One of the posters on that MADB thread compares "SSA" with Tourettes Syndrome:
"...just because 'Tourettes Syndrome' has the word syndrome in it, whereas SSA does not, doesn't mean they can't be compared.
"Because from this aspect, they are both psychological issues, which the person has to deal with.
"In my case, the psychological weakness called Tourette's made it more difficult for me to overcome addictions associated with relief of stress.
"In their [GLBT] case, the psychological weakness which has not been named made it more difficult to obtain a natural affection.
"Both are barriers, yes, but both can be overcome if the person chooses to do so.
"And don't get me wrong Tourette's isn't always a weakness, it can be a strength in other ways too ;-) But I bet so can SSA, although being a weakness, it can be a strength in other ways."
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What the ...? Sounds like this person has Tourette's Syndrome and somewhere has picked up the mistaken notion that it is a "psychological weakness" and is able to be "overcome" by a person's strength of will. Hence, to remain with symptoms of Tourette's or to be GLBT is to fail to choose to change or "overcome".
The ignorance - and tragedy - are stunning.
The web site of the National Tourette Syndrome Foundation says, in part:
"Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (Tourette Syndrome or TS) is a neurological disorder which becomes evident in early childhood or adolescence before the age of 18 years. Tourette syndrome is defined by multiple motor and vocal tics lasting for more than one year. The first symptoms usually are involuntary movements (tics) of the face, arms, limbs or trunk. These tics are frequent, repetitive and rapid. The most common first symptom is a facial tic (eye blink, nose twitch, grimace), and is replaced or added to by other tics of the neck, trunk, and limbs.
"These involuntary (outside the patient's control) tics may also be complicated, involving the entire body, such as kicking and stamping. Many persons report what are described as premonitory urges -- the urge to perform a motor activity. Other symptoms such as touching, repetitive thoughts and movements and compulsions can occur.
"There are also verbal tics. These verbal tics (vocalizations) usually occur with the movements. These vocalizations include grunting, throat clearing, shouting and barking."
The site also defines TS as a movement disorder.
http://www.tsa-usa.org/So, we have the FACTS, which are:
1. TS is a neurological condition, in the realm of medical science.
2. It is also defined as a "movement disorder". (Again, this falls into the realm of Neurology - the branch of medicine that deals with nerves - nerves transmit messages from the brain to the rest of the body, influencing muscle movement and speech, among other biological forces).
3. TS is "outside the patient's control". (Hence, not a choice or a "weakness" that can be voluntarily overcome).
4. TS is NOT a "psychological weakness", as the MADB poster asserts.
5. In conditions like ADHD and OCD, psychological issues may also be present in some people and can be addressed by therapists with perhaps behavioural modifications etc being part of suggested and successful coping strategies. In TS, such conditions may also be present in some people and such strategies may be employed if so. This is vastly different from considering that the abnormal motor activity is within a person's control (i.e., voluntary) when it is well understood to be a neurological condition that gives rise to involuntary muscle movements, completely not within the person's power to overcome by desire or will. (If that were so, how relatively simple the treatment could potentially be compared to the medical reality). The treatment plan for an individual with TS can include suggestions for dealing with ADHD or OCD, etc, if present, and may include medications, depending on the neurological symptoms they exhibit. A person with TS eing given strategies to deal with ADHD, for example, if concurrently present, does not in any way mean that their TS is a psychological condition and certainly not that it is within their own control to "cure" it.
If this MADB poster, who has TS it would seem, can be so appallingly ignorant about that, is it possible to be equally as ignorant about "SSA"? It would seem so, as he is going on about how TS can be overcome by will power, as if it's a character trait or a personal weakness that can be changed. In their world I guess that makes sense. That's the world where a neurological affliction is a "weakness" that can be "overcome" by just choosing not to have the muscle and vocal tics any more.
The guy should call up the Mayo Clinic and let them know of his breakthrough regarding this challenging neurological condition. It would seem that it's not a medical issue after all, but one of personal weakness, comparable in his world to "SSA" that can likewise be "overcome" by exerting one's will to change from being gay into being a heterosexual person.
Ignorant.
Sad.
Dangerous.
(Edited once for clarity and once to add in the web site address for source).
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2010 05:21AM by Nightingale.