Content Creator: Aman Sahva Content Editor: Shaan Ahuja Blog Designer: Nirvan Bajracharya Tiya’s unusual humming during class hours makes it uncomfortable for her teachers to move on with their lessons. Nate always jerks his head vigorously that people often consider as an attention-seeking trick. Xavier sniffs unconsciously at odd times, and those scenarios often embarrass him. Luke always tends to bite himself, and his fellow mates assume that as a weird self-harm habit. Well, Tiya’s humming, Nate’s jerking, Xavier’s sniffs, and Luke’s biting habits aren’t attention-seeking tricks or something unusual. Those are involuntary habits termed as tics. When these tics occur frequently, it is known as tic disorder. And when these tic disorders are at the extreme end of the spectrum, it is termed “Tourette Syndrome”. Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood or adolescence. It is characterized by multiple movements (motor) tics and at least one (vocal phonic) tic. Some common tics are blinking, coughing, throat clearing, sniffing, and facial movements. In the early stage, common tics appear throughout the year, and in the majority of the cases, it would be Tourette syndrome. To cure any disease, we should be aware of its cause. Although the cause of TS is unknown, current research points towards abnormalities in certain brain regions - the circuit that interconnects these regions and the neurotransmitters responsible for communication among nerve cells. There are no specific tests for diagnosing Tourette. In most cases, it may not always be identified, because most cases are mild, and the severity of tics decreases for most children as they pass through adolescence. It is awful that there is no cure for Tourette’s and no single “more” effective medication. Behavioral therapies are the first line of treatment. However, there are developments in the field of medication and treatment. When medication is used, the goal is not to eliminate symptoms. In fact, the lowest dose that manages symptoms without adverse after-effects often causes much more disturbance than the symptoms. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is one of the most valid options, and this is for people who suffer severe symptoms. However, the ideal brain location to target has not been identified as of 2020. Surprisingly, not everyone with Tourette’s wants treatment or a cure, especially if that means they may lose something else in the process. Assumptions It is often assumed that people with TS use obscene words on purpose, are short-tempered, and are attention seekers. Their tics can be controlled if they want to, and they lack an intellectual nature due to tics. Reality It is time to realize that not all people with TS have vocal tics that often lead to using obscene words. Rage isn’t a symptom of TS, and so, not all people with TS are irritable. People with TS often feel low and doomed; however, drinking or usage of drugs isn’t a direct effect of the disorder. Their life with tics embarrasses them, and they lose their self-confidence. Additionally, suppressing tics causes overstraining of muscles and nerves. TS doesn’t affect other parts of the brain, therefore, concluding that TS affects one’s intellectual part of the brain isn’t appropriate. Conclusion The only devils in the world are those running in our hearts. That is where the battle should be fought. We should come with a positive attitude to support and consider them as people among us. For that, an evolution in our thinking is inevitable, which will lead to a revolution of positive changes and possibilities. Most children and teenagers with TD suffer from bullying and harassment, which often leads to depression and a lack of self-esteem. It’s time we become progressive with our thinking and become more accepting of others. Sources: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Tourette-Syndrome-Fact-Sheet#top https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourette_syndrome#Medication https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8HtTb0Vk_o
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Content Creator: Zahabiya Gain Content Editor: Fariya Chohan ADHD or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a much more common disorder than you would think. It stands as one of the most common neurological disorders. However, many misconceptions about it persist. This disorder is generally theorized as inattentive behavior and hyperactivity-impulsivity. The symptoms of this disorder include: • Short attention span • Hyperactivity • Impulsiveness • Fidgeting • Disorganization and difficulty prioritizing • Poor time management • Frequent mood swings • Forgetfulness Even after years of research, scientists have yet to find a precise reason as to why this disorder exists and what causes it. Of course, there have been a few estimates, but nothing that can provide complete assurance. There are several confusions regarding this disorder that alienate those with undiagnosed ADHD. These misbeliefs end up causing undiagnosed people to feel alone and even go into depression. Here are a few myths about ADHD that have caused uncertainty in people, and the reality behind them: MYTH #1: ADHD ISN’T A REAL DISORDER. This is the most common misconception people have. Research from The National Institutes of Health, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Psychiatric Association all recognize ADHD as a real medical condition. Brain scans have also been run to show that the brains of children with ADHD are dissimilar when compared to the brains of other children. One reason to believe this would be the media. “Some media perpetuate the myth that pharmaceutical companies created ADHD to cash in,” says Terry Matlen, a psychotherapist and ADHD coach. MYTH #2: ONLY CHILDREN CAN HAVE ADHD: Adults do struggle with ADHD in their lifetime, but the symptoms are usually not recognizable. They usually just assume that the damage that's been happening to them because of other impairments that they haven't treated yet. ADHD is not something that you get out of the blue, it's a condition that has been with you for a long time but is slowly showing itself. To even meet the criteria, you need to have the symptoms from childhood. So technically, no, ADHD does not develop in your adulthood but because it has been there your whole life, you're still going to show signs and most probably will have it throughout your whole life, you just might have figured it out in the later years. MYTH #3: ADHD IS CAUSED BY POOR PARENTING: ADHD is a disease that cannot be caused because of one’s parental figures. While the