Hopeful

Hi all, Firstly, I would like to thank you all ever so much for our replies. I made a mistake in my original post i meant to write 'i am in my early twenties'. My girlfriend is almost 20 and I apologise as many of you thought that she was a minor. We see a clinical psychologist sometimes together and have been doing so for the last few months. My girlfriends TS has been diagnosed by an expert who was of very little help and suggested medication but we were both not willing as there were many side effects. I read all your posts and will suggest to my girlfriend to look to you guys for further support and I know that she did use to post on here. I love my girlfriend very much but find it difficult as she can be so unreasonable sometimes, she gets angry and accuses me of not caring and not loving her. I try to make her happy and i will continue to do so no matter what but I dont know how to be there for her and make her understand that I am not ashamed or embarrassed of her in any way. And that i could only of dreamt of meeting someone so full of life. It is through seeing her pain physical and mental that i seek help and i know that by being strong and hopeful things will improve. Im still not sure what the next step should be. her parents are slowly accepting it which is great although there is still a long way to go. I dont want her to go on medication as there are many side effects but i will look in to Abilify. We are in the Uk and no one seems to know about ts which only makes it harder. I wrote a poem (its not that good). I hope some of you can relate to it...(if i have offended anyone i apologise it is most definately not my intention) Tourette. It is you who feels all the pain, the sharp stares the tormenting looks, centre of attention when you wish you were invisible, everyone seems to be looking at you but no1 seems to see your pain, you wish tourette would jus leave you, you have suffered enough, a hundred times you ask yourself why me, why do i suffer. You do not suffer alone, I love you and i see your pain, your bruises from the violent tics, the horrid looks from your noises, the lonely tears falling from your eyes, i sit there unable to say a thing, what can i say, what can i do, i only wish i could take your pain. I lay there at nite when you think im sleeping staring at your peaceful smile, tourette cant get you when you sleep i hold you tight and cant help but weep. Awake in the morning another day i know itl be tough and things may get bad, but hurry home as without you my angel my life shall be sad. I know you think i am ashamed but how can i make you understand, I am proud that you are mine and that in my arms you will always stand, I am urs as you are mine united and strong we both shall stand, Tourette is ur pain, i am your love, by giving you love il try to take the pain, it may be tough there may be tears but leaving you is one thing that you need never fear. I write this poem for all you suffering at the hands of tourette, you are so strong you inspire us all to make everyday a living smile, but do not think that you are alone our tears are there your pain is ours, together we stand to face the world. Dedicated to the angel in my life..my truly beautiful girlfriend and all those suffering from tourette and those who help, love and share to make it just that little bit easier. Hopeful

Hi all, I am new to this forum and would just like to say it seems like a great support and advice network. I am in my early teens and my girlfriend suffers from tourette syndrome. Since we met over a year ago her tics have gradually got worse. We have tried supplements such as bontech and went to see a an acupuncturist who we have recently stopped seeing as he was unable to help us. He told us that she had low magnesium and that her 'energy was going the wrong way'. Unfortunately, due to expense and no results we stopped going. The problem is that my girlfriend is not hopeful that anything will help her which i cant really blame her for. And so whenever i suggest making diet changes to have a healthy diet etc she responds with 'food is the only thing that helps me cope im not gona change that as well'. The truth is i dont know what to do or where to start??? She is so depressed and its hard for me to see her the way she is. I am depserate to improve her condition even if its just so she has hope that things can get better. Her parents do not accept tourette and we are 'alone' in dealing with it and treating it. We have found it very difficult coping with peoples reactions and when i am with her i am constantly on edge as I know people will stare and i feel that i have to say something. When i am not with her I worry day and nite that someone will upset her and that she may result to self harm as she has in the past. CAn somebody help? Perhaps suggest a starting point? It would be great if sufferers of tourette could advise me how to encourage her as I can not possibly understand exactly what she goes through day in day out. THank you HOPEFUL