Anxiety and stress levels are some of the factors that increase the appearance of nervous tics. Learn about the treatment to control them. On several occasions, we have observed how a person has repetitive and constant movements such as rapid blinking or turning the mouth to the same side. Even we have suffered from involuntary movements when we are going through situations that cause us high levels of stress and anxiety. However, do we know how to identify a nervous tic?
A nervous tic is an involuntary, short, repetitive movement of any part of the body that cannot be controlled and changes in intensity over time. The most common tics include blinking rapidly, repeatedly turning the head to the same side, repeating a specific word several times in a sentence, constantly making noises of any kind, or repeatedly stretching the arm.
Tics can be motor or vocal. Simple motor tics are repetitive movements that are easier to do, such as continuous blinking, turning the head, raising the shoulders or eyebrows, touching the nose, or making faces, among others. These can be identified as movements that use few muscles in the body. They usually originate in childhood.
Vocal tics are those that refer to noises and sounds that a person produces involuntarily, such as repetitive words, clearing the throat, coughing unnecessarily, among others.
Complex tics are movements that use several muscles in the body. These can be combined, meaning that the person has both motor and vocal tics. “For example, there are people who tend to move their mouths from one side, raise their eyebrows, clap their hands, and raise their shoulders. There are even those who cannot hold a conversation for long due to the number of tics they have,” says psychologist Ximena Dávila.
Causes
According to neurologist Rubén Posadas, tics usually appear in childhood, specifically between the ages of 7 and 10, and are more frequent in men than in women.
There is no specific cause that makes a person suffer from these movements. “Most of the time, the origin of the tics cannot be established. But as a professional, you should look for streptococcus infections, which can be associated with these movements. It can also be associated with structural brain lesions. There are even some tics that are emotional or due to a family predisposition,” explains the doctor.
People who suffer from some type of nervous tic often feel anxious or irritated towards themselves because they always draw attention to themselves with their movements and sometimes they are victims of ridicule, which can lead to anxiety and stress that can worsen the repetition and constancy of the movements. They can even cause the appearance of another nervous tic.
“In the end, everything is a cyclical process because the tic appears, they cannot control it because it is involuntary, that generates more anxiety, it causes stress and that causes the tic to get worse or a new one to appear,” says Dávila.
The psychologist mentions that it is necessary to know how to differentiate between a nervous tic and the behaviors of an obsessive-compulsive person since they can often be confused. “Many people believe that actions such as making sure they have closed a door several times or locked it, or not touching the lines on the floor when walking are nervous tics, but in reality, they are actions of an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder,” she explains.
Treatment
Nervous tics usually cannot be cured, they can only be controlled. Simple tics, in most cases, disappear on their own, without the need for any type of treatment. However, when they are complex, whether temporary or permanent, there are different treatments.
Treatment with psychological therapies to see if the cause of the tic can be determined. Also, habit reversal techniques, consist of people being able to identify the moment when the tic will appear and thus be able to prevent it or make movements that control it. “For example, if the person’s tic is to hit with the left hand, they can identify the moment when they will make the movement and hold it with their right hand. In my opinion, it is a little complicated, but in some cases, it works,” says Dávila.
In psychological treatment, the family is sometimes also included to explain how the tic develops and the treatment that should be given both socially and psychologically.
There is also pharmacological treatment, where medications such as clonidine or muscle relaxants are used. These medications must be only taken under medical prescription, especially if the child is suffering from the movements.
If you think you suffer from a nervous tic, it is advisable to see a neurologist, since they are the doctors who see these types of movements. However, most of the time the treatment received is with a multidisciplinary team because psychiatrists and psychologists are also involved.
“It is always important that a condition like this be treated with a comprehensive team. Addressing the problem from as many angles as possible can yield better results,” Dávila concludes.