Morgan Wade is a popular TikTok star and singer who has been open about living with Tourette’s syndrome. Tourette’s is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary physical and vocal tics. Wade has brought awareness to Tourette’s and advocated for acceptance of people with disabilities through her large TikTok following. In this article, we’ll explore the evidence that Wade does indeed have Tourette’s syndrome and how it impacts her life and career.
What is Tourette’s Syndrome?
Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations called tics. Tics can be either motor tics (involving movement) or vocal/phonic tics (involving sounds). Some common tics are blinking, shoulder shrugging, throat clearing, sniffing, and facial movements.
Diagnostic Criteria
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Tourette’s is diagnosed based on the following criteria:
- Multiple motor and one or more vocal tics throughout the illness, although not necessarily concurrently
- Tics that occur many times a day nearly every day or intermittently throughout more than one year
- Symptoms that started before age 18
- Symptoms not caused by physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition
Onset and Development
Tourette’s syndrome typically begins between the ages of 5 and 7. The first symptoms are almost always motor tics affecting the face, arms or shoulders. Vocal tics often emerge later. Tourette’s follows a waxing and waning pattern, where tics intensify and weaken over weeks or months. Tics are often worse with excitement or anxiety and better during calm, focused activities. Symptoms typically peak in early teen years and many children will see improvement in tics and even remission as they reach adulthood. However, a minority of patients have severe tics that persist into adulthood.
Evidence That Morgan Wade Has Tourette’s
There are several clear indications that Morgan Wade does indeed have Tourette’s syndrome:
History of Motor and Vocal Tics
In interviews and social media posts, Wade has shared that she began exhibiting symptoms around 5 years old. She describes frequent motor tics like blinking, shrugging, and throwing her head back. She also exhibits vocal tics like grunting, shouting words or phrases, and tongue clicking. This history matches the early onset and combination of motor and vocal tics typical of Tourette’s.
Waxing and Waning Course
Wade has noted her tics tend to fluctuate in severity. Stress and excitement worsen them, while relaxation helps. This waxing and waning pattern is a classic feature of Tourette’s. She has also said her tics were more intense during adolescence and have improved slightly with adulthood. This improvement trajectory is common with TS.
Diagnosed as a Child
In an interview, Wade shared she was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome around age 6 after her parents noticed her tics. Being diagnosed at such a young age is common with TS and supports that her symptoms are genuine.
Tics Persist into Adulthood
At 25 years old, Wade still exhibits motor and vocal tics regularly. While many TS cases improve in adulthood, a minority of patients do still experience tics throughout their lifetime. The fact Wade’s tics have persisted supports her diagnosis.
Tics Worsen with Stress and Emotion
Wade has noted frequently that her tics become more pronounced when she is stressed, anxious, excited, or emotional. Tics worsening with emotion is a hallmark of Tourette’s. The fluctuations Wade experiences in response to emotions aligns with TS patterns.
No Evidence of Faking
Some people with TS have been accused of faking their symptoms. However, there is no evidence Wade is deliberately exaggerating her tics. They appear genuine and organic in interviews and candid moments. Her tics also follow typical TS patterns, rather than exaggerated random movements that would suggest fabrication.
Impact of Tourette’s on Morgan Wade’s Life
Tourette’s has shaped and impacted Wade’s life in significant ways:
Bullying and Social Exclusion
Wade shared she experienced bullying as a child due to her tics being viewed as “weird.” Many with TS report bullying, which can contribute to social anxiety and withdrawal. This stigmatization of her differences led to struggles with self-esteem and depression in her youth.
Using Music as an Emotional Outlet
Wade conveys she channeled difficult emotions related to bullying into writing songs and playing instruments from a young age. Expressing oneself creatively can be an outlet for those with TS who feel marginalized. This early passion for music eventually led to Wade’s current career.
Difficulty in School
TS can make concentrating in school more challenging. Tics can be disruptive and some with TS also have accompanying attention issues. Wade described struggling in school and having an individualized education program (IEP). Academic difficulties are common challenges associated with Tourette’s.
Finding Confidence Through Going Viral on TikTok
After posting candid videos of her tics on TikTok that went viral in 2020, Wade described finding a sense of community and confidence. Social media can allow those with TS to find others like themselves and build self-acceptance. Wade has leveraged TikTok fame to educate about Tourette’s and advocate for disability empowerment.
