Tourette Syndrome is a very difficult condition to get a handle on. From issues of control to where you’re ticcing and how to mask it.
When you’re in a public space or even dining with new friends, people have a tendency to overreact when seeing you tic for the first time, especially if it’s a major episode. When masking or camouflaging the tics don’t work anymore, you may begin to panic or just let the tics come as they may.
One thing some of us overlook is relaxation. Relaxing in the moment of your episode can cause the tics to decrease in frequency or cease altogether. It isn’t easy and it requires some practice, but it is one thing that helped me in many facets of life, especially with my Tourette’s.
While we are all different with different things that relax us, I suggest trying to concentrate on things you enjoy alone or even with a group of people. Memory is a powerful tool in relaxation techniques and remembering enjoyable experiences, especially things you get to do every day, can help alleviate the stress of the moment.
Another method you may employ is to breathe deeply and slowly. Inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth is a common relaxation technique and one that usually has a high rate of success in getting us to relax. I don’t know the science behind this, but I know how much more it helps me to alleviate my tics before they build up into a major episode.
Yoga is also something you can do to help in this, though it is more of a prevention than a quick fix in the moment. Yoga has long shown to endow its participants with a calmer demeanor and more positive attitude. This doesn’t mean it will stop all of your tics or anything. However, it will help you decrease or cease your tics before or during a major ticcing episode.
This is only the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much more out there to help us with relaxing during times of great stress that might create the conditions for a ticcing episode. Happy hunting!!
“In life, risk is part of the equation…”
Deaf/Tourette 