Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness May 3rd – 9th

Did you know May 3rd – May 9th is Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week? Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is a condition where your face, body or both make sudden, irregular movements which you cannot control. It can develop as a side effect of medication, most commonly anti-psychotic drugs. At NAMI, we feel it is important to bring awareness to this condition as many members of our community may be affected, and it’s important to recognize the symptoms as early as possible. Click on the images to access more informational resources!

This week, City Hall will be lit up from May 1st – May 3rd in acknowledgment of TD Awareness Week. It’s important to share resources, stories, and information throughout this week to end stigma around this condition so people can identify it sooner, and get the care and support they need.

Read a part of Kara’s story below to get a glimpse of what it is like to live with TD. Be sure to follow us on social media to read more of her story, and see more about Tardive Dyskinesia this week!

“Tardive Dyskinesia is a very painful, misunderstood, and lonely disorder. The more knowledgeable people are, the better chance of getting an earlier diagnosis. It doesn’t have to be permanent, but to prevent that from happening, the medication that’s causing it must be stopped immediately.

That’s the best chance of preventing it from becoming permanent. If the patient doesn’t realize they have the symptoms, friends and family can be vital in an early diagnosis.”

If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of TD, you are not alone. You can visit www.talkabouttd.com to find more resources!