Hello from the Bay of Quinte

[Hyzenthlay]

Hello all. I'm Hyzenthlay, 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 Hyzenthlay-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.

Hyzenthlay

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

 

[Banned]

:welcome: Hyzenthlay.

Feel free to browse the forums and chat about anything you wish.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Are you being treated for TS or any of your other issues at all these days. H?

 

[Andy]

Well welcome Hyzenthlay,

I do not know much about TS but there is a thread with a lot of articles that may be of interest. If you have any questions or anything just ask. :2thumbs:

 

[Hyzenthlay]

Treatment for TS, no, not even a diag. Thanks to my circumstances, I dare not seek one above board. If/when I get comfortable here, I might open up about that. What I do about it will depend on what sort of feedback I find here.

By comparison, treatment for the other TS, aka Gender Identity Disorder, was dealt with relatively easily once things got started, and I've been transitioned for almost five years now. I have no problems talking about that.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Treatment for TS, no, not even a diag. Thanks to my circumstances, I dare not seek one above board.

I don't understand. What barriers are there to your seekin g treatment for Tourette Syndrome?

 

[Hyzenthlay]

I don't understand. What barriers are there to your seekin g treatment for Tourette Syndrome?

I suspect it would be what could loosely be termed a 'career ending move', especially coming on the heels of transition.

 

[Andy]

A career ending move, wouldn't that be illegal? Do you think this because of stigma or because of the job itself? Like the military, is your job something where mental health would be an issue, police officer something like that. Sorry those are examples, I'm not trying to guess your career or get you to say it, I am just trying to understand where you are coming from.

 

[Retired]

Welcome to Psychlinks Hyzenthlay; I am very happy you've decided to join us. I believe you should find more opportinity for open discussion here over a broad range of topics with an active and interested membership.

As you may know, I too am diagnosed with Tourette, so I'll be looking forward to having dicussions on that topic.

I too am interested in what circumstances would seeking to confirm a diagnosis for Tourette, if Tourette is suspected, would be a career ending move.

Great to have you aboard; feel free to check out the diverse range of discussion sections on Psychlinks, and I hope you find our Forum informative. We'll look forward to your insights on topics as well.

 

[Hyzenthlay]

A career ending move, wouldn't that be illegal? Do you think this because of stigma or because of the job itself? Like the military, is your job something where mental health would be an issue, police officer something like that. Sorry those are examples, I'm not trying to guess your career or get you to say it, I am just trying to understand where you are coming from.

Exactly, and I'm just freaked out completely just by having come this far.

 

[forgetmenot]

I am glad you are choosing to reach out and talk here IT must be so very hard for you to not have anyone to confide in. I hope you have a doctor at least as you know anything you say to doctor is all confidential right. A Pyschiatrist is bound to keep all information confidential. Hopefully as you become less frightened here you will be able to talk more Just wanted to say hi and welcome

 

[Hyzenthlay]

I am glad you are choosing to reach out and talk here IT must be so very hard for you to not have anyone to confide in. I hope you have a doctor at least as you know anything you say to doctor is all confidential right. A Pyschiatrist is bound to keep all information confidential. Hopefully as you become less frightened here you will be able to talk more Just wanted to say hi and welcome

In my world, neither is true, and I have nobody to talk to.

What the hell. I'm military, with 23 years service and counting. Trying to deal with this in an 'official' capacity would surely get me released, and I can't afford that happening.

 

[forgetmenot]

I am sorry to hear that you must be in military then. I am glad you are reaching out here then It is safe here

 

[Andy]

In my world, neither is true, and I have nobody to talk to.

What the hell. I'm military, with 23 years service and counting. Trying to deal with this in an 'official' capacity would surely get me released, and I can't afford that happening.

