Comments on: How To Have Tourette’s Part 3 – Sore Testicles, Diagnosis, Labels, and Basketball

By: Renee

Renee — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:16:05 +0000

Hi Josh,
I’ve been reading your story. I remember one of my body tics being squeezing my butt cheeks together real tightly, and the pain it caused. I remember crying to my mother about how much I wanted to stop doing it, and how much pain it was causing me, but being driven to keep doing it. I usually switched to something else almost without thinking about it, when what I was doing became too painful. As far as describing the compulsion to tic, I use the blinking analogy – try not to blink – for a whole day. That is what having to tic feels like.
I’ll keep reading. It is a little hard to watch you tic, but I think if I keep exposing myself to it, it will make it easier for me accept mine.

By: Josh Hanagarne

Josh Hanagarne — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:34:02 +0000

Thanks Pia. We are now a wolf pack of two.

By: Pia Eliasson

Pia Eliasson — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:35:42 +0000

Hi! I just found this site. Your stories are very interesting. I did also get a reward in school for being the one student that was myself all the time and least likely to change myself to fit in the crowd. Instead of letting ppl tease me or trying the impossible task to be like everyone else, I made my self stand out completely and dyed my hair and stuff.

By: Josh Hanagarne

Josh Hanagarne — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:46:14 +0000

that’s a great story, Larissa, thank you. I usually go back to the sneeze analogy. It doesn’t feel right to hold the sneeze in. Good for him for knowing how to put it into such a clear perspective.

By: Larissa

Larissa — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:52:05 +0000

So I listened to all your audio and watched the videos a couple of nights ago, and I still wasn’t getting how “it just has to feel right.” Since my son was diagnosed, I have been doing a lot of reading about different people’s experiences with TS, and that is a common statement, but I was having trouble understanding it.
Last night our family had hot dogs for dinner, and my son decided not to eat the bun, and it was lying open like a book on his plate. It had been a rough day for him, and his neck was really hurting, so I started talking to him about how he felt about this whole “thing.” His response was so funny, and yet it really helped me to get a glimpse into his thoughts.
He said: You know, mama, I really don’t like moving my neck, and I really want to stop.
I said: well, explain to me why it’s hard for you to stop.
He said: see my hot dog bun? It’s open, but if I close it, it makes it right. Just like my neck. . it just makes it right.
I said: well okay then
So my nine-year-old’s explaination did it for me. I know I can never fully understand why his brain is telling him to do something it doesn’t need to do and how it leaves him in pain, but I can now accept that he just has to “make it right”

By: How To Have Tourette's Part 5 - The Power Of A Carrot | World's Strongest Librarian

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:19:57 +0000

[...] is Part 5 in a series. Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part [...]

By: Josh Hanagarne

Josh Hanagarne — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:09:26 +0000

Thanks Vanessa. I hope your son knows how lucky he is to have your support. If he doesn’t, he will one day. You’ve made me realize I know nothing about Cerebral Palsy and will look into it more.

I really appreciate it. Take care.
Josh

By: Vanessa Vezina

Vanessa Vezina — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:04:09 +0000

This is rawk star stuff. Fantastic.
My 7 year old son has a rare type of Cerebral Palsy which often inspires him to do things like ROAR loudly in public, or kiss & pull the hair of other random children. Needless to say our family lives with some pretty fun tics too.
A close friend of mine has a pre-teen daughter who was diagnosed with Tourette’s a few months ago. I just sent her this link.
Keep it coming =^.^=

By: Kelly Diels

Kelly Diels — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:50:45 +0000

“Best in Show”. That is so freaking awesome. Do you still have it? Can I have it?

you rock, Josh.