The Hidden Side of Tourette’s: What People Don’t Talk About

Posted 4hrs ago
by Martin Sturman

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Tourette’s isn’t just what people see.

For many, it’s not just tics, noises or movements. It’s not just the moments in public where people stare, laugh or move away. There’s another side to Tourette’s that is rarely spoken about. For me, it is also one of the hardest things to deal with.

That’s the ‘hidden’ side. The part that people don’t see.

Living with Tourette’s can come with impulsivity. For some, that might mean saying something without thinking. For others, it can go much deeper. For me, it has been the struggle with a gambling addiction.

There have been times when I have gambled money impulsively, not fully thinking through the consequences in the moment. The rush and need for dopamine quickly replaced with the reality of those decisions. Financially, emotionally and mentally.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Tourette’s can come with a range of hidden challenges and comorbid conditions that people don’t talk about. In my own experience, I also live with OCD, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Insomnia. These can have a significant impact on day-to-day life.

Alongside this, things like depression, behavioural difficulties and ongoing fatigue can all form part of the experience for many people with Tourette’s.

There are also other commonly linked conditions such as ADHD, which can add another layer of complexity to everyday life. These aren’t always visible, but they can have a significant impact on how someone thinks, feels and reacts to the world around them.

That’s not something people often associate with Tourette’s. When people think of Tourette’s, the same cliches of swearing always come up. What they don’t realise is that Tourette’s is neurological and it can affect behaviour, decision-making, emotions and impulse control.

This is the part that can be hard to explain.

Because from the outside, it can look like poor choices. It can look like a lack of control or responsibility. But the reality is far more complex than that.

It is not an excuse, but it’s an explanation.

Understanding that difference matters.

There’s also a stigma around addiction and mental health. When you combine that with Tourette’s, it becomes even harder to talk about. You’re not just dealing with one misunderstanding; you are dealing with multiple.

That silence can make things worse.

Because if people don’t talk about it, others going through the same thing may feel like they are the only ones.

For me, speaking about this is not to define Tourette’s by its challenges, but about showing the full picture. The visible side and the invisible side. The parts people are comfortable talking about and the parts they’re not.

Awareness shouldn’t just focus on what is easy to understand.

It should include the difficult conversations too.

Because the more we understand Tourette’s in its entirety, the better we can support people living with it.

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