There are multiple forms of treatment and management for individuals with tics:
- Medication – I’ve never needed medication myself, but for some people, medication is what really helps them get their lives back on track when the tics are too much to handle, and there’s nothing shameful about it.
- Diet – While I don’t believe diet will cure true Tourettes, I know that my tics get a lot worse when I don’t eat healthy food. The way I see it, your brain will only function as well as the fuel you put into it.
- Exercise – Because many tics are often related to anxiety, exercise is a great way to both lower anxiety and lower tics. After really strenuous workouts, I can often go 10 to 15 minutes where I don’t even feel the need to tic. (Heaven!)
- Behavioral Therapy – According to Tourettes Action in the UK’s article, “Behavior therapies and Tourette Syndrome,” behavior therapy is being used to help some individuals with tics by helping them learn to be mindful of what their brains and bodies are doing.
- Deep Brain Stimulation – This is the type of treatment talked about in the video clip posted above, only used for the most severe cases, as it’s still considered experimental.
One of the most important parts of treating and managing tics is simply the diagnosis. Once you know you’re dealing with tics, it can be easier to pinpoint and manage with the help of a primary care manager, family, and friends. It’s also important to remember that a diagnosis of a disorder with tics isn’t the end of the world; we must remember that under the tics is still the individual, and that person is a beautiful creation of God who’s simply struggling with the burdens of life like the rest of us.
Do you have any information on tics that you’d like to share? What about questions? I’d love to hear your comments and questions, so please post them in the Comment Box below. Also, don’t forget that if you sign up for my weekly newsletter, you’ll get extra resources on neurological disorders, as well as a gift in thanks for signing up. Thanks for reading!
