I totally know what you are talking about and it didn't help that I had shot hair when I played roller derby too...most guys automatically thought I was some crazy dyke....but I totally feel ya friend zone sucks...most guys don't take me seriously at all...it's totally funny the few times I have gotten into serious relationships I think they date me because they want a damaged girl and when the see I'm really normal except for the twitches they run quick...so crazy...don't worry I know how hard it is to find someone. there are people on here that have spouses that have tourettes so I'm sure it's possible to find someone right even if it's just right for right now.

know how you feel dude.. i was constantly accused of being a drug user by many people including school teachers and other public security etc.

about girls, i've been really insecure too but mine are quite repressed so they're not very noticable. i need to just think "fuck it" and forget about it. to people who don't get it the tics come across as me being nervous which is annoying because then they think i'm unconfident...and thus less attractive.. major ball ache!

a tactic i try to use is to try and transform your tics into things girls will find cute... use all your unconscious energy to try and express the "Tic energy" as a slightly different tics. might be a good idea anyway. i think acceptance is good, that's what i'm learning. remember, everyone is blessed in different ways. we all have many aspects of character that are attractive and powerful.

if she don't love you tics 'n all, then sack her.. she ain't good enough for you. ain't a good'n. remember, some girls find tics cute.

take it easy bro

also come to think about it I remember when i was in my first year of high school i had a winking tic. all the girls thoguht i was winking at them in the dinner queue this was absolutely horrible traumatic at the time and they thought i was a freak and i definitely felt like one. but pretty funny to look back at now!

I really feel for you man. A lot of what you said I've gone through myself. People say "oh well just be yourself and it will work out," but its a bit more complicated than that.

One thing when relating with people (romantically or not) is that people will make impressions very fast about someone so you have to hit them hard right away. If you start off nervous or shy around someone when you first meet them, then they will label you as such. You could be totally different around them later on once you've left your comfort zone and they probably won't even see it. One thing I've found is that you can't worry about how people will see you or that they might not be into you "that" way, because it makes you hesitant and women will pick up on that really fast. You have to be confident and bold, be slightly intimidating but not aggressive about it. And make sure people see you as the way you want them to right away.

Hi Noah, I don't know how bad your tics are compared to mine. I remember always being the outsider in primary school, and had only very few friends. I had already tics then, but I didn't realize it. It was just blamed on being a nervous person. I was also shy and an introvert and I was in 4 different school for the 6 years of primary school, so that didn't help. I don't really remember how my tics evolved during the secondary school years. And when I was in my early twenties, life was just a party :-D It's only when I got married to an abusive man and even worse stepkids who used to mock me and copy me, that I realized I had really bad tics. I spoke to my doctor about it, who did accupuncture, and he said not too worry. This was about 17 years ago. So I didn't. I learned to control my tics in public. But they still get bad when I am under stress, and at times I am constantly cracking my jaws. It has never stopped me from having a date, even though I never dated a lot (I am shy). I have also learned that most people have something "wrong" with them, the perfect person doesn't exist. Having a great personality is a lot more important. And respect for each other. So I can only say: relax a bit! Don't feel rejected by the girls. In my twenties I've said no to so many men, because I wasn't really interested in dating that much, I liked hanging out with my friends. A lot of them were male. Friends I still know now told me I was stunning, but I was clueless :-D I certainly wasn't snotty, feeling too good for anyone, just I didn't care. I think it is important to work on your self confidence. You must certainly have qualities that make the tourettes disappear to the background! I don't know how you present yourself when looking for a job. I am the short term contract specialist, so I know all about applying for jobs. And the one thing that is reflected every time is that I show enthousiasm and confidence. I wrote in another post about this hotelmanager that has very obvious tourettes (eye twitching and head shaking - nearly all the time), well it did'nt stop him! Don't let tourettes top you from doing anything. Also, I have never ever told a friend or boyfriend that I have tourettes. If ever anyone remarks on my tics again, I will. But just to show that you shouldn't volonteer information that no one is asking for. You don't present yourself: Hi I'm Noah, and my eyes are blue. So why present yourself as having tourettes? Well, this is how I see it. And some people may think I'm weird. But I don't care. But lots of people don't care neither ;-)
What concerns genetics, I don't think my kids have TS (they are 14 and 16 now). But don't let genetics worry you: in my family there is breast cancer, proteine S deficiency, rheumatism, arthritis, in my ex's cholesterol and heart problems, depression and who knows what else. At the moment I have two beautiful healthy kids :-D Enjoy life. There are a lot worse things than tourettes. You will meet that special woman. Don't panic yet!

i have an uncle with slight tourettes, and he's been married for YEARS. my son and my nephew also have cases of it, it seems to move from one area to another, not always the same twitch or the same repeated movement. they've both had girlfriends.
if you meet the right girl, i'm sure she could overlook something as minute as that, and if not, well you've just not met the right one yet.
good luck!