Learning to Manage Stress and Tics
Wade has noted using therapies like medication, meditation, exercise, and counseling to manage her TS and related stress. She tries to avoid triggers like lack of sleep. Often those with TS employ a range of strategies to live more comfortably with their symptoms. Finding effective coping methods can be an ongoing journey.
Morgan Wade’s Advice for Living with Tourette’s
Drawing on her own experiences, Wade offers encouragement and tips for how others with TS can thrive:
Accept Yourself
She stresses the importance of self-acceptance, since shame tends to worsen symptoms. Owning your differences and giving yourself permission to be imperfect can build confidence.
Educate Others
Wade advises patiently educating peers, friends, and partners about your tics and TS to build understanding. Many react negatively due to ignorance, rather than maliciousness.
Find a Supportive Community
Seeking others with TS, online or in person, provides connection and shows you are not alone. Wade found immense support through TikTok. Building a circle of people who embrace you as you are can buoy your self-esteem.
Explore Creative Outlets
Wade encourages exploring creative hobbies like art, music, writing which can give you a means of expressing yourself. Having a creative passion can build pride and purpose.
Take Care of Yourself
She stresses the importance of rest, healthy living, and minimizing stress to help manage TS symptoms. Setting boundaries and saying no when needed is also key to avoiding taking on too much. Self-care comes first when living with TS.
Morgan Wade’s Advocacy for Tourette’s Awareness
Wade has used her TikTok platform, which currently has over 800,000 followers, to tirelessly advocate for destigmatizing Tourette’s and creating an inclusive environment for those with disabilities. Some of her advocacy work includes:
- Candidly displaying her tics and explaining her experiences with Tourette’s to show others it should not be stigmatized.
- Educating about common misconceptions such as TS being contagious or caused by parenting.
- Responding to rude comments with grace and understanding.
- Calling out ableist language used to mock people with disabilities.
- Emphasizing people with TS are still “normal” and deserving of dignity.
- Encouraging acceptance and standing up for marginalized groups beyond just TS.
Wade notes she is proud to give representation to other young girls with Tourette’s who may not have seen themselves reflected in media before. She demonstrates people with disabilities can still achieve great success in areas like music and entertainment. Overall, she sends the message that having differences should be embraced, not viewed negatively.
Conclusion
In summary, there is substantial evidence confirming Morgan Wade legitimately has Tourette’s syndrome. Her history of motor and vocal tics beginning in childhood, waxing and waning tic severity, worsening with stress, and persistence into adulthood all align with diagnostic criteria and patterns typical of TS.
Tourette’s has posed social and academic challenges for Wade, but ultimately shaped her into a talented musician and dedicated advocate. She hopes to empower others with TS to be resilient in the face of bullying, embrace their uniqueness, and feel pride as part of the disabled community. Wade will surely continue utilizing her powerful social presence to promote understanding and fight stigma against neurological differences. She is an inspirational role model proving that TS does not have to limit one’s potential for achievement or impact.
Morgan Wade Fun Facts Table
Fun Fact | Details |
---|---|
Hometown | Nashville, TN |
Birthday | March 7, 1997 (Age 25) |
Early Jobs | Cashier, bicycle taxi driver, Lyft driver |
Instruments Played | Guitar, piano, ukulele, mandolin |
Favorite Artists | Jason Isbell, John Prine, Taylor Swift |
Pets | Dog named Paul |
First Single | “Wilder Days” (2020) |
Debut EP | Reckless (2020) |
Record Label | Sad Madison Records |
Notable Tourette’s Advocates | Billie Eilish, Mahalia Jackson, Dan Aykroyd, Samuel Johnson |
Key Milestones Table
Year | Milestone |
---|---|
Early 2000s | Begins showing Tourette’s symptoms around age 5 |
2009 | Learns to play guitar and writes first song at age 12 |
2020 | TikTok videos spotlighting her Tourette’s go viral |
2020 | Releases debut single “Wilder Days” |
2020 | Drops debut EP Reckless |
2021 | Featured on Time100 Next list of rising stars |
2022 | Performs at major festivals like Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits |
2023 | Upcoming debut full length album |