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Created by Harleigh โ€” living with TS since age 12
๐ŸŽ—๏ธ Tourette's Awareness & Community

Real talk
about real
tics.

Ticks & Bits is Harleigh's community-led platform dedicated to honest, compassionate, and accurate information about Tourette Syndrome โ€” breaking stigma one conversation at a time.

Learn About TS Harleigh's Story
1 in 100
children affected by TS
90%
go undiagnosed
300k+
people in the UK
3ร—
more common in boys
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"I started this so nobody else has to feel alone in it."

โ€” Harleigh, Founder of Ticks & Bits
Understanding Tourette Syndrome

More than you've
seen on TV.

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological condition characterised by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalisations called tics. It is widely misrepresented in popular culture โ€” and we're here to change that.

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Myth

Everyone with Tourette's shouts swear words constantly.

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Fact

Only around 10โ€“15% of people with TS experience coprolalia (involuntary swearing). The vast majority do not.

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Myth

People with TS can control their tics if they try hard enough.

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Fact

Tics are involuntary. While some people can suppress them briefly, this builds tension โ€” like holding back a sneeze โ€” and they will always surface.

Key Facts About Tourette Syndrome

01

TS is a neurodevelopmental disorder, not a psychological or behavioural one. It originates in differences in how the brain develops and functions.

02

Symptoms typically begin between ages 5 and 10, often with simple motor tics such as blinking, grimacing, or head jerking.

03

Tics naturally wax and wane โ€” they can change in type, frequency, and intensity over weeks and months, and are often worse during periods of stress or anxiety.

04

Many people with TS also experience co-occurring conditions such as ADHD, OCD, anxiety, or sensory processing differences.

05

There is currently no cure for TS, but symptoms can be managed effectively with the right support, therapy, and in some cases medication.

Types of Tics

Every tic is different.
Every person is different.

Tics are classified by type and complexity. Understanding the difference helps family, friends, and schools provide better, more informed support.

Motor
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Simple Motor Tics

Brief, sudden movements involving a limited number of muscle groups. Common examples include eye blinking, nose twitching, head jerking, shoulder shrugging, and facial grimacing.

Motor
๐Ÿคธ

Complex Motor Tics

Coordinated movements that involve several muscle groups or appear more purposeful. These can include jumping, touching objects or people, spinning, or making obscene gestures (copropraxia).

Vocal
๐Ÿ”Š

Simple Vocal Tics

Sudden, meaningless sounds produced by moving air through the nose, mouth, or throat. Examples include throat clearing, sniffing, grunting, squeaking, and humming.

Vocal
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Complex Vocal Tics

More involved vocalisations that may include words or phrases. These can include echolalia (repeating others' words), palilalia (repeating one's own words), and rarely, coprolalia.

Sensory
โšก

Premonitory Urges

Many people with TS describe an uncomfortable sensation โ€” like an itch, pressure, or tension โ€” that builds before a tic and is temporarily relieved when the tic is performed.

Variable
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Tic Fluctuation

Tics are not constant. They naturally wax and wane โ€” changing type, location, and intensity. Stress, excitement, illness, and fatigue can all trigger increases in tic activity.

"I was twelve when I was finally diagnosed. By then I'd been told I was seeking attention, being disruptive, and just 'a bit odd.' I started Ticks & Bits because the world I needed at twelve didn't exist โ€” so I built it."
Harleigh, Founder of Ticks & Bits
Our Story

Born from lived experience.

Ticks & Bits was founded by Harleigh, who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in her early teens after years of confusion, misdiagnosis, and misunderstanding โ€” both inside and outside the classroom.

Growing up, Harleigh experienced the full weight of what it means to live with an invisible yet visible condition: teachers who didn't understand, peers who didn't know how to respond, and a pervasive lack of reliable, accessible information online that actually felt human.

The name Ticks & Bits was chosen deliberately โ€” playful and a little irreverent, because that's what living with TS can feel like. You learn to find humour in the chaos, build resilience in the difficult moments, and community with the people who truly get it.

Today, Ticks & Bits exists to be the resource Harleigh wished she'd had: honest, warm, medically informed, and community-driven. Whether you're newly diagnosed, a parent, a teacher, or just curious โ€” you belong here.

๐Ÿ’ก Awareness โค๏ธ Community ๐Ÿ“š Education ๐ŸŒฑ Acceptance ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Advocacy
Everyday Life

What living with TS
actually looks like.

Tourette Syndrome affects every aspect of daily life โ€” school, work, relationships, and mental wellbeing. Here's what we don't talk about enough.

๐Ÿซ School & Education

Many young people with TS face significant challenges in educational settings. Tics can be distracting to classmates, misinterpreted as defiance by teachers, and exhausting to manage across a full school day.

Young people with TS are entitled to support in school under the SEND Code of Practice. This can include a personal support plan, extra time in exams, quiet spaces, and staff awareness training.

๐Ÿง  Mental Health

Living with TS carries a significant mental health burden. Studies show that anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem are common in people with TS โ€” not because of the condition itself, but because of stigma, social isolation, and the sheer effort of managing tics in public.

  • Anxiety affects up to 40% of people with TS
  • OCD co-occurs in around 50% of cases
  • Social withdrawal is common in adolescence

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง For Families & Carers

  • Don't draw attention to tics in the moment โ€” it often makes them worse
  • Learn the difference between tics and behaviour choices
  • Connect with other TS families โ€” you are not alone
  • Advocate clearly with schools and healthcare providers
  • Celebrate the whole person, not just the diagnosis
  • Allow space to talk, and space not to

๐Ÿ’ผ Adult Life & Employment

Most people with TS lead full, independent adult lives. Many find that tics reduce in frequency and severity by their mid-twenties, though this is not universal.

In the UK, TS is covered under the Equality Act 2010 as a disability, meaning employers have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments. Many people with TS choose to disclose their condition to create a more understanding workplace โ€” but this is always a personal decision.

You're Not Alone

Find your people.

Whether you're newly diagnosed or have lived with TS your whole life, community makes all the difference. Here's how Ticks & Bits can help.

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Resource Library

Accurate, accessible guides on diagnosis, treatment, school rights, and day-to-day management โ€” written with lived experience at the centre.

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Community Forum

A safe, moderated space to connect with others who truly understand. Share experiences, ask questions, and find solidarity.

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Monthly Newsletter

Stories from the community, the latest research, and practical tips delivered to your inbox. Real voices, no fluff.

Join the Community Download Our Guide to TS