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Life's A Twitch! Celebrating 15 years.
1998 - 2018
Life's A Twitch! Celebrating 15 years.

 

Living proof Tourette's sufferers can succeed

BY CHRIS KITCHING
THE PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE DAILY GRAPHIC


Monday October 7, 2002: When Dr. Duncan McKinlay was a young boy, he knew he was a little different from the rest of the children in his class.

He was sure of it by the time he was seven. But at such a young age, his feelings were too difficult to understand.

"I had so many troubles for so long," the Toronto resident said on Friday during a break in teachers' professional development seminars. "I didn't understand what was going on and that made me very afraid."

Because of those fears, he chose to hide his "secret."

But the differences remained, and it wasn't until nine years ago he learned what separated him from the other kids.

When he was 19, McKinlay, now 28, was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome, a neurological disorder that produces involuntary movements or vocalizations.

The news struck fear in his heart, but conjured an overwhelming sense of relief.

"Right away I assumed no one would understand and that no one would want to be my friend," he said. "But it was like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders."

Next, McKinlay was faced with the tough task of revealing the discovery to his family and friends.

"I thought if anyone found out about my 'secret' they'd lock me up and throw away the key," he laughed. "A person's reaction or attitude towards Tourette's can do far more damage than any symptom will ever do."

But most of those lingering fears and doubts were quashed once he let the cat out of the bag.

His friends embraced him and his family showed tremendous support.

However, others were still a little hesitant to accept his condition.

"Some people thought I was just looking for an excuse to cover some of the things I was doing," he said. "But people should never use Tourette's as a way out."

Because of those nagging doubts, McKinlay still felt a little uneasy. It took an inspiring discussion with a colleague to help him realize the root of the feeling.

"One day a friend said, 'Duncan, we don't have a problem with your Tourette's, you have a problem with it, and that makes it uncomfortable for us," he said. "I soon realized I was my own enemy because I was afraid to talk about my condition. It can be very easy to feel sorry for yourself."

That realization allowed McKinlay to begin understanding Tourette's syndrome and come to terms with it.

"As I learned more about the condition, I began to let more of my symptoms out," he said, adding he educated his friends and family to keep everyone at ease.

"When you have a condition like this, it's pretty important that people around you are aware of what's happening," McKinlay said.

On Friday, he was at the William Glesby Centre to help create more awareness.

The doctor gave local teachers and administrators tips and lessons on how to interact with special needs students. He also gave them a look into the life of someone with Tourette's syndrome.

To date, McKinlay's existence has been a special tale.

After he was diagnosed in 1993, he received a bachelors degree with honours in psychology at McMaster University in Hamilton.

He followed that accomplishment by obtaining both an applied masters in educational psychology and his doctorate in psychology special programs at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

McKinlay is also the director of the Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada.

Since his early fears, he has embraced his condition and surpassed some of the boundaries and myths that some Tourette's sufferers face.

In fact, most people are unaware Tourette's sufferers include successful doctors, lawyers, professional athletes and actors, he pointed out.

"When people think of Tourette's, most think of a person who swears repeatedly, but that's rare," McKinlay said. "Most people with Tourette's have very fair symptoms that aren't noticeable."

Still, some of the symptoms can create misunderstandings at home and at school, he said.

But that is where McKinlay springs into action. In his seminars, he clears up the myths and states the facts on a personal level.

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Last updated on March 25, 2022

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