Need to touch things and strong aversion to certain words - what is th

[TeamTyrion]

Hi everyone,

New to this forum and trying to figure things out. My ds6 has ever-changing tics it seems. I think it started just b4 he turned 6 when he started wriggling his fingers together, then needed to feel his genitals (still does this), then brush parts of his face, and so on. He had quite the throat clearing tic since the Fall (when school began). We have eliminated dairy, gluten, refined sugar, soy and corn. I'm just now starting to see if eggs seem to affect him. We give him probiotics twice and day and a tsp of Fish oil once a day. Our naturopath is waiting to see what to prescribe him in terms of a multivitamin and b-complex until after we get results from 23andme testing. She gave us RelaxMax to give him (2 scoops a day) but I'm not sure if he was reacting well to that. His need to touch things seemed to grow stronger, or maybe that was in response to something else, not sure. The RelaxMax has Magnesium malate (75 mg), Inositol (2,000 mg), Taurine (500 mg), GABA (100 mg) and Suntheanine L-Theanine (50 mg).

 

So, the vocal tics have really gone down, almost to nothing, but his need to touch thing has really gotten strong. If we stick out our hand to point at something it really affects him. If I touch my mouth, he needs to touch my mouth also. Is that just one tic replacing another? Is it OCD? I once read that OCD has behind it an idea that if you don't perform the action, something bad will happen. I can almost guarantee this is not the case with my son. We talk openly about why he tics and it's always the same - it feels "uncomfortable" not to do it. I have asked also if he feels something might happen if he doesn't do it and he always responds with no - and I truly feel he means it. Another thing...

 

He hates it when we say certain words, especially words that have to do with blood. Even saying other words that begin with "bl" gets him upset. He also doesn't like the words pressure (reminds him of blood pressure) or strong (no idea why this word upsets him so). What is that? Again, is that OCD, or does it NEED the "fear-of-consequence" factor to be OCD?

 

Overall he is doing better. He had great anxiety back in the Spring (I also know he has a pollen allergy so that was exacerbating the problem), and it came back this past Christmas. There were tons of worry questions during both times. Now the worry questions are gone. He's much happier, but still the need to touch, and the reaction to words. Any input on this would be so greatly appreciated.

[Chemar]

Hi

What you are describing is not uncommon in TS especially with t ourettic OCD where tics and ocd symptoms can morph into each other

 

my home computer is on the fritz and on a mobile so s truggling to post links bug will do do t omorrow when at my office

[TeamTyrion]

oh, thank you for shedding some light....finally....

Please tell me more chemar, I've been so in the dark for too long. Are we giving him the right things? Are the dosages too low (magnesium seems low...)? thank you

[Chemar]

Here is a chart of common tics

http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/wp-content/uploads/CommonTics.pdf

 

You will notice that touching falls under complex tics

 

300mg supplemental magnesium is usually recommended for TS tics

Epsom Salts baths are helpful too (2 cups epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) in tub warmest water, soak 15-20 min before bed

 

Do take a look at our helpful threads pinned to the top of the forum (also have it linked in my signature below) There is a lot of good info there, including the link to Sheila Rogers' book:Natural Treatments for Tics and Tourette's

[TeamTyrion]

Thanks chemar. Just wondering, when he runs to touch me (my hands or face), I don't like it and wonder if I should be letting him. The idea is that I don't want him to touch others to perform tics and carry that idea to school, etc. Is this not being respectful of him? Is it ok to *try* to set a limit there? Thanks again.

[Chemar]

It really depends on how it is done.

 

There is a form of CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) that helps people with tics form substitute actions/sounds and when done correctly, really helps

BUT

just telling someone with a tic to stop it, can sometimes have the opposite effect in that drawing attention to it can increase the "need" to do it, plus the stress of trying to suppress it can also exacerbate things, often increasing the anxiety/OCD component.

 

You may want to do a Google search on Tourettic OCD (if that is what he is exhibiting)

When our physician first enlightened me about it years ago, so much became clear!

 

But whether it is the tic or the OCD driving this touching, care has to be taken in blocking it, as that "have to"....."or else" aspect can be very traumatic for the person.