CBIT Therapy for Tic disorders and tourette's

Tics are purposeless, involuntary, and repetitive movements and vocalizations. They are often preceded by a nagging thought or feeling that demands a specific rapid action. Tics can be very simple and unnoticeable to others or involve multiple muscle groups and be extremely obvious. Tics can cause great frustration, embarrassment, and physical pain.  At times, tics also make it difficult to communicate, concentrate, and complete daily tasks. Bullying by peers and co-workers and attention from family members is common and makes it even harder to manage the tics.

The Tourette Association of America believes that approximately half the people  with tics are misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed. Tics are also greatly misrepresented in television, film, and social media. Tics initially develop one at a time, perhaps starting with blinking and then months or years later involving a neck movement or shoulder shrug or other movements or sounds.   Some people just have motor (movement) tics and some people just have vocal (sound) tics. The frequency and intensity varies from person to person, day to day, and over periods of time. Provisional Tic Disorder is common in young children and is defined as motor or vocal tics occurring for less than one year. After one year of motor or vocal tics, neurologists tend to make a diagnosis of Chronic Tic Disorder. People with both motor and vocal tics lasting for more than one year are typically diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, aka Tourette's, Tourette Disorder, or TS. Many people who have Tourette's also have concerns related to anxiety, depression, Autism, OCD, ADHD, gender dysphoria, handwriting, and executive functioning. 

People with tics also are known to be very bright and empathetic and to have many extraordinary skills in areas including math, music, art, science, sports, medicine, and education. In fact, people with tics are often driven to succeed and live highly productive and meaningful lives.