Hello, i also wrote this in the "addiction", not really sure where it fits.. first time posting. .. thanks. ..

Even though people notice, no one hardly says anything. I have nervous twitches.. i wish I knew why, and where they come from, and how to get rid of them.. I'm 27 years old, and they keep on getting worse..

I move my eyebrows a lot, move the muscles around my mouth,
strain and force the mucles in my neck... Sometimes i feel like I have to stretch my arms, legs...

i had twitches since I was a kid, and it wasn't anything bad. but as i get older, they're getting worse. the fact that i always make my neck tense just makes it eventually hurt. .

it's driving me nuts... the more time that passes, the harder it is to control.

it disrupts my work, it makes me feel unconfortable to have long conversations with people, (and i'm a sociable person)

i heard of something called the Tourette's syndrome, but I don't know much about it.

Has anyone been through this? I'd really appreciate any help on the matter. I feel very unconfortable talking to anyone about it, cause they just don't understand. It's much easier to talk to people i've never seen before..

This is my first post... thanks for any help...


just a not, I've noticed that both my father and my brother have little twitches, but i feel like mine are worse. i don't know what to do,,,


thank you very much..

My son (15) has had twitches since he was 5. took him to doctor 2 years ago and she diagnosed him with very very mild tourette's. Not bad enough for any meds. though she told him if he ever felt the need to try the meds all we had to do was call her. (because of his age) I think she thought it might start bothering him. he functions fine, makes good grades, has lots of friends and we are all used to his little twitches. So, if it doesn't hold you back, don't worry about it. If you think you want to try some meds, go to your doctor and talk about it...............

hi carlo, i'm new too and also my first post. i know exactly what you're talking about. EXACTLY. I'm 21 and for me the twitches started becoming apparent to me about a year ago. I think it was a gradual thing and it's become so bad I can hardly talk to people. Plus I suffer from anxiety which makes it all the more worse. It affects my entire body, not just my face. I've already been to the doctor and that didn't help at all. I've also been doing some relaxtion exercises but with minimal results. I know very well how you feel and am as clueless as you are as to what to do. Somebody pls help us out.

Hey Nuts, nice to see I'm not alone. I've been reading quite a bit into the tourette syndrome. I haven't seen a doctor yet. i have noticed though, that the more relaxed i am, and if i'm with people that I'm confortable with, it's easier to control the twitches.

About the whole body thing, I know what you mean. . . Sometimes I feel like I gotta force my wrists, or my knees, my back, stretch my elboys, shoulders. Really wierd.

Anyway, i think it's the tourette syndrome.

Good luck, and let me know if you find anything worth sharing.


By the way, what did your doctor have to say about it?

The doctor gave some medication for my anxiety, but nothing for my twitches. I'm guessing he didn't know how to deal with it. And it's also the same for me; it's better when I'm with friends that I'm comfortable with or my family. But the funny thing is, when I'm alone and very relaxed, during relaxation sessions for example, my body still twitches. My head sort of twitches to the left or right, my legs moves on it's on accord and muscles all over my body start twitching.

Another thing is, just before I fall asleep, I sometimes get this startling shock of electricity thorugh my body. Have you had this ?

I've also done some research on Tourette's Syndrome. Many sites recommended Haldol, Catapres, Orap, Prolixin, Anafranil or Prozac, though they have side-effects. I tried a couple of pharmacies but they said they were 'controled items' and that I needed a doc's presecription.

hey nuts,

I don't get those "electric shocks", but I can relate to everything else. . . Sometimes when i try to fall asleep, for some reason, if I start twitching, usually feeling as though I have to stretch my wrists or whataver, it makes it hard to stop, and it takes me longer to fall asleep.

Strangely though, when I found this site, my twitches were really bothering me. I couldn't stop... But after I wrote everything down, I think it might have helped a bit. I feel more confortable now, and I've been able to control my twitches more...

In any case, I hope these twithces get easier to deal with...

Also, I smoke pot on occasion, and the twitched sometimes get worse when I'm high, but 2 days ago I was with some friends, I smoked, and it was all good. . .

I hope I learn to handle whatever this is, and I hope it doesn't overtake my ability to be able to control it.


Good luck to you too.


I guess if they do get worse, I'll just go see a doctor once and for all, and see what I gotta do.. .




Even though I'm probably writing this in the wrong forum, and only a few people can understand what we're going through, just being able to write about it and get my thoughts through helps, so thank you.. . .

