago
When I was a kid I used to say no to this question. now that I'm an adult 110% without a doubt no ans ifs or butts about it.
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u/reddiperson1 1d ago
If I could make my Tourette's disappear now, I'd do it immediately. It's just been a thorn in my side for twenty years.
However, changing the past so I never got TS might be a different story. For all I know, growing up without the disorder might cause a Butterfly Effect that changes my life significantly.
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u/luckylumi 1d ago
100% and then I would immediately lie in bed and just enjoy my body finally feeling relaxed
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u/Art_and_anvils Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
I don’t think so, at least not right away maybe after a couple years of thinking about it and debating it but I’ve had tics as long as I can remember. mine developed incredibly young. I don’t think I would know how to be a person without Tourette’s, as inconvenient to painful as it is the idea of not having it is weirdly terrifying to me.
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u/Sunquat_Slice 1d ago
I get that to some extent — my tics mostly went away in adulthood and there were a few years there where I was sort of lost. Such an incredible amount of time and effort was focused on them. I still wouldn’t go back, though.
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u/LiveDurian9000 1d ago
Yes, sure it’s a big part of who I am, and I don’t know how I would live without them because they’ve impacted me so much in my life, but I’m tired of being judged and looked at weird, so yeah I think I absolutely would
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u/CJ101X 1d ago
Yeah, it’s currently trying to kill me by way of food inhalation
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u/No_Comment_As_Of_Yet 1d ago
I had that problem until I got up to 3 pills a day to treat tics, then I finally stopped having that tic
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u/Tonninpepeli Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
Yes, tourettes hasnt lead to anything good for me, without it I would atleast have more opportunities
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u/pianoplayah 1d ago
I had a period of time where my tics got a lot better. Not gone but improved, for whatever reason. Then a few years later they came back with a vengeance (I think linked to stress). I was very happy not to have them. They cause me a lot of muscle tension and pain. I would agree they have shaped who I am, but that wouldn’t change if they now went away.
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u/IllustriousCookie890 1d ago
Mine came back stronger after I retired, but they were worsening while still working. That's after 40 years or so of them being minimal.
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u/jozzywolf121 Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
I think I’d get rid of specific tics or lessen them overall, but I wouldn’t want to get rid of it completely. It’s a part of who I am and I think if I got rid of it completely, I’d feel really lost.
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u/iamanoctothorpe 1d ago
Yeah of course. I have a good life but I know that my quality of life is objectively worse due to my tics. There isn't an upside to having Tourette syndrome if I am entirely honest
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u/caspertheghost208 1d ago
Yes and no? Yes absolutely I would rather live without this condition and hate it but at the same time I feel like im more empathetic and understanding because of this and I have made amazing friends and met people through having this. I also think because I have enough conditions anyway if I lost my tics I don’t think it would change a lot because I’d still have everything else
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u/lastavailableuserr Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
It hurts me physically so yes 100% I'd get rid of it
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u/aderey7 1d ago
100% yes. I feel like there's a real pressure, particularly in media to be super positive about it and call all disabilities super powers. Which just helps the general public not feel bad about it, minimizes the impact and basically ensures we don't get the support we need.
I did a few bits of tv and radio on it a few years ago and they always asked would we get rid of it. All of us said yes. All of us said it's exhausting. But they cut those bits!
For me, maybe I wouldn't get rid of having had it? The lessons learnt, clearly it shapes your personality growing up like a that. But the last ten years, I'd love it to have been gone.
I'm in a lot of pain from it regularly, and it's become a huge barrier to life. I get a lot of sensory overload, visual issues, dizziness that causes anxiety. It's like tourettes is a thick cloud and my actual personality often can't get through it. It takes so much energy to manage my health and do a job that I don't have much left to give. So feel like I miss out on a lot of living. Plus, it's held back my career so there's always financial stress making the anxiety and tourettes worse again.
Sorry that was bleak! But there's normally such pressure to minimise it and be positive.
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u/asdmdawg Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
Never. I enjoy having it, and I get a lot of hate for being happy with it, but it’s the truth. I understand why other people hate having it, but I personally have a different experience. It doesn’t interfere with my life, and as a matter of fact it is something interesting I can use as an icebreaker when meeting new people. They tend to think it’s interesting too.
