Is there a forum where kids can talk to each other?

[Jan]

I have visited this site often since my son started with eye tics and shoulder shrugs when he was 4 and have gained so much information, comfort and reassurance from other parents on this forum who know exactly the anxiety and stress we all go through. I am so grateful that I found you all. His tics have come and gone and I believe we've managed well with diet control. He is now 9 and over the last 4 or 5 months has started strong vocal tics and more OCD symptoms. We are in the process of getting him tested for PANDAS and I am looking into finding a good immunologist/environmental doctor to help identify further triggers. I can't say I don't feel distraught and anxious some days, but I don't feel lost or isolated any more because of this forum.

 

Although my son has lots of understanding at home and among immediate family, he is finding it difficult now at school and in other public situations. I have explained to him that other children experience these 'hiccups' in their nervous system and that he is by no means the only one, but we don't know anybody else who suffers from any kind of tics and he keeps saying that he just wants to be 'normal' and gets distressed. Is there any kind of forum where children with tics can communicate with each other? Or any kind of publication/ information aimed at children that anybody knows of?

 

With grateful thanks

Jan (from the UK)

[Guest]

Hi Jan,

 

I'm not aware of any forums specifically for kids. The National Tourette Syndrome Association puts out a newsletter that is writen by kids and for kids called "That Darn Tic" newsletter. You can find it at there website on the front page: http://tsa-usa.org/

 

Carolyn

[Sydsmom]

Sydnie who is 12 loves that newsletter from TSA. I print it out for her and she reads it on her own. She's pretty private but I get the feeling she likes reading about kids who are like her and are able to achieve much. At our Girl Scout meeting last week the girls were reading an article and it said, "So, what makes you tic?" And Sydnie looked at me and smiled and said, "Dairy". I thought it was great she could joke about it in front of her friends. She's come a long way.

 

Lisa