Hey carlo, how are you doing ?

I bring with me a little good news, I hope.

A few days back I bought some supplements of B complex and Magnesium. I read in a website that said vitamin B12 and Magnesium are good and relaxing for muscles as well as depression. Well after taking them, I noticed my twitches reduced a little, and this was the first day! I'm going to continue it and see what happens.

hey nutz, thanks for the info. . . I'll give it a try. The twitches started again yesterday at the movies... Anyway, I'll try out those pills.. .

I'll keep you posted. . :)

Hello,

I urged you to see a neruologist as soon as possible. Just getting a firm diagnosis will help allay your fears. Sometimes doctors have trouble making this diagnosis so that is why you need a specialist. Then you can decide if you want to treat it or not. I was 39 when my symptoms began. I was diagnosed with Tourette's. Stop guessing and get some professional help. Hope things work out for you/

Hey guys... im a realitively healthy 22 year old and I experience the same muscle twitches. The technical term is "Myoclonic JerK". They have been going on for a year, and I have not seen a specialist yet. One thing that I do notice, is that there is a significant correlation between the amount of stress/anxiety I have and the frequency of their occurance. I work with Doctors, and they've told me its usually stress related. I think for our own sake.... we have to stop looking at these medical websites, I know its hard (thats why im here). But read a nice novel, keep on with the relaxation techniques, and slow down your brain! It seems like we all suffer from mild-anxiety and need to chill the heck out. Try and live the most productive life possible with whatever condition you may have. Prayer will work also. Anyways guys, Ill be praying for you. Remember... you are in your Twenties.. so dont worry about your health, itll soon go away.

I thought id share

CYBERCHONDRIA

This is worth noting as a late entry to the group of words in the prefix cyber-, so fashionable in the middle nineties for matters related to online communications. The second element is clearly enough from the word hypochondria, abnormal anxiety about one’s health. Medical professionals seem to have coined the word in exasperation at people who frantically search online for detailed information on their medical problems, real or imagined. There are three difficulties with doing so—much online material is designed for other professionals and is difficult to interpret unless you’re already well versed in the field, some is biased or wrong, and some comes from unregulated sellers of pharmaceuticals who don’t know purchasers’ medical histories and cannot predict possible side effects. There’s so much material available that a person with unfocused worries about health can easily become convinced they’re suffering from any number of serious ailments.

There was a time when the internet fed and fuelled her health concerns—and she has featured in a number of articles about “cyberchondria”, which occurs when an individual surfs the net in a frenzy of health anxiety.

[Observer, Mar. 2001]

Hypochondria, the excessive fear of illness, has now been overtaken by cyberchondria—the same fear made much worse, fuelled by volumes of easily-accessible material available on the Internet.

[Daily Record, May 2001]

Like sadsally suggested, you should see a neurologist and/or have an MRI - very expensive, so make sure insurance will cover.

I developed a nervous twitch of sorts during puberty (male). I was 10 (1961), and my folks had me tested, but the diagnostic tools were not good enough to uncover my ailment.

Through high school and college the problem only got were (the twitch was in my neck). 10 years after graduating, and probably 20+ since the problem surfaced), in 1985 I had a seizure that resulted in a CT scan that answered ALL the questions. Mine was a worse case senario (an arachnoid 3rd brain ventricle cyst that resulted in 2 shunt operations the likes of which the insurance companies would not allow today!). Without that CT scan I would have never been the wiser and probably would not be here today.

My point here is you should get to a doctor ASAP to if not else put your mind at ease.

Thanks for all the responses/suggestions.

I do have to push myself to go see a doctor, but for some strange reason I always have it in back of my head, but I never do anything about it.

When I wrote this post, everything got easier. the twitches were more controllable, it got much better. Lately though, they started again. Don't know why, but I'm imagining how wierd it must be for the people around me to see me do these stupid twitches, and we all pretend that everything's cool.

Blunt, it is very true that when I'm nervous, or stressed, or if I'm lacking sleep, the twithces will get worse, but I think there's something more to it than that...

I'm going to be making a few calls this week. I want to fix this; getting really fed up of dealing with it. . .


Thanks again for all the advice...

Thanks for all the responses/suggestions.

I do have to push myself to go see a doctor, but for some strange reason I always have it in back of my head, but I never do anything about it.