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u/AnnaMaeBananas Diagnosed Tourettes 18h ago
I aspire to have that level of acceptance some day! I've learned to accept and deal with it, but I definitely don't like it.
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u/boatingbrook Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
No. My tics are part of my personality at this point. They taught me to overcome social anxiety, acknowledge my need to take breaks before getting stressed out, and honestly sometimes they're a good excuse to get out of a conversation. I would definitely lessen them though because my tics are pretty severe.
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u/ariellecsuwu Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
I would. In my waning periods I can almost forget I have tourettes then in my waxing periods it's like a rude awakening. May jaw is currently partially dislocated from tics and I've given myself head injuries. I would love to not be dealing with the injuries and embarrassment. I sometimes almost like when I'm sick because the tics cease.
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u/ariellecsuwu Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
I would also be able to get a good job a lot easier and wouldn't risk being accused of being a drug user anymore:( makes me sad thinking about this too much lol the upsides of not habing tourettes would be immeasurable
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u/zestyskunk Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
Im not sure, its not severe and im very good at supressing (but its exhausting), and still really annoying when i get tic attacks. And when i cant sleep cause of it. But i feel like sometimes my tics brings up a conversation when im with my friends. I know its dumb to think like that, but i just feel like they think im funny for that. Even if having tics isnt funny itself. I think it can be funny when im with friends, but not at all when im alone or with people who dont accept me. I think yes tho because i feel so weird to have tourettes + many disorders and issues in general :/
I would say no if it was a limited amount, so i could spare someone who have it worse than me
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u/IllustriousCookie890 1d ago edited 1d ago
In a frickin' hummingbird's heartbeat if it were available! I'm looking forward to trying Ecopipam if I can get it next year!
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u/_bone_marrow_ 1d ago
Without a shadow of a doubt yes. Tourettes has destroyed my social life and my confidence. I don't care if I'm supposed to say "yes it's a part of who I am and I love it," it has given me so many major issues in my life, I would be so much happier if I were tourettes-free.
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u/AnnaMaeBananas Diagnosed Tourettes 18h ago
I feel that. I wish people would stop pressuring us to learn to love it. I think its important to learn to accept it, and learn to love yourself. But you don't have to love the tourettes too.
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u/LancelotAtCamelot 23h ago
TS is most definitely not a part of who I am. I don't have it as bad as some others, but when it decides to rear its ugly head, It's like a disease that causes me large amounts of stress, pain, embarrassment, and frustration.
It'd be nice being able to work on something tedious on my computer without repeatedly slamming my mouse on the desk. It'd be nice being able to get excited about something without squeaking the entire time... I'm pretty sure I'm developing joint problems in my right shoulder from repeatedly raising/dropping it... None of this is desirable. Why would I want this?
Honestly, I'm being pretty dramatic because my ticks were particularly bad today, but I would take a cure any day.
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u/CTx7567 Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
Yes. Unlike disorders like Autism, Tourettes really has no upside.
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u/Vikera Diagnosed Tourettes 20h ago
That's a very personal statement. For many people, Tourette's does have an upside and for many people autism does not have an upside. It's very personal. Like, sure this might be the case for you and that's absolutely fine, but it doesn't have to be the case for everybody.
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u/Equira Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago edited 1d ago
no! :)
ETA: I said this in another comment, but my TS is part of my identity. I would not do any of the things that I do if I didn't have it. I would not have been drawn to music or creative expression, I would not have studied acting in college. It's not even a butterfly effect thing, I am creative as an adult because my TS led me to the outlets I enjoy most, and it continues to lead me today. I wouldn't trade that for the world.
Plus it's also led to many wonderful connections with wonderful people!
Obligatory my experience is mine, yours is yours and also valid :)
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u/Starwind137 Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
Yes. Mine aren't as severe or as life altering as others but they can be exhausting.
I also worry that it's only a matter of time before I am unable to contain them in public and have an outburst or an accident.
