Have you ever had an itch that you just couldn’t scratch? Something that started off very small and you just tired to ignore it. But the more you ignored it, the worse the itch became. It just stayed and stayed and got worse and worse. Creeping out until the itch was much bigger than it originally started. And then, even though you couldn’t really scratch it properly, you couldn’t wait any longer and just had to try and relieve the feeling?
Well that’s what it can sometimes feel like for someone who has Tourette Syndrome (TS) and they’re trying to hold back a tic. I’m speaking from personal experience here. Everyone has different tics and they can range from something as simple as wanting to touch a door four times, wanting to wiggle your nose, or needing to yell out a word or phrase.
You may have already read my experience with Tourette Syndrome before this year’s Trek for Tourette in March and also back in 2011 (where you can also hear about the horrible experience my parents had when I was first diagnosed).
Well I’m here now to ask for your help once again.
But I’m not asking for money. I want you to surrender your say on Twitter and get a glimpse into what it can be like to have this disorder.
Surrender Your Say is a 24-hour campaign created by Saatchi and Saatchi for the Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada. Saatchi and Saatchi also created the @random campaign and I strongly encourage you to check it out. It’s really interesting and has so many great videos!
Starting at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday June 19, anyone who has signed up for the campaign will have their twitter handle start sending out random vocal tics. The tic will also have a link to the Surrender Your Say website so anyone following the person can get more information and find out what is going on. http://www.surrenderyoursay.com/
The tics will continue throughout the day. They will mimic the tics like someone with Tourette Syndrome – you won’t know what tics will be sent, how often, or when – just like real tics.
TS is not life threatening, but for some people it can be a devastating aspect of their everyday life. Awareness and support are two areas that can help. Having more people know about TS helps spread understanding. And receiving support can help during those harder days when a person feels lost and so very alone.
So please – Surrender Your Say. It’s only for one day! It’s really not asking for much.
And don’t worry, it won’t itch. *wink*
signed up for it:) hugs to you
Thank you! :)