Breaking the TIC Cycle: Practical Solutions for Tourette Syndrome & Tic Disorders

By Mary Shouse

Managed Tics, a Better Life

Whether you (or your child) have had tics for years or have been recently diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, you know that having tics can be debilitating, embarrassing, and painful. They stop you from being your authentic self in social, school, and work situations.

But did you also know t

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary Shouse
• Release date: Jan 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798989460014

Mary Shouse

As an occupational therapist and provider of behavioral therapy for tics, author Mary Shouse, M.S. OTR/L, has worked with clients of all ages with tic disorders, helping them achieve tic management to be able to learn, work, and thrive. A lifelong volunteer, she has served as the youth ambassador coordinator for the Arizona Chapter of the Tourette Association since 2019, as well as a past advocate for youth and teens in foster care. You can visit Mary online at www.helpfortics.com or on Instagram @empowered.over.tics.

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Praise for Mary Shouse and

Breaking the TIC Cycle

Mary’s creative and sensory-driven approaches to tic management have helped my son tremendously. I recommend this book (and the tools inside) to any parent of a child with tics, newly diagnosed or not.

Brenna D., mother of a 12-year-old boy with Tourette Syndrome

Mary’s ideas and approach combining self-regulation, awareness, and new ways to manage tics has helped my son thrive. With her techniques, he was able to overcome vocal tics to meet his goal of attending a symphony performance.

RoxAnne S., mother of a 9-year-old boy with Tourette Syndrome

We were looking for the right support for our son with tics for years. Once we discovered Mary and her holistic techniques for tic management described in this book, we saw his confidence skyrocket and his anxiety decrease.

Silpa K., mother of a 12-year-old boy with Tourette Syndrome

The tools and concepts in this book have helped me decrease my tics to better live my life and have more confidence for the future. I recommend Mary’s compassionate and effective approached for people with tics of any age.

Elias R., adult with Tourette Syndrome

When our daughter was diagnosed with a chronic tic disorder, we weren’t sure what to do. With Mary’s interventions, our daughter went from having significant neck pain due to tics to being nearly pain free in only six sessions with her techniques.

Brittany P., mother of an 8-year-old girl with a chronic tic

Leaders Deserve Better: A Leadership Development Revolution by Jennifer Mackin

© 2023 Mary Shouse, MS OTR/L

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

To request permissions, contact the author.

Printed in the United States of America.

First edition 2023.

Cover and layout design by G Sharp Design, LLC.

www.gsharpmajor.com

ISBN 979-8-9894600-0-7 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-9894600-1-4 (ebook)

To Jeremy, for always believing in me.

And to my wonderful clients, past, present, and future.

It is because of you that I will always do this work.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Myths People Believe about Tics

The Principles of Successful Management

The How-To: Follow Your Own Tic Management Roadmap

Step 1: Address Co-Occurring Conditions.

Step 2: Create Your Tic Hierarchy.

Step 3: Play Tic Detective.

Step 4: Activate Your Focus Flashlight.

Step 5: Introduce Intentional Movement.

Step 6: Explore Your Sensory System.

Step 7: Improve Emotional Regulation.

Step 8: Look for Food Sensitivities and Triggers.

Step 9: Prepare Your Tic Talk to Address Tics with Others.

Step 10: Initiate Plan for Support at School or Work.

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

Appendix A: Other Options for Tic Management

Appendix B: Understanding Functional Tics and Functional Neurological Disorder

Appendix C: Frequently Asked Questions

Endnotes

About the Author

Disclaimer:

The medical information in this book is not advice and should not be treated as such. Do not substitute this information for the medical advice of physicians. The information is general and intended to better inform readers of their healthcare. Always consult your doctor for your individual needs. Consult a physician for matters relating to your health and any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

Introduction

You can significantly reduce your tics by following ten simple and actionable steps. What?! How is that possible? In this book, I walk you through the exact steps I have used for years with my clients to help them manage their tics and live better lives. This book will give you actionable steps you can use today—without setting up expensive appointments with nutritionists or specialists with lon g waitlists.

As an occupational therapist and provider of behavioral therapy for tics, I have worked with clients with tic disorders of all ages, helping them achieve tic management to be able to learn, work, and thrive. I fell into this specialty on accident when employed at a pediatric therapy clinic. I had two new clients who both had diagnoses of autism and Tourette Syndrome in the same week! What are the chances of that? It was then that I realized that I needed more information to really help these clients and eventually pursued training in Comprehensive Behavioral Interventions for Tics through the Tourette Association of America. Since then, I’ve been able to combine my knowledge of the sensory system, the mind-body connection, and incorporating the power of internal motivation and functional problem solving to obtain amazing results for my clients.

