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Navigating life with tics and Tourette Syndrome 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...

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...

Over the years, I’ve explored various strategies to help manage tics, especially for those of us navigating the complexities of Tourette Syndrome. Today, I’d love to share how essential oils have become a key part of my toolkit, offering not just relief, but also a delightful sensory experience.

Living with tics is like having an unpredictable companion who occasionally takes the reins. Whether it’s involuntary motor movements or unexpected vocal sounds, tics can disrupt life in unexpected ways. My journey with tics began in childhood, and finding ways to coexist peacefully with them has been my mission ever since.

My first encounter with essential oils was at a wellness workshop that promised natural solutions for everyday health challenges. Skeptical but curious, I ventured into what I now consider one of the most transformative experiences of my life.

Through trial, research, and plenty of patience, I discovered three essential oils that significantly eased my...

 Key Takeaways:

• Motor Tics as Signals
• Self-Awareness and Healing
• Shift in Perspective

Now, you might be thinking, "How can a motor tic possibly be a compass?" Trust me, I used to think the same thing. But hear me out. Think of your motor tic as a signal—a signal that something isn't quite right in your environment, your thoughts, or your emotions. It's like an internal alarm system, guiding you to pay attention to what's happening within and around you.

I've found that tuning into my motor tic patterns has been instrumental in my healing process. By becoming more aware of when I tic more or less, I've gained valuable insights into my own inner workings. You see, motor tics are often just a symptom of deeper issues bubbling beneath the surface—issues that we may have been ignoring or suppressing for years.

In my case, I discovered that my motor tics were closely tied to my emotional state. The more I pushed down my feelings or avoided confronting difficult...

 Key Takeaways:

• The Mind-Body Connection

• Authentic Self-Expression as Healing

• Courage in Self-Discovery

On this writings, I'm passionate about sharing what I've learned and how I overcame my struggles. Today, I want to delve into a topic that's close to my heart: emotions and how they manifest in our bodies.

Recently, I had the joy of spending time with my nieces after nine months apart. Observing their interactions with the world around them was eye-opening. I noticed moments when they freely expressed themselves and others when they held back, their minds racing with unspoken thoughts and desires.

One particular instance stood out to me. My niece was engrossed in watching television when my mom and I unintentionally distracted her. I could sense her internal struggle to express her desire to be left alone to enjoy her show. Her body language spoke volumes—squirming, fidgeting—as she grappled with the urge to communicate her needs.

This observation got...

Key Takeaways:

• Avoiding facing tics increased their shame/mystery; hiding didn't help
• Viewing video with self-compassion built acceptance of this long-rejected part   
• Facing discomfort brought unexpected healing after years fruitless fighting

As someone who has struggled with constant, embarrassing motor tics for over 20 years, the idea of videotaping my tics and watching them back fills me with dread. Like many dealing with Tourette's, I tend to avoid facing just how uncontrollable and pervasive my tics are on a daily basis. Out of sight, out of mind has been my coping mechanism.

But recently, I've realized that hiding from my tics has only increased my shame and isolation over the years. The more I pretend they aren't there, the more power and mystery they hold over me. I've decided it's finally time to turn towards this longtime foe with self-compassion as my tool.

So I set up my phone's camera, took a few deep breaths to calm my anxiety, and hit record....

Key Takeaways:

• Integration of Practices into Daily Life
• The Power of Breath
• The Continuous Journey Towards Peace

Today, I wanted to share something that touches on a common thread among many of us dealing with motor tics, chronic tics, or Tourette's. It's about the profound impact of our mindset and lifestyle on our condition and the real, tangible possibility of healing.

I received an email recently from a student of my course that struck a chord with me, and I believe her experiences and questions will resonate with many of you. She's been applying the techniques I share—finding peace and calm through yoga, meditation, and physical activity. Yet, she finds herself grappling with the resurgence of stress and, consequently, her facial tics, once the tranquility from those practices fades in the face of daily life's demands.

Her struggle is a vivid illustration of a challenge many of us face: maintaining a state of inner peace amidst the chaos of daily responsibilities and...

Key Takeaways:

• Tics knot muscle tissue; massage slowly untwinds decades of accumulated tension 
• Self-massage is embodiment; tending rejected areas fosters integration
• Loving touch transforms cries for attention into healing invitations 

As someone who struggled with constant full-body motor tics for over 20 years, I know firsthand how much pent-up trauma gets locked in the muscles and fascia where the spasms occur thousands of times daily. The areas around my tics have been knotted up for so long, they feel like concrete.

I’ve found regularly massaging and pressing into these tense spots helps break up that accumulated tension in a way nothing else can. It’s painful yet profoundly healing - like wringing toxicity out of my own body.

I recently had a massage where the therapist skillfully found each knotted muscle group associated with my various tics. Using fingers and elbows, he patiently worked out the layers of tightness with the perfect amount of...

Key Takeaways:

• The Cycle of Frustration and Tics
• The Importance of Emotional Neutrality and Release
• Integration of Physical, Emotional, and Energetic Dimensions in Healing

My battle with motor tics wasn't just physical; it was deeply emotional. The involuntary movements—be it a twitch of the arm or an unexpected jerk of the neck—were as much a part of me as they were foreign. The frustration that came with these uninvited guests was palpable. Each tic felt like a betrayal by my own body, a relentless reminder of a battle I felt I was losing.

But here's the pivotal realization that changed everything: the frustration, the anger, and the annoyance I felt towards myself and my tics were fueling them. It was a cycle—my emotional turmoil fed the tics, and the tics, in turn, deepened my emotional turmoil.

I want to share something crucial with you, something I wish I had understood earlier: feeling frustrated with your tics, while a natural response, is...

Key Takeaways:

• Acknowledging Emotions is Crucial for Healing
• Releasing Emotions Breaks the Cycle of Frustration
• Inner Peace Comes from Understanding and Releasing

Having a motor tic for 20 years was an experience filled with frustration, confusion, and a quest for stillness. The involuntary movements—be it my arm twitching, my nose wriggling, or my neck jerking—were not just physical manifestations but also emotional burdens. The constant motion was a stark reminder of my struggle for control over my own body, leading to a deep-seated frustration with myself.

The pivotal realization on my journey was understanding the importance of not getting frustrated with my tic. It sounds counterintuitive, doesn't it? How do you not get frustrated with something that's so inherently frustrating? This was the crux of my battle. The frustration, anger, and annoyance at my inability to remain still were not just emotional reactions; they were fuel to the fire, intensifying the tics.