Bloomfield Teen Says Tourette Syndrome Is No Joke (VIDEO)

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Living with Tourette Syndrome isn’t a joke. And it’s not an excuse, either, Dominic Dominguez of Bloomfield says.

Dominguez, 19, was among a group of youth advocates who recently appeared in a series of public service announcements about Tourette Syndrome, a neurobiological disorder characterized by uncontrollable movements or vocalizations known as tics.

The NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders (NJCTS) created the series of videos with the help of production company Grey Sky Studios out of Rockaway. Watch them all here.

According to the NJCTS, the disorder is often portrayed in movies or on television as a joke, used by those with a platform as an excuse for misbehavior, or is faked on social media for attention.

But for Dominguez and other youth who spoke on video, it’s all just a form of bullying, the NJCTS says.

“Every person with TS is different and fight their own battles,” Dominguez said. “I was so depressed that I couldn’t get out of bed for months.”

Watch Dominguez speak below.

Dominguez isn’t alone, according to NJCTS, which says that more than 86 percent of those with the disorder also struggle with associated disorders such as ADHD, OCD, anxiety and depression.

“We felt it was time to make a statement about Tourette Syndrome and what it really is,” NJCTS executive director Patricia Phillips said.

“In the last few years, we’ve seen celebrities, politicians and even those in the news media use TS as a joke or an insult,” Phillips said. “Then there are those on social media who fake tics to get views and likes.”

“Our kids and adults with TS deserve better than having people use a disorder they struggle with on a daily basis as fodder to gain laughs,” Phillips asserted.

Dominguez and the other teens said they’ve noticed the increased use of tics on platforms like TikTok.

“It’s not right to fake tics, bully others, or make fun of Tourette,” said Mateo Acevedo, a high school student from Belleville. “And it’s not an excuse for someone else’s bad behavior.”

Jenna Smith, 18, of Scotch Plains believes more people need to be educated about the disorder.

“One of the hardest things about having TS is feeling or being misunderstood,” the Duke University freshman said. “If we can take the time to educate people, I think they would be more empathetic to the situation and less likely to use TS as the butt of a joke.”

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