"Tourette Syndrome is a neurological condition that causes a person to make involuntary movements or sounds. I've had tics since I was a child that have included throat-clearing, making noises, repeating words, blinking, winking, flexing my jaw or fingers, repetitive clicking and gasping for air. These tics were at their worst in my late teens, and then fluctuated between manageable and unmanageable in my early twenties."
"Being in public when my tics were flaring up was exhausting. Even if people weren't looking or judging, I assumed they were, and that assumption alone was often just as inhibiting as the tics themselves. My tics get worse when I'm anxious or stressed, and the idea of travelling abroad alone made me feel anxious and stressed."
"Medications and therapy in my early and mid-twenties had helped with my tics - or at least made it possible for me to care far less about them. I wanted to do the things I wanted to do, and I didn't want to wait any longer."
Tourette Syndrome, a neurological condition causing involuntary movements and sounds, severely limited travel aspirations in early adulthood. Tics including throat-clearing, repetitive sounds, and physical movements fluctuated between manageable and debilitating, sometimes confining the person to a small bedroom. Public situations triggered anxiety and assumed judgment, creating a self-reinforcing cycle where tic severity worsened with stress. Financial instability as a writer compounded these barriers. Treatment through medication and therapy in the mid-twenties reduced tic severity and shifted perspective on their significance. This progress enabled the decision to pursue solo international travel despite ongoing symptoms, marking a turning point in reclaiming independence and pursuing desired experiences.
Read at CN Traveller
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