• ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works
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    9 months ago

    If Tourette’s involves a compulsion to say socially inappropriate things, what happens if those things don’t turn out to be socially inappropriate? Does the compulsion switch to something else? Does it fade?

    • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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      9 months ago

      I think it goes to something else. The (relatively uncommon) compulsion is caused by an issue with the part of your brain that inhabits those thoughts that you don’t normally even notice.
      So it’s like the brain occasionally hits the gas pedal when aiming for the break.

      It’s part of what makes it so distressing for people who have it, since it tends towards the things they don’t want to say.

      • garbagebagel@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Do you mean like intrusive thoughts that we normally stop, or is there a different part that we’re not even aware of?

        • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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          9 months ago

          Both I believe. There are things that come up in your brain that get tossed before “you” are even aware of it.
          Like, when you see a person all the different words you know of that could be associated with them get “activated” as your brain comprehends the details.
          You see a man wearing jeans and you know he’s wearing jeans, but you don’t think to yourself “blue pants”. It’s not relevant.

    • The Picard Maneuver@lemmy.worldOPM
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      9 months ago

      I believe it just gravitates toward whatever you know you shouldn’t say in the moment. Sort of like a “call of the void” for social situations that manifests as a tic that you can only avoid for so long.

      • atx_aquarian@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        I remember seeing a documentary or news piece or something about a woman who pivoted hers to “BISCUIT!” I really hope that was real. But I don’t remember how she got there, like if she had to trick herself that “biscuit” was offensive.

        • Noodle07@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          One day I came back from school convinced that “ratatouille” was a bad word (before the movie) and I kept saying it my mom, she was happy that it was that innocent

  • db2@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    High five for the guy talking about jacking off, what could possibly go wrong.