Whether you have had tics for the last fifteen years or have been recently diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, you know that having tics can be debilitating, embarrassing, painful, and inconvenient. They stop you from being your authentic self in social, school, and work situations. You may worry that tics will prevent you from being able to get the job you want (or keep it).

If you are a parent of a child with tics or Tourette Syndrome, do you lie awake at night wondering what the next day, week, or years will bring? Are you anxious about what will happen to your child at school—about whether or not they will get bullied or excluded because of their tics? Even more upsetting, is your child asking you if there is anything you can do about their tics, and you feel totally helpless about what to do next?

If you are reading this book, you’ve likely already tried medications and Googled all the natural remedies and diets you can find, but the tics persist. Maybe you were told by your primary care doctor or neurologist to just wait and see. Maybe you were given a prescription, but the tics are getting in the way of all areas of your life, and they don’t seem to be getting any better.

In this book, I have organized and structured all of the most effective strategies, tools, and techniques I use into a step-by-step process that anyone can follow to manage their tics. In fact, using the techniques I outline in this book, I have had some clients reduce their tics so significantly that they are hardly noticeable. I will guide you through the process with simple steps that will work whether you are a child, adult, or teenager and no matter how long you’ve been experiencing tics. Even if you fall into the category of having more than one neurodiversity, such as being autistic or having ADHD, these tools will work for you.

Combining components of research-backed traditional therapies (such as Comprehensive Behavioral Interventions for Tics) with other tools that connect body and mind for self-regulation, you will achieve more progress in managing your tics than ever before. What’s more, once you find the techniques presented that help you, you can go back to them time and time again if new tics pop up. Your uncertainty and anxiety about the future will be reduced as you realize that you have a trusted game plan that you can use anywhere and anytime.

In this book, I will guide you through my tested process for effective tic management that really works. With step-by-step guidance, practical tips, and problem-solving tools, you’ll learn:

how to use sensory inputs and insights to reduce tic triggers

what to do (and not to do) during a tic attack

how to determine if your child needs an Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan at school (and how to get one)

what to do if tics are affecting you at work (and what your rights are)

whether or not behavioral therapies are right for you and how to finda therapist

the top six myths people believe about tics

how to improve your autonomic nervous system regulation to increase your inner resilience to stress and anxiety

how to bring up tics with family, friends, and colleagues

If you have been looking for effective tools to manage or even eliminate your tics, this book is for you. No matter how long your tics have been around, this book can help you gain mastery over your tics and clarity about your next steps.

1

The Myths People Believe about Tics

Before I was an occupational therapist specializing in tic disorders, all I knew about tics were that they were involuntary movements and sounds. The only treatments I had heard of were medications. In both my graduate and undergraduate courses, I learned a ton about autism, developmental disabilities, and other conditions. What I didn ’ t learn about was how to help people with tic disorders and Tourette Syndrome. As of May 2023, Centers for Disease Control statistics report that about one in fifty children has a persistent tic disorder (including Tourette Syndrome), and they also indicate that this number is likely too low, as diagnosis for tic disorders are often delayed or not made at all due to lack of awareness. ¹

Are you as surprised as I am that an estimated one in fifty children have a tic disorder? Where are all the walks, the fundraisers for research, the specialized therapy clinics, the family and community meetings, the training and books for parents and clinicians? I soon realized that, although the Tourette Association of America has many resources for families and providers, their reach was not enough. Not every state has a Center of Excellence, and I’ve met many clients and their families who reported that they felt like they were grasping at straws for care and struggling to find clinicians and therapists with expertise in tic disorders.

Once I learned about this discrepancy in care and knowledge in providers, I decided to increase my involvement and support. It wasn’t fair to these people that they had to take this journey all alone, not knowing that there are millions of others all around them who also have tics.

And there are so many myths and stereotypes. When I talk to a new or prospective client, they always ask me a million questions, which I love to answer. Many of them have to do with myths that they believe or have heard about tics.

In our society, much of the general public’s information about tic disorders (and OCD as well) is literally a punchline and totally wrong. Most people associate Tourette Syndrome with outbursts of swearing, or coprolalia, but in actuality, less than 10 percent of people with Tourette Syndrome have this type of tic.

As we know