When I wrote this post, everything got easier. the twitches were more controllable, it got much better. Lately though, they started again. Don't know why, but I'm imagining how wierd it must be for the people around me to see me do these stupid twitches, and we all pretend that everything's cool.

Blunt, it is very true that when I'm nervous, or stressed, or if I'm lacking sleep, the twithces will get worse, but I think there's something more to it than that...

I'm going to be making a few calls this week. I want to fix this; getting really fed up of dealing with it. . .


Thanks again for all the advice...

Yes, you would neex a script for those meds. If your problem is very mild, I would not take meds. There are meds a doctor, familiar with Tourettes, can give, a very low does. I would talk to a doctor who specializes in Tourettes. Most other Gps are not familiar enough with this syndrome....specialists know what works and what doesn't.

Hello, This is my first time posting to this board but when I was heading towards the lung cancer board the nervous twitches caught my eye so I stopped to read this thread. I have a 13 yr old nephew who is my buddy that was recently diagnosed with Tourettes. He gets bad facial twitches and snaps his head foreword and back. He is taking medication that helps some. What I am wondering is if any of you that have posted here have ever looked into the artificial sweetner connection and tourettes? ( Diet soda and other food listed as sugar free) . I have read articles about artificial sweetners being responsible for Fibromyalgia, MS, Lupus, ADHD, ADA and other behavioral disorders ,I am curious if any of you have tried eliminating it from your diet and did it help? I do believe that our diet really does have a major role in our health and that all this processed food we eat now is very bad for us. Thank you very much and best wishes to any of you dealing with tourettes. :wave: JanMarie

Hi,i have found the actual problems here that i am suffering at the moment.I have posted in Anxiety section about my problems but i have saw this and this is exactly my same problem.
I thought for some time that i may have Tourettes syndrome,and certainly everything is worse whenever we are stressed out about things.I had bad violent relationship coupelk of years ago,and since i broke up with her,my symptoms have become a lot worse.
I twitch badly but is mainly when i am bored and not concentrating enough on anything.I painted my kitchen the other dya and i was more relaxed than ever,cos i think i was busy doing something else and not worrying about it.I walk through town centre,and i get so jittery cause i think people are looking at me and laughing at me,i try to control it,but sometimes you feel like you're losing the battle.
Anyway have been to Doctors this week even though hav suffered for last 10 yrs(approx),and he is sending me to see a Psychologist to help........Hopefully.I am not keen on using Drugs to help,but will wait and see what doctors say.Luckily here in England,we have NHS,so we dont have to worry too much about help and treatment.
Anyway,we are all the same by sounds of it here my friend,and it does help to talk about it openly,instead of hiding it and pretending it doesnt exist.
Good to hear about others that we share the same symptoms,and hopefully can help each other in some way.

Hello.. Janmarie, I never use any sweetner of any kind. I don't drink "diet" anything either. Really don't like the taste. hope that helps.

Jason, I know what you mean.. When I'm in my room, playing my guitar, everything seems better. It kinda takes me away, and doesn't make me think of anything but the music. It helps a lot.

I've been having a rough time lately. The twitches are getting worse. I never thoght much of it, but now it's almost as though I have to have a "battle" in my head to try to avoid the twitches.. And the more I start to twitch, the harder it is to stop.

I finally spoke to my girlfriend about this, and she is fully supportive. I don't know if it is because I'm reading a lot about this that's making me more paranoid, but I find myself not going out as much. I stay home more, thinking that if I go out, it'll only make it hard for me to stop with the twitching.

Sometimes I wish I could just relax, and have a clear mind.

I wrote to a couple of tourette associations, but no one wrote back .. I also wrote to a neurology center that's in the city, and I haven't gotten any responses as well.

It's harder than I thoguht to see a neurologist about this. Finally I went to the pharmacy yesterday to ask about the vitamin B12 and Magnesium, and the pharmasist told me I should take anything. She gave me a multivitamine, and told me to go see a general doctor, and he will guide me to the right person I should see.

I feel that if I don't see a doctor about this, it;ll eventually get the best of me, and I'll end up in a depression or something. Strange thing is, I'm usually a complete different person.. very sociable, relaxed... but right now, I feel like I'm changing.

In any case, I'm gonna go see a doctor and see what he/she tells me.


Sometimes I think it would have been better if I didn't even know of this tourette stuff. I find myself just thinking about it more and more....

Good luck to everyone with this problem, I'll keep you updated, , ,