I am just so overwhelmed right now. I dont know what to do. My son was just diagnosed with "Chronic Tics" but the Dr. said that he meets the criteria for tourettes. He said he wont give the official diagosis of that because there is a chance he'll grow out of that and he doesn't want him to have that as a medical label. I refuse to put him on meds because I fear the side effects are worse than the tics. I homeschool him so I dont have to worry about school. Right now there seem to be 3 different tics at once. A full body jerk, licking the back of his hands and scratching himself (not harshly, but in an innapropriate area). He has in the past had throat clearing and shoulder shrugging. He doesn't have ADD or any learning disabilities with it. Im told "ignore it" or it will get worse, but how do you not say "Thats innapropriate" or "Stop licking yourself" . I just have to sit and watch these odd things and hope nobody notices or makes him feel weird? He is only 6. My husband and I don't have any tics, but I have an aunt and a couple cousins who do. I feel like my life has been turned upside downand I went from having an extremely intelligent, gifted son to a son with tourettes who is really smart. How do I handle this?? Will he start the vocal after awhile? Do I have to worry about there being worse things than licking, jerking and scratching??? Im so lost.
