Blog

Key Takeaways:

• Self-awareness through Inquiry
• Embracing emotional healing
• Practical Strategies for Coping

Today, I want to dive into something that many of us with ticks can relate to—the curious way our ticks seem to intensify when we're around other people. Have you noticed this pattern in your own life?

For me, it's been a constant observation. When I find myself in social gatherings or even just surrounded by a few friends, my ticks become more pronounced. It's not just a physical response; it's almost like my body tunes into a different frequency of movement, responding to the energy and dynamics of the people around me.

It raises a fundamental question: does this happen to everyone in all social contexts, or are there specific triggers? This self-inquiry is crucial because it leads us towards greater self-awareness. Understanding these triggers isn't about finding a quick fix but rather about becoming more attuned to the subtle urges and tensions within our bodies...

Key Takeaways:

• The Illusion of the Tic
• Connecting with Calm
• The Journey Inward

Hey everyone, it’s Darren here, and it feels great to reconnect with you all. Today, let’s delve into a perspective that might shift how you view your experience with motor tics—a journey towards understanding and, hopefully, finding peace.

Let’s play with the idea that the tic is an illusion. It’s a persistent one, yes, but it’s not your constant reality. Think back to moments when you weren’t ticking much or at all. Remember how it felt during those times of calm and relaxation? Those moments are real, and they remind us that the tic doesn’t define us constantly.

From my experience working with hundreds of individuals dealing with ticks, I’ve observed a common thread: ticks lessen when we are calmer. Whether it’s during downtime, vacations, or simply moments of deep relaxation, our bodies find respite. It’s crucial to tune into...

A self-care journal is more than just a diary. It’s a focused tool where you can track your symptoms, emotional state, and the effectiveness of various management strategies. It also serves as a therapeutic outlet to express feelings, which might be difficult to articulate otherwise.

Benefits of Keeping a Self-Care Journal

Keeping a self-care journal offers several benefits:

•  Enhanced Awareness: Regularly writing in your journal helps you become more attuned to the patterns and triggers of your tics. This awareness is key to managing symptoms more proactively.
•  Stress Reduction: Journaling can be a great way to relieve stress. Getting your thoughts and feelings out on paper can reduce the intensity of emotions, clearing your mind and easing your body.
•  Better Management of Tics: By tracking what works and what doesn’t, a self-care journal can guide you to more effective strategies for managing your tics. Over time, this can lead to better overall control....

Breathing tools are devices that assist in regulating your breathing pattern, often making the exercises more focused and effective. They can help maintain a rhythm, increase lung capacity, and ensure that you’re breathing deeply and properly, which is key to reducing stress and managing tics.

Types of Breathing Tools

There are several tools available that can aid in performing breathing exercises more effectively:

1. Respiratory Trainers - These devices are designed to strengthen the respiratory muscles by creating resistance during breathing. Users can adjust the resistance level to gradually improve their breathing muscle strength, which can be particularly beneficial for deep breathing exercises.

2. Breathing Apps - Numerous apps guide users through various breathing techniques, providing visual or auditory cues to inhale, hold, and exhale. These can be especially useful for maintaining the discipline of regular practice and are easily accessible.

3. Paced Breathing...

Sensory toys are designed to engage our senses in a soothing manner. They can be touched, squeezed, twisted, or even smelled, depending on the type of toy. For individuals with tics, these toys provide a valuable outlet for excess energy and help to soothe the nervous system, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of tics.

Types of Sensory Toys That Help

Here’s a look at some effective sensory toys and how they can assist in managing tics:

•  Textured Stress Balls - Squeezing these can provide immediate physical relief and help redirect focus from the urge to tic.
•  Sensory Rings - Worn on the fingers, these rings can be rolled or spun, providing a discreet way to manage tics in public settings.
•  Chewable Necklaces - For those with vocal tics or the need to chew, these necklaces offer a safe and satisfying way to engage the jaw and mouth without causing harm.
•  Weighted Lap Pads - Similar to weighted blankets, these pads provide deep pressure that can...