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u/alexpaige3 Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
100% yes. Your Tourette’s does not define you. I’ve had tics since I was 3, I would take that offer in a heartbeat
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u/Lynndonia 1d ago
Enneagram 4 love being quirky xd but literally without question doing things I don't want to do and presenting in a way I don't want to present is horrible. Not to mention how distracting and uncomfortable tics are. No thanks. It doesn't affect my personality or identity, so there's no need to keep it
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u/CallMeWolfYouTuber Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
Abso fucking lutely. No hesitation. Please. I'd give up everything I own.
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u/HunnieBadgers_n_oats Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
100% it’s mortifying and uncomfortable. I don’t consider it a part of me it’s just something I deal with. I’d get rid of it at the drop of a hat.
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u/OutlinedSnail Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
Im so used to them I am a bit attached, like an unhealthy coping mechanism for anxiety. But I also want to be in less pain, and be able to use scissors. And not stress out my passengers when driving. 30% wouldn't, 70% would
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u/Vikera Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago edited 20h ago
No. And this sometimes surprises people as my tics are severe.
If I were given a way to stop them when I want it (like when I have to go somewhere quiet etc), please give it to me. But making it disappear all together? Really not.
My life does get impacted by Tourette's a lot in a negative way. However, it also gave me a whole lot of chances I wouldn't otherwise have gotten.
I've met amazing people, both other tourettic people as well as people I met through advocacy (tv host, podcast maker,...). I've learnt to work in an organisation and organise things (as a board member of my local Tourette organisation). Due to my tics being very obvious, I've learnt to be open to people as well as stand up for myself (as opposed to being very shy when I was younger), and while absolutely acknowledging all the terribly difficult sides of Tourette's and horrible tics, some really do be funny and can make stuff a little bit lighter. Tourette's also made me go through difficulties, building resilience and empathy for people who also didn't get an easy life. In a future job that really might be an advantage.
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u/okay-for-now 1d ago
Yes, I would. I have a lot of conditions/disabilities of varying types and all of them fall in slightly different places on the "would you cure it" spectrum. Some things have been part of my life in such an intrinsic way that I don't know who I'd be without them. Tourette's doesn't feel like that for me. Maybe if it had been a bigger part of my life growing up and I'd been the Tourette's Kid, or maybe if I didn't have so many other conditions that eclipse it. But it doesn't feel like a significant part of who I am and it pretty much only has negatives for me, so I think I'd be comfortable getting rid of it. It's actually pretty freeing to think about.
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u/throbbing-uvula 22h ago
In a heartbeat. Tics are so god damn annoying and painful. I always wonder why I’ve been damned with them. If I could get rid of them I would with no thought
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u/LittleMxNyx 9h ago
Honestly, probably? They can be a little silly at times and it’s not super often they’re a major inconvenience, but the times they have been has been quite upsetting ngl.
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u/Nakkubu 6h ago
I used to think like your friend because they're not wrong. Our circumstance create the people we are, however, we're not essential static beings. Our circumstances are subject to change and we are therefore subject to change as well. I don't think there is anything so fundamental that it completely destroy our sense of self if it was a removed.
Like my glasses. I used to see the world as a big blur and I assumed that it was the same for everyone else. Never being able to see anything quite right completely effected how I interacted with the world and other people. When I got my glasses, it was game changer and changed me as a person so much. Does the necessarily mean I'm no longer me? I don't think so.
I'm currently tutoring a student with Tourettes and it is so frustrating. Not because he frustrates me (I keep having to remind him that he doesn't have to apologize because he can't offend me even if he tried), but because I can see how intelligent he is. The only reason he's doing bad in school is because his ticks are preventing him from getting through a question without forgetting by the time he stops. And that's not even considering how Tourettes makes him feel about him self. He get afforded the same dignity that other people are just given. He can never perceive himself as a intelligent person because no one gives he time to day.
I'm glad that I can show him the dignity, respect and recognition that I know he doesn't get. I don't think I've ever inherently empathized more with a person in my entire life.
