Anita,

You mentioned a cold (or flu) yesterday. I wonder if you’re feeling any better.

“the stories they told us… fictional, when it comes to what they claim in regard to their motivations, to their reasons for doing or not doing this and that.

Yes, the stories.. Repeated many times, with the same exact words, in my mother’s case.

I know that my child-heart was broken. I remember how it felt, definitely broken. I think that we get as used to abuse as we can so to lower the overwhelm factor, so that our nervous system is the least damaged. An Ongoing Emotional Overwhelm (OEO) damages the nervous system, hence the early-life and onward combo of Tourette’s, OCD, Inattentive ADHD and learning difficulties, in my case.

I would add procrastination and memory problems (which led also to learning difficulties I think). Not sure about Tourette’s and Inattentive ADHD – I was never diagnosed.

* I was wondering, is there anyone in your genetically related family members who also exhibited tics?

No. I don’t think so. From my father’s side my cousin has some soothing anxiety behaviors like compulsive shopping, buying cosmetics, etc. My grandma was very superstitious (might be connected with anxiety as I read). From my mother’s side – her sister was abused by grandmother obviously, then she (my mother’s sister, my aunt) abused her husband, and now her daughter (my cousin) is abusing her father (forbidding him to speak to her in the morning, giving him permission to eat what she cooked, calling him “moron” etc. I feel sorry for my uncle). Aunt and her both daughters have compulsive shopping behaviors.

I see a lot of abusers in my family, especially on my mother’s side.

No one has ticks. Only me. How is that possible, I wonder. I spent enough time with all them already to know they do not have tics and never had.

Being able to make the distinction between what we think- feel is happening and what is really happening is a major factor in mental health!

I agree and always try to remember that, it helped me a lot in my life. When I feel stressed, somehow uncomfortable in my mind, my first thought is “wait… what could be that about..?” and try to remember what may have caused it. It’s so much easier when I can see and name my thoughts. Still it’s not perfect though, but it’s Ok.