Tics are sudden, repetitive movements or sounds that can be difficult to control. While they often emerge in childhood, many adults also experience tics, either persisting from youth or developing later in life. For some, tics can be significantly worsened by stress and anxiety.
At Snead Psychological Services, we offer evidence-based therapy for individuals of all ages dealing with Tourette’s Syndrome, other tic disorders, and tics related to anxiety. Our compassionate and highly trained team is dedicated to empowering you, reducing your stress, and improving your overall quality of life.
Why Do Adults Develop Anxious Tics?
Adult tics, which might include repetitive blinking, throat clearing, or shoulder shrugging, can stem from various factors:
1. Persistence from Childhood
Tics that began in childhood may continue into adulthood, often recurring or intensifying, especially during stressful periods.
2. Response to Chronic Stress or Trauma
Some individuals develop tics as a direct result of ongoing stress, anxiety, or traumatic experiences. Intense emotions or psychological pressure can frequently trigger or worsen these tics.
3. Co-occurring Conditions
Tics can also appear alongside other disorders characterized by repetitive behaviors, such as OCD, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorders.
4. Coping Mechanisms
For many, tics become ingrained habits or coping mechanisms developed during stressful or traumatic times. Breaking these patterns often requires professional guidance.
5. Emotional Fatigue
Periods of significant emotional fatigue or heightened stress can also precipitate the onset or worsening of tics.
The Connection Between Tic Disorders and Anxiety
Anxiety and tic disorders are closely intertwined. While tics originate in the brain, their manifestation is profoundly influenced by emotional states.
Most individuals find that their tics worsen with social or occupational stress. Situations like public speaking, job interviews, or even being in a crowded environment can frequently provoke tic symptoms. Intense anxiety or distress can directly trigger an increase in tic activity, as the body often reacts with repetitive behaviors in an attempt to self-regulate.
Paradoxically, attempts to suppress tics in non-stressful environments, like classrooms or meetings, can sometimes lead to an increase in their occurrence due to the tension induced by self-monitoring. It’s also important to note that functional anxious tics can be acquired; these are not caused by neurological dysfunction (like Tourette’s) but emerge as a learned coping mechanism for trauma, anxiety, or stress.
Understanding the intricate interaction between the body and mind is fundamental to effectively treating tic disorders. At Snead Psychological Services, we consider all aspects—tics, anxiety, underlying habits, and life stressors—to create a truly personalized treatment plan for you.
Effective Treatments for Tic Disorders
Our clinic applies evidence-based, research-tested methods to treat both children and adults experiencing anxiety-related tics and Tourette’s Syndrome:
1. Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT)
Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is a leading treatment for tic disorders. It helps individuals become more aware of the sensations that precede a tic and learn to perform a competing response to minimize or prevent the tic. Clients also learn to identify and reduce environmental factors or internal triggers that contribute to their tics. This highly structured behavioral therapy is effective in both children and adults and is endorsed by major medical organizations.
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety
Given the close association between tics and anxiety, CBT is a valuable tool. It helps individuals manage stress, challenge negative thought patterns that might fuel tics, and enhance emotional regulation skills. By lowering the emotional intensity often driving tics, CBT can reduce their frequency and severity.
3. Mindfulness and Habit Reversal Training
We integrate mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, and habit-reversal training to help retrain your mind and diminish tic behaviors. These techniques promote calmness, grounding, and increased awareness of your triggers, enabling you to respond more effectively.
4. Medication (if necessary)
In more severe cases, medication can be used in conjunction with therapy to manage symptoms. Options may include dopamine-reducing drugs, anti-anxiety medication, or ADHD medication, depending on your specific needs. We work closely with physicians to ensure that medication is carefully selected and diligently monitored as part of your overall treatment plan.
Why Choose Snead Psychological Services?
At Snead Psychological Services, we combine our skills, compassion, and individualized care to help adults and children effectively manage tic disorders.
We are certified in both CBIT and anxiety treatment, ensuring specialized attention for all ages. Our holistic approach means we don’t just address the tic symptoms, but also the emotional and psychological tension that can worsen them. We offer a confidential, non-judgmental space with convenient access to both telehealth and in-person therapy sessions.
We understand that living with tics can be frustrating, humiliating, and exhausting, especially for adults who may have struggled alone for many years. Please know that you are not alone, and you don’t have to continue suffering.
Begin Effective Treatment For Tic Disorder At Snead Psychological Services
If tics, whether related to anxiety or Tourette’s, are impacting your daily life, confidence, or emotional well-being, effective assistance is available. Our strategy focuses on helping you become sensitive to the patterns and triggers that lead to your tics. We then apply proven techniques to reduce their frequency and severity. Additionally, we’ll equip you with skills to better manage anxiety and feel more in control of your life.
Most people experience remarkable improvements in their symptoms over time, leading to greater confidence and comfort in everyday situations, including work, relationships, and social interactions.
No matter how long you’ve been struggling, it’s never too late to seek help. Beneficial treatment is accessible whether your tics have just started or have been present for decades.
Call Snead Psychological Services today to arrange your first appointment. We can work together to help you feel better and improve your life.