Habit Reversal

[ldjsue]

Has anyone tried habit reveresal? It is touted as a sucessful, non drug approach to controlling tics.

[Guest buddy]

Hi , what is habit reversal? It sounds interesting.

[Guest mommy2111]

  ldjsue said:

Has anyone tried habit reveresal? It is touted as a sucessful, non drug approach to controlling tics.

I would like to hear more about this. We refer to our sons tics as "habits". Sounds like something I would be interested in hearing more about.

[Claire]

There is a difference between habits and tics. OCD people can reverse habits through therapy. I can't believe this is good for tics, as it puts pressure on the child to believe they can control what they are doing, which can raise stress. This is a concern for me.

 

Habit redirection is another matter where I have heard some success. Swear words being replaced..

 

I can see how teaching mental relaxation techniques, such as meditation, can reduce the urge to tic.

 

Claire

[ldjsue]

You're right it's called habit reversal and what I've been told, when you become aware of the urge to tic you do some competing sensation that then diminishes the urge. Actually, the doc said it does give people with tics some control over what seems uncontrollable. It has been studied with fairly good results. I was just curious if anyone has tried it or heard of it.

 

Certainly to try and have some control over our bodies is what we all want, the fact that it's not drug is awesome!!

[Chemar]

ldjsue
I have had personal feedback from a number of people who have been negatively
impacted by the rigidity of the treatment that they have had, and have actually found increased symptoms of depression and frustration and rage resulting from trying to enforce tic suppression

perhaps what you are referring to is different, and if so perhaps it is a good technique.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is excellent for OCD tho.