Personal Stories

Jill S.'s Story

Jill struggled with her TS from childhood all the way into adulthood. A popular girl growing up, she exhausted her young self every day at school trying to hide it from teachers, classmates, and even boyfriends, and tormented herself every day after school, finally allowing her symptoms to explode behind closed doors.

She continued her rocky relationship with TS throughout university, feeling unable to take pride in her accomplishments, jealous of others without her disorder, and anguished over repeated cycles of waxing and waning. She considered the return of her tics after periods of relief to be a kind of punishment.

One year, on the urging of her doctor, Jill attended the Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada's (TSFC) National Conference. Anxious and unsure at first, she soon discovered a strong, supportive community of individuals with whom she could share her experiences and work through her problems. Hope and understanding began to reshape her perspective on life. Her transformation was documented in the TSFC film A Journey of Discovery.

Jill, a teacher, is now involved in her local community and provides much-needed info on TS wherever and whenever it is needed.

"When I was a kid, I felt like a freak. What I’m learning now, and I mean really learning, is that being different is part of who I am and always will be, including the tics, and that I’m a good person for all of it. I'm thankful to the TSFC for assisting in my transformation."

Jill S.