Hello from the Bay of Quinte

[hyzenthlay]

Hello all. I'm Natalie, I'm 45, new here, and, frankly, scared out of my wits. I don't even know definitively if I do have TS, but way too much fits to leave any doubt. But to find out for sure would be a career ending move, and it's not somewhere I want or need to go.

I did seek the opinion of a pshrink about it well over a decade ago, and he suggested that there was a good chance I did, and that I should consider exploring further, but my situation was the same as it is now.

Interestingly enough, another condition I have had to deal with was dealt with no problems at all...my transition from male to female, (another 'TS', if you think about it). That solved a number of huge issues I had, and I'm thankful for it as the best thing I have ever done. I don't mind talking about that either.

But the stuff that relates to TS is still very much there. I have so many buzzwords and non-sequiturs and what I term Natalie-isms in my vocabulary, constantly changing, constantly evolving, but always there to at least some degree. I really let fly when I'm alone, driving in my van or something, but the people around me seem quite used to some of the things I seem to come out with out of the blue. They just think I'm a little weird, that's all. There's OCD stuff and ADHD stuff too...counting things in pairs, never being able to finish a project as being too easily sidetracked, constantly drumming on things, (I took up drums to try and help that...it does to a degree).

Anyway, it's good to finally make it into this place, and can't wait to chat, even if I do lurk a bit at the start to get the feel of things.

Natalie

(Sigh...here we go...pressing the 'Submit' button...

[gaurdianAQ]

Welcome to the forum... not sure how many people still use the site but welcome anyways... first off I will tell you tourettes is NOT a career ending move... What do you do for a living?

There are many very successful people with TS out there... I can't remember his name but there is this surgeon, Dr. Duncan McKinley is a very successful psychologist who has tourettes...

I don't know what would make you think its a career ending condition, you just sometimes g2 take an extra step when you walk is all (I mean metaphorically)

Either way nice to meet you... I don't go on these forums much but I saw you replyed to my thread so I will try to make regular visits to say hi and see if you posted anything else!

[gaurdianAQ]

well I was actually just thinking now... from what I understand the facebook/twitter pages are apparently more active...

[Steve]

Hello hyzenthlay,

Please see my post HERE which you might find informative.

I received an email notification to a post you made in a thread in which I posted, otherwise I have all but abandoned my participation here since my resignation as forum administrator.

Hope to see you on Psychlinks.

[hyzenthlay]

Originally Posted by gaurdianAQ

Welcome to the forum... not sure how many people still use the site but welcome anyways... first off I will tell you tourettes is NOT a career ending move... What do you do for a living?

There are many very successful people with TS out there... I can't remember his name but there is this surgeon, Dr. Duncan McKinley is a very successful psychologist who has tourettes...

I don't know what would make you think its a career ending condition, you just sometimes g2 take an extra step when you walk is all (I mean metaphorically)

Either way nice to meet you... I don't go on these forums much but I saw you replyed to my thread so I will try to make regular visits to say hi and see if you posted anything else!

It shouldn't be, especially when you consider that I've been doing my job for 23 years. It has little, if anything, to do with abilities etc, although what I suspect are the nice side benefits of TS, namely ADHD and/or OCD, are getting in the way of any real progression up the ladder.

In my line of work, all my medical needs are looked after in-house, including anything to do with mental health. I've already been through the system to do with one other major issue, (see my intro), and I've no desire to test the system over this. Hell, right now, I have some nastiness going on in my right foot, and I've actually reached the point where I am afraid to access my medical system. It's not a fun place to be.

I'd mention what it is that I do, but I'm really scared that somebody might find out.

I'll keep coming here to try and meet others, even though it seems like this place isn't as busy as it has been.

[hyzenthlay]

Upon reflection, and further exploration of this place, I'm feeling a little bit safer and somewhat more open about my situation.

I am unable to get a proper, official diagnosis for what I think this is because my employer is the Canadian Forces. They look after my healthcare, anything from vaccinations and flu shots right on up to heart surgery, and anything and everything in between. They paid for my transition completely.

But they also have the power to see you booted from the service if you can no longer medically meet the universality of service requirements. In other words, if you're not deployable, you're not employable. So many CF members have learned to be very careful about what they go to the MIR about. Something as simple as a foot problem can see you released.

I had no issues with going to them over my gender issues, especially once Sylvia Durand broke that barrier. This is a different kettle of fish...I don't know if anyone's been down this road before, and I cannot afford to be the one to test the waters.

I've been doing this gig for 23 years, and don't quite want to finish my career early. But, while the vocal tics and repetitive stuff I can control, suppress and redirect, (all of which I've become reasonably adept at doing after 40+ years of it), the associated ADHD and OCD is becoming quite bothersome, and I think it's reached the point where career progression has ceased because of it. It's becoming increasingly difficult to keep my attention on doing my job, and trying to pick up on new equipment seems more difficult.

So...does anyone have any thoughts or advice as to where I might turn, what I might do?