exact cause isn't clear, scientists know many things may play a role, factors that are beyond a parent's control, like genes and low birth weight. A parent is not able to bring upon this condition on a child, it all depends on the positive reinforcement in their life. So, it is better to pay careful attention to the life that your child is living. MYTH #4: ADHD CAN BE CURED WITH MEDICATION: Factually, ADHD is because of a neurochemical insufficiency in the cerebrum. Medications, regardless of whether they are energizers or Strattera, work in the cerebrum to expand the degree of this neurochemical. When the level is regular, this region of the cerebrum can work typically, and the side effects of hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsivity reduce or completely stop. When the medicine wears off, the compound level drops, and the side effects return. Prescribing medications don't "cure" ADHD, and there is no "cure" that we are aware of. There are numerous myths about ADHD which should be tested and exposed. The issue is that a portion of these myths has become such a basic piece of the ADHD account that numerous people error them for actuality. All we can do is try to understand and sympathize with those with ADHD, and neither put them up on a pedestal nor look down on them. Content Creator: Thrisha Sanjeev Content Editor: Anchita Shetty Blog designer: Halima Asif (Trigger Warning) My face has been your ground since fifth grade. You pop up every time this indecisive Bangalore weather shows its colours, or even when the heat is too much to take for my body. The 'it' guy called me a pimple head and the 'it' girl's face contorted with disgust every time she saw me. That tiny tot, manipulative for her age, counted you on my forehead. The judgmental 'aunties' recommended countless treatments that I tried relentlessly, a policing force to remove you from that ground of skin, yet, you were stubborn, seemingly here to stay. Then suddenly, back in the blues of 9th grade, a person that I once saw a friend in, gave me some unsolicited advice, "Just pop them, it will go away. It does for me!" and I followed it until it led me to my ruins. You were gone, but the scars remained. I saw my face in the mirror and cried countless times. I didn't know what to do. I blamed the friend for my sorrow, my problems, but all the while, it was me who was solely responsible for this. But one fine day, I made a firm decision. I won't do it. I will not. I should not pick my skin. I did fail a couple of times, but I try not to do it. To show you, no, to show me that I'm better than the person, I was in 9th grade, who thought too deeply about judgements, and fell into the vicious spiral of self-hate. The times I failed, I tried to get rid of you because I hated your remains, those scars. But today, I try not to pick at you, because I love that ground you shuffled about on, the body, supporting that ground—my face. I don't hate you anymore. I accepted you now. You might be the scars of yesterday, but you're still a part of me, today. Content Creator: Thrisha Sanjeev Content Editor: Fariya Chohan In a recent online class, our teacher happened to play Shashi Tharoor’s speech at the Oxford Union, explaining why Britain owes reparations to its former colonies. Whilst staring into the screen trying to systematically take down notes, I couldn’t help but imagine, what would happen if one fine day Shashi Tharoor, a human dictionary woke up to find out that he just couldn’t grasp the right word to explain his thoughts? Oh! Imagine the frustration. You’re crystal clear with your thoughts and it's all right there, but you just can’t seem to find that word. You know what it is; it is at the tip of your tongue, yet you fail to find the appropriate word. That is anomia in layman’s terms. Anomic aphasia or anomia is a language disorder that impairs the comprehension and speech abilities of a person. An individual suffering from anomia, though fluent in terms of his speech, finds it difficult to associate a specific word to describe a certain situation. Every so often, a person with anomia may try paraphrasing in order to describe the word that they’re looking for. For instance, if a person is facing difficulties in actually being able to say ‘carrot’ they might say, “We use it in salads” or “it has a tapered end and is orange”. Anomia is known to be one of the mildest forms of aphasia, which is primarily caused by brain damage or a degenerative disease. An individual having suffered a stroke or a tough blow to the head, may experience anomia. A growing brain tumor can also cause anomia. It is interesting to note that, clinically, doctors and psychiatrists find it hard to diagnose a person with anomic aphasia, because it is a form of aphasia that in turn can be caused by varying issues specific to the brain. Anomia often leads to a communication breakdown between the participants of a communication medium. A communication breakdown refers to the interruptions during a communication process that leads to the transmission of half-baked information or can also cause a misunderstanding between participants. Such an issue causes frustration to the person suffering from anomia primarily because of them not being able to effectively convey their thoughts. In certain cases, this can further lead to depression. In a recent incident, a close family friend’s mother, after having a stroke, though not exactly diagnosed with anomic aphasia, was known to experience word-finding difficulty. She was unable to find the word for things as simple as an apple, despite knowing what she wanted to say, and may have also had a clear visual representation of the object or word in her head. Soon enough she began getting flustered and irritated, not knowing how or why such a thing was happening. Added problems led to the deterioration of her mental health, and eventually, the family consulted an aphasia therapist and also a guidance counselor. Anomia, though it sounds like something all of us encounter on a daily basis while talking, is indeed much more than just, “Bro oh my God, what’s that word again?”. It entails a deep neurological explanation and is undeniably a common issue faced by several persons. Hence, on a Tharoor-ian note, it would be fair to conclude that the blatant floccinaucinihilipilification of a subject as convoluted as anomia would be plain idiocy (yes, that is an actual word). References: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GsVhbmecJA ‘ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2373641/ Content Creator: Thrisha Sajeev |
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