Tics vs habits question

[ilovedogs]

Hey guys, just wondering if you all could provide some insight. Ds has been sniffing like crazy for the past 2 months or so right when allergies got out of control for us. He keeps telling me it's his allergies and I'm not really good about medicating the allergies and quercetin and other natural products haven't worked for us. His allergies include red watery eyes when he's bee outside for a while and the sniffling.

 

Many of the repetitive things that ds does are more like habits. He has tics but there are things that he does that I can only describe as habits because he only does them in certain situations and he can stop doing them if I ask. So, I've asked him to stop the sniffling and he'll say "oh, yeah, sorry" and then I won't hear it for a few minutes. When he starts up again I asked him if he feels he 'has' to do it or if he just does it more out of habit. He says he just feels snotty and feels like he has to do it. I guess I'm wondering how to treat this or if I should just not bother. I don't want to start giving him amino acids or extra B vitamins if it's truly just an OCD type habit from the allergies yet I don't want to give him allergy meds if it's more of a tic. Any suggestions?

 

Also, he's always been a sniffer. He sniffs his fingers when he eats finger food, he sniffs his forearms after taking a shower, etc. Again, it's all part of his habits that make him who he is, LOL! Honestly, what is the best treatment for someone who just has repetitive habits? Biofeedback? I know we all have bad habits but he has soooo many! Thanks!

 

Bonnie

[Chemar]

sounds like tics or maybe tourettic OCD(where tics and OCD symptoms morph into each other)

 

 

most people with TS can suppress their tics for a time so I dont think the fact that he can stop for a bit when asked negates them being tics

 

here again is Leslie Packer's list of tics where you will see smelling fingers listed....

http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/Files/CommonTics.PDF

 

IMHO, for people with TS, the fine line between tics, compulsions, obsessions and "habits" is very very blurred and it is most often impossible to distinguish

[ilovedogs]

Thanks, Chemar. I have that list but I guess I always thought that tics just happened all the time but not just during certain circumstances. Ds won't sniff his fingers if he's doing anything else or if he's eating with utensils, only when he eats food with his fingers. He pulls at his clothing while he's in between points on the tennis court but doesn't do it with his clothes at any other time. That's why I'm confused. His eye blinking happens all day no matter what's going on or where he may be. I find the other things to be situational. So, what supplements are the best for something like this that seems to cross the line, so to speak? B12(methylcobalamin)? Taurine? I already give magnesium and will be trying to do some omegas(no fish oils) soon.

[Lynn777]

This is confusing to me too. It is obvious to me that my son has tics & compulsions, but telling them apart can be challenging. I know when he used to have the facial grimacing it was definitely a tic and he had no control over it, same with the low hum. However, he does other things like hugging or touching us and moving his hands around and he is much more aware of these behaviors and seems to be able to control them better. I know they can "technically" be considered tics, but he acts like they are habitual/compulsive more then uncontrollable.

 

I get that there is a fine line with tics and OCD, but the therapist and neurologist said we can redirect the OCD behaviors, but to ignore the tics. What if you don't know which is which! UGH...