While a lot of my tics are random and funny, occasionally they come across as just rude or mean. It doesn’t happen very often but sometimes I’ll suddenly say something like “Bitch”, “Fuck you” or “Wanker.” These are much closer to the stereotype of Tourettes than the majority of my tics.

It shocks me when this happens and I worry that people might think it’s directed at them, even if they know I have Tourettes. Last week I was staying at my mum’s and having just said goodnight to her I said, “Piss off, bitch.” I don’t know if she heard me or not – she didn’t react – but I felt I had to go and say goodnight to her again.