Oliver Sacks on Tourette Syndrome - Shane (Part 2 of 3)

The neurologist Oliver Sacks talks about Tourette Syndrome. Features Shane Fistell. Tourette's is a neurological disorder that causes motor and vocal tics which vary considerably between individuals and also impulsive behaviours and reduced inhibition (and filtering) of thoughts, movements and sensory input. A sensitive and insightful perspective providing a welcome alternative to the usual stereotypical media portrayal of the disorder.

[@voicije]

my oldest son is living with tourette syndrome....it was so hard at school...teatchers didnt have time to care for sick kids....the best way of living i teach to my child at that time was....if people look hard at you or laugh at you....they are ignorant so its up to you to teach team...so he took my advise seriously and every year he was giving a little medecine lesson to kids classemate...teatcher about his desise....after...kids are what they are....they were rude at him...he was an easy target....so i give him an other lesson....the big one.....dont be upset about you...about your syndrome...people that laugh of you....didnt lkisten when you were teatching them about the syndrome....so now for them to understand you and play with you not play of you....laugh with them...play with who you are....you are a tourette syndrome patient....have fun with them....he really put that on his way for living...he is now 20 years old...he is working...not easy for people with that syndrome....but possible....at 15 his doctor tell my son...maybe your futur will to be on social security....he is trying verry hard not to be on....so im verry proud of my son

[@heterofoks2634]

You should also be proud of yourself as a parent...

[@voicije]

@@heterofoks2634 ...thank you...

[@nicosstereo]

that's amazing! how are you both doing these days?

[@voicije]

@@nicosstereo my son is now a proud dad of a 4 years old baby girl...still working hard is way in life...have plenty of great friends...i am so proud of him...of course...he is not affected as hard as some people that we watch on documentaries...some of them have the tourette syndrome...verry difficult to live a "normal" life...

[@JJmoony]

Bless the dad's heart, you can't tell Shane to calm down ,. hope Shane's having a great life.

[@shanefistell8890]

Thank you!

[@gaylecheung3087]

Yes Shane does have a great life

[@JoshuaLundquist]

Not to play down the difficulty of tourettes, but the thing I like about Shane is what I like about the best comedians. There's a catharsis there, granted it isn't fun for the touretter (Oliver Sacks' term) all the time or maybe any of the time, so what am I talking about? I don't know.

[@MajorCulturalDivide]

+Joshua Lundquist I know what you're talking about. There's an appreciation for Shane's lack of restraint. It's okay to like him for that. I'm sure he would rather you like him than not.

[@rebcca936]

@@MajorCulturalDivide 👆🏻👏🏻

[@Multimeli123]

He would benefit greatly from Deep brain stimulation! What a great man on how he deals w/ his situation! I think Shane is wonderful!

[@gaylecheung3087]

It’s hard to be Shane’s neighbor for over 30+ years… he does get angry easily, not knowing his mood day to day.

[@hebneh]

I understand what Dr. Sachs is saying of how unfortunate it is the way people react to Shane, but unfortunately, when a stranger lunges towards you on the street, you will be startled or scared, and will likely feel threatened - even if he doesn't actually touch you. This is a natural reaction which the rest of us cannot, and should not, lose.

[@shanefistell8890]

I don't lunge at everyone or passersby. I tend to redirect my movements within a contained limitation of my space. Lunging tics or compulsions developed as an adverse mimicry reaction to other people's aggression over the years. Note the behaviour of the two men who approached me near the Notre Dame Cathedral. It's reactive and defensive. Many tics have an origin and a history. I have been punched in the back. I've been spit on and had live cigarette butts burned into my back or flicked at my person. All unprovoked. I had no previous interactions with these persons. I did not approach them nor touch them. Oliver Sacks witnessed this when we first met in early June, 1988. This was captured on video camera. Oliver Sacks was outraged and astounded. In the video he said, Shane was attacked from behind and all were unprovoked incidents.

[@latneyb]

I couldn't imagine suffering Shane's company for 2 minutes.