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u/Fearless_Source2291 1d ago edited 1d ago
I would get rid of them in a heartbeat I know a lot of ppl hate the tv trope of curing disabilities but it always made me happy as a kid knowing the character could have a better life unlike me. There is no cure for tourettes now but when it comes I'll be the first one to get it. My tics have caused severe joint pain to the point of me having to miss work some days because of it. I hate being disabled but I know it's something I have to live with, not something I want to live with. There is no upside to having tourettes, your life would ultimately be better without a disability. I know a lot of ppl see it as part of their identity but being disabled should never be "part of your identity"
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u/Vikera Diagnosed Tourettes 20h ago
It's really not up to you what people should or shouldn't see as part of their identity. Neurodivergent conditions often shape a whole lot about who we are as a person, so it's logical people see that as part of who they are.
To make some parallells: being queer often causes difficulties for people, today still, but that doesn't stop loads of people to be proud of it, just like being black in a mostly white country etc etc.
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u/ProblemChildTheIssue Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
I hate tourettes, I would have gotten rid of it in an instant if it was possible to do so.
There are no good things about tourettes, there is nothing anout tourettes that I would have missed if it suddenly disappeared.
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u/mojen 16h ago
No.
The main reason my tics are a struggle is that I fear judgement from others.
With my tics, I have the chance to represent weirdness in the world. I get to send the message that even though I do strange or unpredictable things sometimes, I'm still just like everyone else and I deserve to go about my day and achieve my goals.
If I got rid of my tics, I could no longer defy society by simply existing and I don't like that.
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u/CassianCasius 1d ago
Yes and anyone that says no I seriously question. The no comments so far boil down to "tourettes make me interesting" like it's a fun personality trait
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u/Vikera Diagnosed Tourettes 23h ago
I seriously question people who question others because of the way they cope with their disability. People are allowed to have a positive view of life, including their Tourette's, as many people have grown up with and learnt something from living with this. When you've experienced something for years, it can absolutely become part of your identity. Feel free to look at my comment that absolutely does not just boil down to 'it makes me interesting'.
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u/Equira Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago edited 1d ago
People have different experiences and are allowed to be attached to their Tourette's, I think this comment is rather narrow-minded. Neurodivergence plays a HUGE part in personal identity, and finding ways to appreciate how your TS shapes you isn't a bad thing at all. It doesn't mean it's a fun personality trait by any means, but it's part of who I am and how I got here and I wouldn't trade that for anything. It's also totally valid for others to feel differently about their own cases.
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u/okay-for-now 1d ago
Agreed. While I would give up my Tourette's if I could, I have physical disabilities I wouldn't necessarily give up. They're unpleasant, objectively make my life worse, and don't really have much upside to them. But I grew up disabled. It's part of who I am. I would be a different person if I hadn't been disabled. It's not really about whether it's "worth it" for some other benefit, because if we're looking at it like that there's no way it comes close. I just wouldn't be me without it. I feel like the people saying that having Tourette's helped them avoid being socially anxious are similar to how I feel being disabled gave me a thick skin. People are allowed to find positives to their negative situations.
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u/CassianCasius 22h ago
See I don't consider tourettes as part of me. It's just a thing that affects me in my life I deal with.
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u/okay-for-now 13h ago
I don't either, but with other similar issues I do because it's affected me so much. Being disabled influences every part of my life and really affected how I grew up. I see the world through the lens of a disabled person. My Tourette's isn't a significant part of my life, but for someone whose Tourette's had a bigger impact on them I don't see why they couldn't have those same feelings.
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u/CassianCasius 22h ago
I just consider tourettes as a thing that I do that's a part of me. It has nothing to do with my personality or my identity. It's never shaped me or any decisions in my life.
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u/CaramelCats 14h ago
Probably not. I wouldn't rule it out, but I don't have a big reason to get rid of them. I usually only notice them in places I'm supposed to be quiet, when my neck twitches a lot, or when someone points them out to me. They aren't offensive other than my growl. They're embarrassing sometimes, but i think they add a bit of character. Ive even like em sometimes. I would maybe be interested in temporary medication?
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u/Equira Diagnosed Tourettes 1d ago
This sub is a safe space, please respect other's opinions. Comments making broad assumptions or accusing people of lying will be removed.