Do I have a tic disorder; how can I stop it?
Often times, I have the sudden urge to blink very hard and sometimes wiggle my ears afterwords. It gives a buzzing sensation to my ears. Sometimes I won’t blink hard, but I will blink very quickly. Often times, I’m not even aware that I’m doing it. When I am aware of it, I can suppress it, but it feels very uncomfortable. If I squeeze my ears for a few seconds, it gives an intense buzzing feeling to my ears, and I usually don’t feel the urge to blink hard again. I usually do this when I’m in a more energetic environment, such as playing sports, walking and talking with a friend, or just laughing. I’ve been doing this on and off for the past few years, but it’s starting to get worse at school, and it’s a bit embarrassing. Several of my friends/acquaintances have asked me if I have tourettes syndrome. I also often fold my ears with my fingers in class, but I am usually aware of this, and I can stop without feeling much of an urge. My mom says that she has also had tics on and off for her whole life, so it could possibly be hereditary. I’m 16 by the way.
So I have two questions:
1. Do I have a tic disorder/which disorder is it?
2. How can I get rid of the tic?
I’m 14 and I was just recently diagnosed with tourette syndrome. From what you described, it sounds to me like you have chronic motor tic disorder. To have tourette’s, you must have motor and vocal tics. Do you have any vocal tics? Did you ever have any vocal tics such as sniffing, coughing, humming, etc.? If so, then it may be tourette’s because you don’t always have to have the motor and vocal tics at the same time.
Tic disorders are hereditary, so you must have got it from your mom. This will also help with the diagnosis if you go to a neurologist. My dad also has it, but much milder than me.
You should make an appointment to see a neurologist. It usually takes quite a while to get an appointment, but to make it shorter, you can go to your normal family doctor first and get a private appointment, but this still could take some time.
The medication that is usually used is called clonidine. I was on it for a while, but it made me really tired and didn’t do all that much for my tics, so for now I’m not on it and I might start taking a new medication another time.
I hope this helps. Good luck! 
Filed under: Tic Disorder
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Hi Bill, you gave a really good description of tics, though unless I knew your medical history more personally I can’t make that diagnosis in this setting. I suggest you describe those symptoms to your pediatrician or family doctor and let them give an opinion. But if you do have tics, there are some good approaches to help. Some of the prescription drugs that we doctors prescribe can be very helpful in letting tics go away, but some of those medicines can also have serious side effects. I have had the most success in helping my patients get rid of tics by learning self-hypnosis and practicing hypnotherapy in my office. It works well and has no side effects. It’s a little more work for you than taking a pill, but much better in the long run. If you can’t find a doctor in your area who has been trained in clinical hypnosis, don’t just get any local, look up a professional from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. You may actually enjoy the treatment.
You may also want to read the short note on the value of clinical hypnosis on my blog, the Holistic Medicine Blog.
all the best to you,
Robert Pendergrast, the Holistic Medicine MD
References :
http://asch.net/
http://www.holistic-medicine-md.com/holistic-medicine-blog.html
I’m 14 and I was just recently diagnosed with tourette syndrome. From what you described, it sounds to me like you have chronic motor tic disorder. To have tourette’s, you must have motor and vocal tics. Do you have any vocal tics? Did you ever have any vocal tics such as sniffing, coughing, humming, etc.? If so, then it may be tourette’s because you don’t always have to have the motor and vocal tics at the same time.
Tic disorders are hereditary, so you must have got it from your mom. This will also help with the diagnosis if you go to a neurologist. My dad also has it, but much milder than me.
You should make an appointment to see a neurologist. It usually takes quite a while to get an appointment, but to make it shorter, you can go to your normal family doctor first and get a private appointment, but this still could take some time.
The medication that is usually used is called clonidine. I was on it for a while, but it made me really tired and didn’t do all that much for my tics, so for now I’m not on it and I might start taking a new medication another time.
I hope this helps. Good luck!
References :
I have tourette’s.