“A minority of people with coprolalia have this particular problem. It is crucial to understand that these words or complex phrases do not necessarily reflect the thoughts, beliefs or opinions of the person with coprolalia.”
The CDC emphasises that people with Tourette’s cannot control their tics, saying many people compare it to ‘having an itch or having to sneeze’.
The website explains: “You may try to stop the feeling, but eventually you will probably scratch or sneeze and you will feel a little better until the urge comes back.
“When people try to hold back their tics, it can cause stress, and the tic may become worse.”
Who is John Davidson?
Davidson was the subject of 1989 BBC documentary John’s Not Mad, which followed him as a 16-year-old schoolboy diagnosed with severe Tourette’s syndrome.
