- Tourette Syndrome
- Interviews
Hoi's interview
How did all start?
I was seven years old when my parents and teacher started to notice some tics, which weren't obviously 'just' tics, so they took me to a neurologist and after a while the doctor diagnosed me with tourettes syndrome.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
Yes, a few months.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
I never really got a treatment. I took medication for a few years, but that didn't really help.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
Accepting myself
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
I was really young, so I didn't notice a lot of it. My family didn't really care (in a good way) and my friends were very supportive.
What things have you stopped doing?
I don't want my disorder to influence my life, so I didn't stopped doing anything because of my tourettes.
What do you think about the future?
I hope (and think) that the disorder isn't going to influence my life. I'm sure that I can do as much as every other person can. If I have a dream or if I just want to do something, I will do it. The fact that I have tourettes syndrome isn't going to change that.
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
I'm still young, but I think my childhood was quite okay.
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
I think it'd be easier to accept myself as a person and to put myself more in social situations.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
You're okay. You can do whatever you want to do. Maybe sometimes with a little extra help, but you can do it. Accept yourself. If you need help: ask for it.
