VOICING OUT SESSIONS

    Miss Goh's father, a former director of the Singapore Association for the Blind, made
    sure that the family of four stayed close by setting time cut "voicing out" sessions.

    These allow family members to talk about things that upset them, and try to find
    solutions.
    They helped Miss Goh gradually develop her self-confidence.

    "One classmate said that my voice sounds like a piano because it went up and down
    when I had the tics.
    "A few said I was retarded; it really hurt," she said.

    Miss Goh tried to be as "normal" as the others.

    But when schoolwork was tough, her tics would get more pronounced, as they do
    now when she is stressed.

    She used to ask herself. "What's happening to my body?"

    Then she would ask herself: "Why me?"

    It was only when she went to university in Australia that her self-esteem began to
    grow, when she started activities like skiing, scuba-diving and sky-diving.

    She read all she could about Tourette Syndrome, and when she returned to
    Singapore in 1993 she signed up with the Tourette Syndrome Association.

    But insecurity still dogged her.

    There were men who never called again after dates when they saw her condition
    .
    That struck at the very depths of her self-esteem, although she knows she's
    physically attractive and can hold a good conversation - and heads certainly turned
    when she walked past the bar in the hotel.

    Said Miss Goh: "I do feel rejected. They cut off all ties when they find out I have
    Tourette Syndrome. Sure, it hurts; but, now I tell myself it's their loss, not mine."

    She has had two long-term relationships (one that lasted four years) but both of
    them crashed because the men could not accept her condition.

    Still, to this day, she chalks up small victories, gaining greater control over her life.
    Although she is 30 and has worked since the age of 22, it was only this year that she
    dared to take public transport openly.

    She said: "I used to wake up early to catch the 6.45am bus to go to work because it
    wouldn't be so crowded. I mean, how do you tell a busload of people 'Hey there! I
    have a nerve disorder'!

    "If I missed the bus, I would call for a cab during peak hours, even though the cab
    fare could be up to $17."

    Luckily, she says, her company, colleagues and clients have been understanding and
    supportive.

    She is actually in charge of making deals with clients and is happy that she is valued
    for her work and her personality.

    And not judged by her nerve disorder. – From The New Paper, Singapore.
Tourette Syndrome Awareness
Malaysia