Living with Tourette's: 'I went ten years without a diagnosis - it was isolating'

Andrea Bisset, now 23, developed tics at age 13, including eye blinking, neck movements, vocal tics, and coprolalia—the involuntary use of offensive language. Despite worsening symptoms, she remained undiagnosed for a decade, struggling in school where she was often isolated or taught one-to-one due to her condition. Her family sought help through NHS, CAMHS, and educational psychology services, but faced little understanding of Tourette’s. Bisset described school as overwhelming, noting that peer tasks and group settings became nearly impossible, while activities like music and PE were inaccessible due to lack of teacher support. In 2022, videos of Bisset’s involuntary tics during driving lessons went viral, raising awareness about Tourette’s. This led to her role in the BAFTA-nominated film *I Swear*, based on the life of campaigner John Davidson. Meeting Davidson marked a turning point, as he provided insights into her symptoms and inspired her to engage more openly with her condition. Before the film, Bisset had never met another person with Tourette’s. She later joined Tourette Scotland, a charity supporting those with the condition, emphasizing that acceptance—rather than understanding—was key. ‘People don’t need to understand the condition to accept it,’ she said, adding that self-acceptance had transformed her daily life. Her experience mirrors that of Nia Duncan, who developed rapid-onset Tourette’s at 15, ticcing continuously for 24 hours without warning. Nia’s family described months of ‘chaos and appointments,’ with repeated hospital admissions as they navigated the condition’s sudden onset. Bisset now advocates for greater awareness, noting small but significant changes in her life, such as comfort in performing everyday tasks she once avoided. She credits the film and community support for shifting her perspective, encouraging others to embrace acceptance over explanation.