my 12 year old brother has recently developed a tic. he is blinking excessively, but more concerning to me is that he has started repetitively jerking his head toward one side. he does it at all times, playing computer games, playing sport, sitting at the dinner table, talking etc.

he has just begun his first year of highschool and i am worried about how it will affect him socially. normally he is a very outgoing, charismatic kid.

our mother recently remarried and we have just moved into a new house with her partner and his son, so perhaps it is from the big changes?

i've been reading a lot about tics on the web but i wanted to hear anyone's personal experiences, either with their children or themselves. also, can you recommend any ways to treat it or help him with it? i'm not sure whether to ignore it or try to get him to stop it. thanks.