Our World On: Tourette's

Hello and welcome back! Sorry guys, it's been wayyy too long since I've posted a blog but here I am again!

So today is a very different mental illness. Well.. it's not so much an illness but a syndrome. Now this syndrome is called "tourette". Not many people know about this syndrome/illness but this blog will help you guys know what it really is. 

Now "Tourette Syndrome" is a disorder of the nervous system made up by various different unwanted expressions and noises. Those are called "tics". Here is a video that explains what tics are and the different kinds: 

This video shows the different kinds of tics people have.

It was very difficult to find a video that didn't have any swearing in it because there are tics like that. When people have tics, they can't control it and I find that really sad because they get judged and it makes me sad. I can't imagine having this but sometimes I find myself doing things similar to that, people just can't help it.

The main symptom are tics. Stress, excitement or being sick can make these worse.

There are two different kinds of tics. There are “motor” and “vocal” tics. There are two different kinds of motor tics, which are: simple and complex. Simple motor tics are characterized by brief spasms with one or more limited muscle groups. An eye twitch, arm or head jerking, blinking, making a face are examples of a simple ones. Complex motor tics come off as more complicated by using one or more muscle spasms with no limit. Some examples of complex motors are jumping and hitting oneself. Vocal tics consists of using your voice or any sound. Some examples of simple vocal tics are humming, barking or yelping, coughing, repeating what someone said, sniffing. Some complex ones would be swearing and yelling.

This upsets me because, no matter what you have, people get bullied. This syndrome/illness is also attached  to ADHD and ADD. When kids have ADHD they like to talk and move around so it really is kind of like that but in a different way which, in some cases, can be worse. I’ve mentioned in a lot of my blogs that bullying upsets me because it’s true. People can’t change who they are!

The next thing I will be talking about are the causes of tourette’s tics. There isn’t a specific cause for this but tourette’s is linked to different part of the brain including an area called the basal ganglia which controls body movements. The difference is that something could affect the nerve cells in a bad way and the chemicals that carry messages between them. It is said that this could be a cause of the syndrome.

There are ways to treat this only if the tics start becoming problem, a doctor will prescribe some medications to sooth the tics. Medications include: Haldol, Orap are some that can help with controlling the tics. Catapres and Tenex can treat them. There are more medications available. Along with getting medicine, it is always good to consider talk therapy and behavior therapy to help severe tics.

In conclusion, I hope you guys liked this blog because it was different then my other ones. I like writing blogs because not only do I give an opinion on what I think but I give other people information too! I love helping people and these blogs make that happen! So long my readers, see you in my next blog!

Sources:
1. http://www.webmd.com/brain/tourettes-syndrome
2. http://www.webmd.com/brain/tourettes-syndrome?page=3

Our World On: OCD

This blog, my 6th blog, wow.. I've posted 6 blogs already?? That's insane! In my 6th blog, I will be talking about a mental illness that I know well... OCD. In this blog, I will be talking about symptoms, causes, personal experiences, etc.

Now, OCD is just a acronym for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is given that name because it is made up of two parts: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are urges or images that don't go away and are repetitive and unwanted. This also causes a lot of anxiety. For example, someone might worry about making people they love sick by bringing in germs. Obsessions are not thoughts people would normally worry or focus on and they are not about a person's character. 

Compulsions are actions. These actions are meant to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessions. Compulsions may be behaviors like washing, cleaning and putting things in order in a certain way. On the other hand, some are not obvious to others like for example, some people will repeat things in their head. Some people think that they have to keep doing it until it feels ''right''. It's a way to cope with obsessions. 

I remember in grade 4, I had OCD, you could say that I still have it now but not as bad as I had it before. I remember I had made my bed and I didn't want anyone sitting on it or else it would be wrinkly, I even had my teddy bears all lined up and neatly put at the end of my bed. Also, when we would go on trips, I would fold everything so it would be perfectly neat and clean. I would even fold it more than once to make sure it was PERFECTLY done.

There isn't really a cause for OCD, but there are likely many different things involved such as family history, biology and life experiences. 

If you have this, do you have these? 
Thoughts, for example: I'm responsible for that accident, What if I get sick but don't know it and get my parents sick when I touch them?, etc. 
Physical feelings: Stomachaches, dizziness, racing heart, shallow breathing, headaches, muscle tension, etc. 
Emotions: Anxiety/worry/fear, sadness, shame, guilt, anger/rage.
Behavior: washing hands and body excessively, repeating certain sentences in multiples two to four times, doubting something has been done correctly, etc.

I've noticed that when someone has OCD that it has some effects in school, organization and focus, personal hygiene, etc. When I do my work now, it takes me a long time because I want everything to be nice and neat, AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME. It affects my work because it takes me longer than I wanted it too. 

To end my post, I would like to thank whoever is reading. I hope these blogs help and interest people from all around, it still makes me happy that people from across the world could be reading my post, it just amazes me. Keep on reading! :) 


Sources:
1. http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/#.V0N_YYQrLIU
2. https://www.anxietybc.com/parenting/obsessive-compulsive-disorder