Nervous tics: what are they and how to eliminate them?

Work, study, the news, health, everyday life subjects us to stressful situations that, in many cases, cause involuntary movements of our eyes or biting our nails. You may also feel an itchy nose or tingling in some part of your body. Has it happened to you? This is known as nervous tics and is the topic that we will delve into below.

What are nervous tics?

Nervous tics are that series of rapid muscle movements, generally local and spasmodic, that manifest themselves in an involuntary, isolated and unexpected manner. They tend to be iterative, habitual, without purpose and at regular intervals. The definition we find in the psychology manual, DSM-V, is: ‘vocalization or sudden, rapid, recurring and non-rhythmic movement’.

Added to the above, They are usually differentiated by the type of tic present (motor, vocal or a combination of both) and by their duration (chronic or transient).

Types of nervous tics

When we talk about motor tics, we are referring to those that are characterized by a movement; for example, biting the tongue or lips, wrinkling the nose, sticking out the tongue, licking the lips. It is almost always evident in the eyes with winks and excessive blinking.

The simple ones, They are those that are limited to movements in which a specific muscle group participates (blinking, raising eyebrows, shoulders, turning the head, etc.). They can occur anywhere on the body, although they predominate on the face, neck and shoulders.The complexes, They are those that are characterized by the successive and continuous contraction of several different muscle groups, giving rise to more complex movements, such as jerks and twists of the neck or shoulders.

For its part, Vocal tics are sounds that the person makes with their voice; for example, humming, clearing your throat, saying a word or sentence. Both motor and vocal tics are often preceded by what some theorists call “sensory tics” (unpleasant sensations such as itching, tickling, or pressure).

It should be noted that unlike other movement disorders, tics can be inhibited for a brief period.

Transients: They persist for a few weeks or months and usually disappear.Chronicles: They last more than a year and, unlike transitory ones, they never completely disappear. However, from time to time they intensify or fade.

Simple or complex tics correspond to the classification known as motor tics.

Causes

Tics are often triggered by environmental factors (work, family, and university, for example), which cause extreme tension. Nevertheless, Currently, the exact cause of a nervous tic has not been found.

Some specialists on the subject affirm that not only environmental factors influence, they also point out other reasons such as the following:

Eating disorders: anorexia nervosa or bulimia.Infectious or autoimmune factors: Elevated levels of antineural antibodies have been found in patients with tics.Medication: taking some pills or treatments has been shown to generate nervous tics; for example, allergy treatments.Feeding: It has been shown that a lack of certain nutrients, such as magnesium, favors the appearance of compulsive repetitive movements.External factors: going through stress or anxiety, which are situations of extreme tension or nervousness, could lead to the existence of tics.Stimulant drinks: abusing coffee, energy drinks or other substances such as drugs, produce overexcitation of the nervous system that may evolve into tics.Family heritage: those people whose first blood line (mother, father, grandparents, uncles or aunts) developed some type of nervous tic are more likely to present them throughout life.Comorbidity: In some cases, tics are indicators of larger mental health problems, such as the associated disorders ADD (attention deficit disorder) and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).

How to eliminate nervous tics?

When tics get in the way of the normal life of the affected individual, the ideal is to seek professional help to receive a diagnosis and appropriate intervention that contributes to improving the quality of life. Below, we explain some of the most used treatments:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Generally what is sought is an elimination of the behavior that generates discomfort.Relaxation techniques: control of anxiety and greater awareness of your body to manage triggering situations.Pharmacotherapy: They are usually treated with neuroleptics and catecholamine depletors.Bioneurofeedback: It is based on the control of one’s own brain activity being achieved through electroencephalographic waves.Habit Reversal: It consists of becoming aware of the nervous tic and, immediately afterwards, doing a behavior that is physically incompatible with it.

Those who suffer from nervous tics need the assistance of a professional to treat the matter with appropriate therapy.

Recommendations for treating tics at home

In all of the above treatments, it is important that a specialist is available. In addition, we immediately suggest some guidelines that you can do at home:

Meditation: In different studies, breathing exercises help reduce nervous tics.Feeding: Knowing what stimulating drinks you consume during the day and reducing them favors the nervous system until it stabilizes. Also, consult with a nutritionist or nutritionist about a possible lack of magnesium.Self-knowledge: Identifying those situations that cause you the most discomfort and avoiding them could reduce the symptom. Also, the exercise of looking in the mirror to recognize and identify that movement helps you generate greater self-awareness and not be so automatic.

Conclusion

Finally, it is important to clarify that nervous tics can be an indicator that something is not working well in your life. Thus, it is always recommended that, when they appear, it is an experienced and experienced professional who performs this evaluation.

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