Are you sure that it would get you released? I mean wouldn't you just get put on restrictive duty or something like that? Depending on how things affect you, you may still keep your job and just have certain conditions like checking in with a Psychiatrist every couple of weeks. I would actually almost think that as long as you were not suicidal,psychotic,impulsive etc. and not at risk of becoming any of those things, that you could keep your normal position. I am sure there are people in the military with things like ADD,OCD etc. Excuse my ignorance I do not know much about the military. I am not trying to be argumentative either, I am just putting things out there to consider, maybe it wouldn't be as bad as you are thinking?
I can understand your worries though, who knows what their policies are.

 

[Hyzenthlay]

"If you're DE-ployable, you're not EM-ployable" is the standard line. Having to see a pshrink every two weeks or so, even any more than every six months, would give me a medical category, even a temporary one, therefore making me undeployable. Stupid thing is, I've been military for 23 years and have been dealing with TS like symptoms since my teens, so nothing would change...except in the mind of some pshrink in Ottawa. I'd rather not test that water.

 

[forgetmenot]

I understand i do and it must be so hard for you to have t keep yourself well. I am sorry that the army is still prejudice w hen it comes to people having a mental illness and yes i truly believe you when you say they would let you go in a instant if they knew. Can you not go outside the army see someone in civilian life that would not release the information. It is a tuff position you are in choosing your life your career over yourmental health. I suppose your mental health would get worse if you were released. Will you retire in 2 years and get a pension then perhaps then you could get help

 

[Hyzenthlay]

I understand i do and it must be so hard for you to have t keep yourself well. I am sorry that the army is still prejudice w hen it comes to people having a mental illness and yes i truly believe you when you say they would let you go in a instant if they knew. Can you not go outside the army see someone in civilian life that would not release the information. It is a tuff position you are in choosing your life your career over yourmental health. I suppose your mental health would get worse if you were released. Will you retire in 2 years and get a pension then perhaps then you could get help

I have 23 years in and no plans to get out for some time. This isn't just a three-years-get-out thing. I am an air force electronics technician and a damn good one.

I have no idea whether or not I could go out and get a pshrink on my own dime. It's illegal for me to carry OHIP, even though I'm forced to pay the Health Premium whether I like it or not. Since there is no cure for this, I'm obviously not seeking one...maybe just confirmation of what I have suspected for a couple of decades now. My mental health status would not change...unless I did find myself released, which would unleash an unwanted pile of stress. I just want to KNOW.

 

[Retired]

If you are in or around Ottawa, there was a psycholgist with clinical interest in Tourette Syndrome you might consider consulting. Being a psychologist, OHIP is not involved and the consultation would be at your expense.

Having a definitive diagnosis can remove a great deal of uncertainty, guilt and pressure from constantly focusing your thinking on the uncertainty. Receiving a diagnosis can even help rule out other concomittent conditions.

I understand the complexity of your situation, and hope you might find a way to get answers to your questions and gain a sense of personal comfort from the information.

If you choose to pursue the idea of consulting the psychologist I referred to, the information would be sent to you via Private Messaging and would not be posted in public Forum. I would need to confirm this person is stil in practice in the region.

 

[Hyzenthlay]

Two questions...

How much is 'at my expense' likely to cost me?

How long does a diag take and what's involved?

 

[Retired]

I'd like to get back to you on this Hyzenthlay. First I need to confirm this person is still in practice and continues to see patients with Tourette; and then I'll send you the contact information by PM. However, due to the late hour this evening, I cannot call and tomorrow I will be unavailable all day due to a personal obligation.

If you would kindly allow me a day or two, I will do my best to get this to you before the end of this week.

I will provide you with this person's contact information, and leave it up to you to ask the questions you rightfully need to know:

How much is 'at my expense' likely to cost me?
How long does a diag take and what's involved?

My providing you the contact information won't be an endorsement of this person's competence or guarantee you will be seen. It will merely be the name of local mental health professional known to have a clinical interest in Tourette Syndrome.

As you can appreciate, Psychlinks cannot bear any responsibility for the outcome of your contact.