Bayside man makes impact on Tourette’s awareness
Social media campaign draws attention to illness and upcoming fund-raising walk
BY JENNA BAGCAL
One Bayside resident is
using social media to bring
awareness to Tourette’s
Syndrome and an upcoming
fundraiser in the area.
Using just his cellphone,
Peter Zhao films videos of his
daily life living with Tourette’s
and posts them to Facebook
and Instagram using the
hashtag #7daysofTourettes.
“It was created by a friend
of mine, Marco, who goes
by ‘mrmoveandspeak’ on
Instagram,” said Zhao. “We’re
hoping that more people can
use the hashtag to share their
daily lives living with the
condition and challenge people
to show their true selves.”
Zhao’s videos document
his own experience living
with the Tourette’s, obsessivecompulsive
disorder (OCD) and
attention deficit-hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), which he
said often comes hand in
hand. He covers a range of
topics in the minute-long
videos including traveling
on the train, updates on his
children and how he manages
his Tourette’s symptoms.
According to the Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), Tourette
Syndrome attacks the nervous
system, causing people to have
tics or sudden and repeated
twitches, movements and
sounds. The tics can range
from eye blinking, shoulder
shrugging, throat clearing or
yelling words or phrases.
The Bayside resident recalls
that he started showing signs
of the disorders when he was
a young boy living in China.
When he was 8 years old, his
parents started noticing that
he would stick out his tongue
as if he were “copying a
snake,” but chalked it up to it
being a bad habit.
Zhao’s symptoms got
worse when he and his family
moved to the United States
and by 14 he had developed
other tics including repetitive
eye blinking, jaw and
neck twitches, and yelling
curse words.
A photo still from one of Peter Zhao’s #7daysofTourettes videos.
He was formally diagnosed
in the 1990s and managed
his symptoms with the
medication Orap until he was
20. Zhao said that although
the medication aided some of
his symptoms, it made some
of the other symptoms worse,
including intrusive and
suicidal thoughts.
Though he does not always
advocate for those with
Screenshot from video by Peter Zhao
Tourette’s to go med free,
Zhao has learned to manage
his symptoms and tics in a
variety of ways. He goes to a
reflexologist who specializes
in Chinese medicine,
exercises, freestyle raps and
even learned ventriloquy
vocalization techniques to
modify his vocal tics.
On May 19, Zhao will be
participating in the National
Awareness 5K Run/Walk at
Flushing Meadows Corona
Park in an effort to spread
even more awareness about
Tourette Syndrome. He
learned about the opportunity
following a recent visit to
the Tourette Association
of America headquarters
in Bayside, which is the
organization in charge
of the event.
He shared that
organizations like the
Tourette Association are great
resources for learning more
disorder and getting proper
doctor referrals.
Zhao’s advice for those
learning to manage their
Tourette’s is “don’t beat
yourself up.”
“Just because your
symptoms return doesn’t mean
you failed. There’s no cure for
Tourette’s, you just have to
live with it, own it and make
the best of it,” Zhao said.
Follow Zhao on his
Instagram @fabulously_
tourette to keep up with his
#7daysofTourettes videos.
When you’re ready
to feel better,
we’re right around
the corner.
Gastroenterology and Advanced Endoscopy from
Palmadessa & Brodsky
Call us at (718) 461-0163
or visit QueensGastroDoc.com
241-02 Northern Blvd #1, Douglaston, NY 11362
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TAX PROS
$25OFF
YOUR TAX RETURN
PREPARATION
NEW CLIENTS ONLY
We Understand the New Complex Tax Laws
Prepared by Staff of Four CPA’s
Family Owned with Over 40 Years of Experience
No Appointment Necessary – Reasonable Fees
PSYLLOS&PSYLLOS
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
213-35 40th Ave. (corner of Bell Blvd) Bayside, NY 11361
718.225.2300
TIMESLEDGER,6 MARCH 29-APR. 4, 2019 QNS.COM
/QueensGastroDoc.com
/QNS.COM