Tourette syndrome (TS) is an inherited tic that usually appears in early childhood and is classified by several motor tics and verbal tics. (May 2012) Tics are sudden, repetitive movements, with motor tics being physical muscle movements and verbal tics being sudden vocalizations. Common tics range from constant blinking to throat clearing and growling. Although the word "involuntary" is usually used to describe tics, this is not entirely true; a better word would be “compelling.” It would not be true to say that people with Tourette syndrome cannot control their tics, some people can hold back their tics for hours, but this only leads to a bigger outburst when they are finally released. Tics are comparable to scratching a mosquito bite, you don't have to scratch it, but you feel the need to. Tics push you to perform an action, but do not actually force you to perform that action. Although tics generally occur all the time, they are more noticeable during times of stress. (NIH 2012) There is no specific test to diagnose Tourette's disease, and doctors must rely on a history of symptoms to diagnose it. Criteria for diagnosing TS include things like: having both motor and vocal tics, it occurs before age 18, the tics are not caused by medications or another medical condition, and that the tics occur several times a day, every day, for over a year. Although the exact causes of Tourette's disease are unknown, we do know that it is linked to abnormalities in the development of the brain and nervous system, particularly the frontal lobes. Evidence suggests this is due to an imbalance in brain chemicals like dopamine, which controls movements and impulses. (Steer 2010) Even the slightest imbalance in brain chemistry...... middle of paper ... these include antidepressants, stimulants, and blood pressure medications. Antidepressants help control anxiety and sadness, triggers of tics. For antidepressants, I took Abilify, Fluoxetine and Prozac. For me, these are the medications that really helped control my tics by targeting the main triggers of my tics. With Tourette syndrome, I've always had tics, but the times when they're most noticeable are when I'm stressed or anxious about something. Stimulant medications are used to help increase attention and concentration. When you are focused on something, your tics are naturally suppressed and these medications help you focus on something other than your tics. Central adrenergic blockers, such as clonidine, are commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure, help control physical symptoms, and help suppress the impulse to perform a tic..