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Living Loudly with Tourette: Emily Fleischman’s Journey of Advocacy, Nursing, and Owning Her Story
Manage episode 473188980 series 3524016
In this episode, I sit down with someone I’ve known and admired for years—Emily Fleischman. Emily is a nurse at Mount Sinai West in New York City and a longtime advocate within the Tourette Syndrome community. From her early days as a Youth Ambassador with NJCTS to publishing a children’s book about her experience with TS, Emily’s story is one of courage, transformation, and advocacy.
We dive into what it was like being diagnosed with Tourette and OCD as a child, how that affected her family dynamics, and the coping strategies she picked up along the way. Emily opens up about everything from therapy and medical massages to what helped—and didn’t help—her manage her tics over the years. We have a conversation packed with insights for parents, professionals, and anyone walking the TS journey.
Emily Fleischman, RN is a New Jersey native and NYC based nurse. Having grown up with TS and OCD, she brings personal and professional insights to our discussion, which centered around her story, including her diagnosis, family, tic management, and tips/advice for those with TS.
Episode Highlights:
[0:34] Getting to know Emily and her connection to NJCTS.
[1:54] Emily’s early diagnosis and the challenges that followed.
[4:00] Family dynamics and what it was like for her brother.
[7:05] Struggling in school, holding in tics, and reaching a breaking point.
[9:50] Becoming a Youth Ambassador and finding her voice through advocacy.
[11:39] Writing a children’s book about Tourette to reach younger audiences.
[13:50] Nursing career journey and the role empathy plays in her work.
[15:15] Educating hospital staff about Tourette from the inside out.
[16:01] Why nursing was the perfect fit—and how it supports her lifestyle.
[18:26] CBT, reward systems, and tools that helped as a kid.
[21:15] How adulthood has changed her relationship with tics and OCD.
[22:13] Emily breaks down ABA therapy and how it connects to her own experience.
[25:54] Practical parenting tips: more time in the morning, identifying triggers.
[26:40] Communication tips for loved ones when it comes to pointing out tics.
[28:06] Why meditation and yoga didn’t help—but massages did.
[29:34] Talking openly with kids about their diagnosis.
[31:27] Emily’s advice for those newly diagnosed with TS.
Links & Resources:
Emily’s children’s book: Emily’s Tic – Available on Amazon
Remember, each story shared on this podcast brings light and understanding to the diverse experiences within the Tourette's community. Your journey is your own, and it's filled with potential and promise. If this episode resonated with you, I encourage you to like, share, and leave a review to help us connect with more listeners.
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