TaraPA
Can't live without a ticker!!!!
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2000
- Messages
- 16,570
DS10 has had nervous tics for about 4 years now. They come & go, and we can't really attribute them to any specific events. We have seen his pediatrician twice for this, and she said tics are normal for boys this age, and to just let them go as long as they are not interfering with him socially, or with his school work. She said she would refer us to a mental health specialist if we felt we needed further treatment for them. While the tics are annoying & embarrassing, they have never bothered him (he usually has absolutely no idea he's even doing them), or anyone else. I have been in contact with his teachers every year to let them know if they become bothersome to him or distracting to anyone else in the class, they should let me know. The tics almost always involve facial movement (ei twitching, repetitive blinking, opening & closing his mouth, etc. ) and/or small sounds. A few tics have been with his hands. He has pulled at his hair in spots too. They usually last about 2-4 weeks, then stop, but then another develops to take it's place.
The latest tic is to the point that he came to me asking to go to the doctor to make it stop. He says he has no control over this, and I can see that he doesn't. He is twitching up his face almost like he's gasping for air, and it's to the point where he is doing this every minute or two. His face is red & he says it hurts from the constant tightening of his facial muscles. I noticed other adults staring at him last night, which really made me feel embarrassed for him.
Anyone else go through this? I don't want him medicated if possible - he's a very outgoing, hyper child, and to have him feel drowsy or calm just wouldn't be "him." The pediatrician did recommend an herbal remedy called Valerian Root - anyone ever use this? It's a natural sleep aid, so again, I don't want him feeling sleepy all day long, but at this point I'm willing to give it a try. We are cutting out all "stimulating activity" right now at home - no TV, music, video games, etc. to see if this helps. I did have the guidance counselor talk to him about it last year since there's no apparent stress or issues at home or school that we know of, or that he's telling us. She also felt there was nothing "going on" that was causing abnormal stress levels, that he's just an anxious kid & that's his way of releasing energy. She said most boys will grow out of the tics by age 14.
Any experiences with this??
The latest tic is to the point that he came to me asking to go to the doctor to make it stop. He says he has no control over this, and I can see that he doesn't. He is twitching up his face almost like he's gasping for air, and it's to the point where he is doing this every minute or two. His face is red & he says it hurts from the constant tightening of his facial muscles. I noticed other adults staring at him last night, which really made me feel embarrassed for him.
Anyone else go through this? I don't want him medicated if possible - he's a very outgoing, hyper child, and to have him feel drowsy or calm just wouldn't be "him." The pediatrician did recommend an herbal remedy called Valerian Root - anyone ever use this? It's a natural sleep aid, so again, I don't want him feeling sleepy all day long, but at this point I'm willing to give it a try. We are cutting out all "stimulating activity" right now at home - no TV, music, video games, etc. to see if this helps. I did have the guidance counselor talk to him about it last year since there's no apparent stress or issues at home or school that we know of, or that he's telling us. She also felt there was nothing "going on" that was causing abnormal stress levels, that he's just an anxious kid & that's his way of releasing energy. She said most boys will grow out of the tics by age 14.
Any experiences with this??