Today, I want to address a common issue that many of us with tics and Tourette experience: sensitivity to sound. This sensitivity can amplify our symptoms and make daily interactions challenging. Understanding and managing this aspect can significantly improve our quality of life.

Navigating Sound Sensitivity

For those of us with heightened sensitivity to sound, everyday noises like a phone ringing, someone clapping, or the buzz of a refrigerator can trigger or worsen tics. This hypersensitivity is not just about being easily startled; it’s a continuous challenge that can lead to anxiety and increased tic activity.

Why Sound Matters

Sound plays a crucial role in how we interact with our environment. For those with Tourette Syndrome and tic disorders, certain sounds can act as triggers, immediately setting off a tic response. This reaction isn't just bothersome—it can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining.

Strategies to Manage Sensitivity

Over the years,...

Hi, I’m Darren, your Tics Coach. In our continuous search for helpful strategies to manage tics and Tourette, today I want to spotlight a tool that might seem simple but has proven incredibly effective for many: fidget toys.

Living with tics and Tourette often means finding ways to redirect the energy and impulses that come with these conditions. Fidget toys, those small objects designed to be twisted, pulled, or spun, can play a significant role in this process.

Why Fidget Toys?

Fidget toys work by providing a sensory experience that can distract from or satisfy the urge to tic. For many individuals, including myself, these toys provide a way to release nervous energy in a controlled and harmless manner. They are especially useful in situations where tics might be disruptive or embarrassing, like in classrooms, meetings, or social settings.

Types of Fidget Toys That Help

There are various types of fidget toys available, each offering different sensory feedback:Spinner...

I love this short parable on healing tics.

“Once in a quiet village surrounded by gentle hills, there was a boy named Eli who felt a little different. He had a tic, a small, sudden movement that he couldn’t control, which made him feel alone and sometimes sad. Instead of playing outside, Eli often stayed at home.

One sunny day, Eli found an old garden at the edge of his village. It was overgrown and forgotten, but Eli saw something special in it. He decided to clean it up and bring it back to life.

Every morning, Eli worked in the garden. He pulled weeds and planted new seeds. His tic made the work hard sometimes, but he kept going. Slowly, the garden started to change. Flowers bloomed, and the whole place began to look beautiful.

As the garden grew, Eli began to feel different too. He realized the flowers didn’t care about his tic; they grew strong and bright no matter what. Working in the garden helped Eli feel better about himself. He found a peaceful place...

Navigating life with tics and Tourette involves various challenges, from managing sudden motor tics to addressing the vocal tics that often accompany this neurological disorder. Over the years, I've discovered that, alongside behavioral therapies and medications, certain dietary supplements and vitamins can play a crucial role in managing symptoms.

The Role of Supplements and Vitamins

From my own experience and from what I’ve learned in my practice, adding specific supplements and vitamins to your diet can help alleviate the frequency and severity of tics. Here’s a breakdown of some key nutrients that have been supportive in my journey and those of my clients:

1. Magnesium - Often referred to as the calming mineral, magnesium can help relax the nervous system and has been shown to reduce the severity of tics. I personally noticed a significant improvement in my motor tics after incorporating magnesium-rich foods and supplements into my diet.

2. Vitamin B6 - This vitamin...

Hi, I’m Darren, your Tics Coach. As someone who has explored numerous methods to help manage not just tics but also anxiety, today I want to dive into a topic that has significantly impacted my own life and the lives of those I coach: the benefits of using weighted blankets for anxiety management.

Anxiety can be an overwhelming companion, manifesting in both the mind and body in ways that can be difficult to manage. Like many, my battle with anxiety has been ongoing, but I’ve found genuine relief in a rather simple yet effective tool—a weighted blanket.

The first time I tried a weighted blanket was during a particularly stressful week. Despite my initial skepticism, the comfort and calm it brought were undeniable. The gentle, firm pressure of the blanket mimics a therapeutic technique known as deep pressure stimulation, which has been shown to help reduce anxiety by increasing serotonin and melatonin levels and decreasing cortisol levels.

Here are a few ways a...