How do you know you have tics?

Are you constantly wriggling or making noises that others find annoying? Welcome to the world of tics – a neurological disorder that causes involuntary movements and sounds. Tics can range from mild to severe, but they all share one thing in common: they’re super awkward in social situations. So how do you know if those weird gestures are actually tics or just regular-old fidgeting? In this article, we’ll break it down for you.

What exactly is a tic?

A tic is an abrupt, repetitive movement or sound that occurs automatically and without volition. Basically, your body does it on its own without any conscious effort on your part. And unlike normal fidgeting (which is usually voluntary), tics can be hard to control.

Tics can affect various parts of the body such as the head and neck area (e.g., head-shaking, eye-blinking). They may also involve vocalizations like grunts or throat-clearing.

There are two types of tics: motor and vocal. Motor tics refer to movements while vocal tics relate to sounds and speech-like utterances.

Common motor tic symptoms

  • Blinking excessively
  • Squinting eyes tightly
  • Jerky head movements
  • Twisting the face into strange facial expressions
  • Clenching teeth

Common vocal tic symptoms

  • Clear ‘throaty’ coughs
  • Grunting loudly
  • Releasing growls
  • Saying “Huh” repeatedly
    • Making pig snorting noises

Signs that May Help You Identify Your Ticks

How could someone who’s always had motor schtick ever tell if they’ve got themselves some twitchy ticks? It’s not easy! But there are few things which often give away their presence:

1) Repetitive & Uncontrolled Movements
If you notice yourself performing certain physical movements repeatedly and unintentionally, it could be a motor tic. These can include head jerks or shoulder shrugs that occur out of nowhere.

2) Involuntary Utterances
If you are making odd/unexplainable sounds that aren’t part of your normal speech, there is potential for vocal tics to be present here.

3) Sensation Prior to the Movement
Often people with Tourettes (a type of tic disorder) describe experiencing an uncomfortable sensation immediately prior to producing a tic; this urge usually dissipates once they perform the motion.

4) Disruptive
Tics may affect daily life despite not causing any direct harm – disruptiveness could take many different forms e.g Tiring,boring,straining

When should you seek professional care?

Most tics are mild and do not require treatment, but others can greatly impact your quality of life (and those around you). Here are some signs that it might be time to see a doctor:

Significant disruption in day-to-day activities

The severity level alone isn’t enough information when determining if seeking medical advice would help improve symptoms; disruptions at work/school/home due to the ticks is important too.

Preceding Stressors:

Stressful situations like exam pressure, job hunting anxiety etc could worsen/trigger preexisting bouts/ticks.If stress precedes them frequently,it’s best considered getting professional counselling as well alongside medication.Other stressful moments include major events such wedding,demise of loved one ,Loss/rejection related issues which increase self introspection & rumination leading progress in ticks

  • The need for pain relief from jaw clenching or other involuntary movements.
  • Increasing frequency/severity/disruption/pain associated with new/existing tics

In all these instances consulting a general practitioner who understands how tics impinge upon motility and mood control would be crucial in the pursuit of finding relief.

What causes tics?

Unlike most mythos, unknown haunted places or urban legends there is some scientific consensus on the cause of ticks. It has been proposed that with a concrete biological basis,ticks are caused by an area in the brain called ‘basal ganglia.’

  • Contrary to popular belief tics aren’t sparked by household toxins/poor upbringing/craving attention.Their source point resides deeper than mere physical cues

The basal ganglia controls motor function and communicates with other areas of the brain like cortex & cerebellum(where voluntary control coordination resides). Animal studies have depicted damage or mutated nature in basal nuclei may prompt unwanted tics.

Treatment options for TICS!

Luckily ,effective treatment can vastly improve your quality of life! Some treatments available include:

Psychotherapy/Behaviour therapy

These forms reduce underlying anxiety/stress/depression thereby reducing tic frequency.
Psychotherapy is also useful alongside medication as sometimes psychological issues could exacerbate/halt medication effectiveness

Medication

Medication options depend on Severity:patients with minimal/no disruptions due to tics should not follow medicated route but If symptoms become severe enough e.g interfering familial/social relationships & daily engagements,consulting a licensed medical practitioner specialised in prescribing ADHD drugs including Clonidine;Guanfacine;sometimes SSRIs too

Though medication isn’t perfect(There could be potential negative side effects/benefit varies between individuals) working closely with your doctor will ensure maximum benefit from its usage.

Consumables / Herbal remedies:

Certain vitamins(e.g Magnesium), herbal supplements(kava/chamomile) maybe worth giving a shot though more research needs to take place(to confirm their authenticity)

Coping Strategies for dealing effectively!

If you’re looking for tips on coping mechanisms when it comes to living day-to-day with TICS,hopefully these suggestions offer the help you need:

Conscious Relaxation techniques

Yoga/Meditation/Deep breathing exercises/CBT are all bases for coping with stress and hence reducing ticks.

Transmuting Tics Into Hobbies:

Many people have found that by submerging into their hobbies ( be it music,sports,design) they shift focus from the symptoms on to other aspects of life that bring joy.

Whether participating in organized sports, spending time outdoors or supporting organisations shedding light on neurological disorders,this is good way of taking ownership back.

Social Support Groups

While typing this I was singing Britney Spears’ “You drive me crazy” -yupp juvenile traits never goes away!- but believe me when I say connecting within a community experiencing similar circumstances reduces social stigma & slams many doors shut isolation-driven thoughts forcefully try to enter.Doctor recommendations/support websites like Tourettes Action,different forums where people share stories etc

Conclusion

Weve encapsulated quite alot in our piece today Some key insights;we discovered what tics are , assessed its presence along some hallmark criteria,explained underlying causes and most importantly took a look at effective therapeutic options .Moreover we gave tips for living day-to-day with tics such as being mindful of tick triggers,effectively addressing anxiety before things spiral.For those suffering from tics;talking openly about them will increase understanding whilst displaying courage.More research needs to happen regarding herbal remedies/DSM standards/treatment plans tailored specifically according patient severity.We hope this article supported your journey towards an updated educated perception regarding these neural conditions.

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