teenagers with tics - please read

[heathz14]

hello

 

i am a 17 year old girl

 

since the age of 10 i have had minor facial and vocal tics, including muttering incoherant swear words. these have lasted for varying periods of time, anything from a few weeks to a couple of months, and then disappear for a while. they vary in type and frequency throughout the year, and i have not identified any environment or health factors that improve or reduce the tics. although, i do find when im stressed (from school) or angry or tense they are more apparent. i also find that if i have spent the day supressing them at school, then they are worse in the first couple of hours when i come home.

 

recently they have been getting worse, more apparent and more frequent. my family has been more aware of them and i have decided that i would like to look at options of changing this single aspect of my life that i hate, and that i feel brings me down so much.

 

my doctor has made a referal for me to see a cognative behavioural therapist, which i will go to in about 6 weeks time. does anyone have any advice on this? positives or negatives? has it worked for you? i feel that my tics are nothing to do with my external surroundings, so will seeing me and my family really help that much?

 

i would be interested in any information from anyone concerning any sucessful self help techniques as well.

 

from reading the excellent forums on this website i can see that many entries are from mothers with teenage children. i would love to talk to these teenagers by email, to share experiences and vent feelings and generally have a chat, i think it would be a good thing. my email should be at the bottom of the page, please get in touch!!! i also have msn messanger if anyone wants to add me!!

 

any help or advice or reassurance is very very welcome

 

thank you

 

heathz14

 

xxx

[Claire]

Heathz,

 

From the swearing, your symptoms sound more in the Tourette's (or tics) family than OCD, and I thought cognitive behavioral therapy was for OCD.

 

Chemar has a teenage son and perhaps can help you with insights there.

 

I encourage you to read the other threads here. Most of our efforts as parents are in trying to minimize issues aggravating the tics, and I don't think any of us try to get our kids to control their tics--since this isn't recommended treatment as it creates more stress. Some of our kids have tic syndromes and some Tourette's. In any case, most of us have had success in reducing our child's actaull urge to tic and thus making them more comfortable.

 

Although with the swearing aspect perhaps there are 'tricks' that I am unaware of (such as slightly changing the word, I honestly have no idea there on what is appropriate, I just know that this symptom is often associated with TS).

 

Since underlying triggers can last for day, you wouldn't know what they were without a methodology in place, e.g. a food elimination diet for a couple of weeks (only the most non-allergic foods are allowed, then others are added in one at a time). Removing artificial flavors and colors consistantly for several weeks is another. Removing screens (TV/Computer/Big screen movies/hand held computers) for a week is another thing to try. Then there are underlying tests to have done and immune issues corrected.

 

If you are going to see a doctor, I would recommend someone from the list at the top of this forum.

 

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...p?showtopic=565

 

But I will defer to others on the swearing aspect itself--that is out of my personal experience.

 

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Claire

[Chemar]

Hi heathz and welcome to Latitudes

 

it really does sound like you have Tourette Syndrome, or some form of tic disorder.

 

 

from personal experience with my 14yo son, I can tell you that although there are many things that can help to make the tics more manageable, if you have TS you will tic.

 

cognitive behavioural therapy is a very good treatment...BUT...it really isnt meant for TICS. Tics, especially if they are because of Tourette Syndrome, are just not something that can be "unlearned" or controlled for more than short periods.

 

In fact, trying to suppress them for too long can sometimes make them worse or bring out other problems like mood swings, OCD, frustration, rage, depression, anxiety etc.

 

IMO, better just to tic!

 

Some folks have found that prescription meds reduce their tics, but sadly most of the meds do have some very unpleasant side effects so, at least in this community, we try to stay away from them.

Many of us have found a lot of success from the natural treatments that you will find discussed here, especially supplements and the elimination of artificial junk from diet.

 

there is a very good website that is geared toward your age group called Life's A Twitch.

http://www.lifesatwitch.com

 

Dr Duncan McKinley, affectionately known as dr Dunc, is a psychologist who also has TS and has lots of really good info and advice on living with it.

He is a great guy, and also responds to emails, so you can email him thru the contact link at his website, with your questions and concerns.

 

My son is away at present, but when he gets back I will ask him to email you and you can chat. his tics also started just after his 10th birthday.

 

If you go to another good forum for TS at BrainTalk, you will see posts by a 15yo with user name cool_gadget.

He lives in Ireland and is a real sweety who loves to chat with others. he and my son correspond daily by email.

here is the link to the BrainTalk Forum

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/index....?referrerid=312

 

do stay in touch with us..it is really so important to have a support group of people who understand what you are going thru. Also helps to be able to just vent sometimes

 

all the best as you seek solutions

Cheri

[sgrunin]

Stress is definitely something that brings on tics...at least in my case...

 

This is a great forum..I read the posts here every day

 

Scott

[heathz14]

thank you guys, this is great. anyone else with info, how insignificant you think it is, please add it! thank you x

[sgrunin]

heathz14

 

You wont believe all the info you get from here..I am still learning medications/vitamins and that stuff but I remember everything that happened to me throughout my life with TS so I am hoping I can take that and help people out...I went through everthing with TS..good and bad and came out pretty good in the end :-)

 

Scott