I’ve written a lot about my ‘ticcing fits’ but I realise I haven’t mentioned one of their crucial phases. It’s the bit between my speech returning and the fit actually finishing. My friends refer to this affectionately as the ‘lying zone.’

It’s got this name because as soon as my speech returns I’ll start claiming the fit’s finished, even when it evidently isn’t and I haven’t got any control back over my body. I’m not choosing to make these assertions though. I think it happens because I want the fits to be over as soon as possible.

Fortunately my friends, family and support workers have become wise to the tricksy ways of Tourettes and know the difference between a ticced ending and the real ending.