Robbie Williams Opens Up About Tourette Syndrome and Battling Intrusive Thoughts

Williams explained how, at one point, whilst strolling down the road, he realised that those constant internal thoughts were actually a sort of Tourette’s, hidden from the external world.

Robbie Williams, who is a singer and songwriter, recently revealed in a podcast about his Tourette’s Syndrome.He clarified that his symptoms were not of the nature that people expect them to be, he neither produces the sounds involuntarily nor makes any visible movement. Rather, according to him, his tics are internal, which are his intrusive thoughts, which do not appear externally.

Williams explained how, at one point, whilst strolling down the road, he realised that those constant internal thoughts were actually a sort of Tourette’s, hidden from the external world.

Robbie Williams Opens Up About Tourette Syndrome

This has been what he has described as inside Tourette, implying that he has turned into an Olympian at passing the condition on.That is to say that he is never shown to be out of control, full of bravado and flair, though in his mind, he is fighting with powerful mental events.

Although he plays in stadiums to thousands of people, Williams explains the up energy is not always making it into his personal spaceinto his soul, he cannot hear it.

He told me about tours and live performances that he has always had a difficult time with not due to the absence of excitement but due to fear and their internal pressure.On stage, he explained, he applies gestures and confidence to maintain an appearance despite his frequent internal feelings to the contrary.

Williams too addressed the topic of autism. He just took an online test in autism that tested negative, however, according to him, he feels like he has autistic traits particularly struggles with socialisation and going out of his comfort zone.

It is, he said, with the help of formal diagnosis that he makes sense of a discomfort with his own skin that has existed his whole lifewhy he feels out of place in social life, why he has been emotionally discomposed so long.

What Is Tourette Syndrome?

Tourette syndrome sometimes referred to as just Tourette is a neurological condition, where abrupt, repetitive, involuntary movements or vocalisations called tics appear.

Types of tics

Motor tics are physical movements these can either be simple such as blinking, shrugging, head jerking or more complex touching things, jumping, bending.
Vocal tics are sounds or utterances , they may be simple ,clearing throat, sniffing, grunting or complex word, phrase. Others with Tourette may also exhibit involuntary speech of obscene or otherwise unacceptable words, but that is comparatively uncommon.

Age of onset

The symptoms of tics usually first appear in childhood, usually between 5 and 10. In many but not all individuals, tics can become more severe during adolescence, and can decrease during late adolescence or adulthood.

Variability And triggers

Tics can vary in frequency, intensity and nature with the passage of time. Tics may be aggravated by stress, excitement, anxiety, fatigue, illness or external stimuli. On the other hand, others are able to hold their tics back at least temporarily, in most instances with some discomfort. There is high likelihood that individuals with Tourette syndrome would also experience other neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders, like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD, anxiety, learning differences, or mood disorders.

Causes & neurobiology

The precise cause is yet to be clearly comprehended. It is presumed to have an element of genetics, brain structure and functionality and neurotransmitter pathways particularly dopamine.

Tourette’s is regarded as a neurodevelopmental disorder , it occurs due to the disparity of brain wiring and control of movement and behavior circuits.

Impact And Quality Of Life

In most of the cases, Tourette is mild and not too disruptive. Other individuals can have worse tics that are painful and embarrassing or disruptive to everyday activities.

The effect might be more pronounced in case of additional conditions ADHD or OCD.

Diagnosis & management

The diagnosis is clinical, and is made on history and observation of tics over time. It has no cure, but treatments are able to manage symptoms. It can be behavioral therapy such as Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics, or CBIT, medication, and supporting techniques.

Misconceptions

Not all people with Tourette swear or use foul language ,it is a stereotype and it is over emphasized .Individuals such as Williams can have internal such as intrusive thoughts phenomena that are not expressed as overt tics, thus the condition is less noticeable.

Bad parenting, psychological weakness or moral failure does not cause Tourette.In the instance of Robbie Williams, his account would propose some variant of the disorder when the tics are internal and secret and occur in the form of intrusive experiences of the mind, not observable behaviors or sounds. It might not be this mythic image of Tourette most people have, but it is to remind us that neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions tend to be more subtle and internal than commonly reflected.