A Letter From the Heart Regarding Tourette's Syndrome
Do you know anyone who suffers from Tourette's Syndrome? I do.
Two of my three children are affected by minor vocal and, at times, more obvious involuntary motor tics, which can and does cause physical chronic pain. Whether you are aware of it or not, you probably know someone who has Tourette's. Until my first child was finally diagnosed in high school, we thought she had a "nervous tic" and suffered from anxiety. I am haunted by the fact that I didn't know what it was. I actually asked her to stop twitching so many times! And when she made small verbal noises at times, I told her to be quiet! This truly brings tears to my eyes still today.
It's not uncommon for children to go undiagnosed, until it worsens around puberty, so parents if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call me. When my youngest started exhibiting signs, around age 7, I knew immediately. NO ONE, including a neurologist, believed me, when I told HIM my son has Tourette's.
There are many degrees of severity, and most people are uneducated regarding Tourette's, because it just doesn't get the recognition that other disorders do. For those who suffer from Tourette's, they sometimes feel alone with this disorder, since no one talks about it, and for parents, they feel helpless as they watch their children suffer both physically and, oftentimes, socially when people begin asking them questions, such as, "Why do you blink like that?" or "Is there something wrong with your arm?" A teacher once asked my child, “Do you need to excuse yourself to go to the bathroom or something?” in front of the class. I met with all of his teachers after that incident, but I do think educators should all become familiar with the disorder. As a former teacher, I can now remember other children who had it, but again, I just thought they were socially awkward or had a nervous tic.
Children with Tourette's don't like to draw attention to themselves. For months, when his symptoms were more severe, my son wore a hoodie in class so no one could see the blinking. As an adult, my daughter, Brady, doesn't hide anymore, and she actually welcomes the questions. She said not fully understanding the symptoms, people draw their own, usually incorrect, conclusions. She told me people's reactions range from admiration to awkwardness, as they don't know what to say when she tells them she has Tourette's. I think that's because they aren't educated regarding the disorder.
My children are beautiful, highly intelligent, and incredibly talented and creative. They are two of the strongest people I know, and I am so incredibly proud of them. Please pray for a cure for Tourette's. It's not always like you see in the movies. In fact, it rarely is. But if you do see someone with Tourette's, look them in the eye and smile. Let them see your love and admiration for the dignity and class that they, without fail, exhibit to the world every single day.
These supplements, which I got from https://draxe.com/tourette-syndrome/may help with the tics, and ultimately the chronic pain associated with them.
9 Natural Tourette Syndrome Treatments
Magnesium Magnesium supports the central nervous system, promoting proper muscle action and reaction. In 2008, researchers in Spain found that oral solutions of magnesium and vitamin B6 decreased total tic scores in children with Tourette Syndrome. Researchers did not see any side effects and the treatment was deemed safe and effective. Further studies are needed.
In addition to the evidence of helping reduce the tics association with Tourette’s, those with a magnesium deficiency can suffer from anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue, many of the same co-occurring conditions that affect those with Tic Disorders. Try incorporating more magnesium rich foods and brain boosting foods into your diet, such as avocados, bone broth and dark chocolate.
Passion Flower In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial that pitted Passiflora extract vs. Oxazepam, researchers found that Passiflora extract is effective for the management of anxiety, and has a low incidence of impairment of performance when compared to oxazepam.
Individuals with Tourette’s often have trouble sleeping, anxiety and depression, and often have co-occurring ADHD. Passion Flower is known to help with these conditions. There are teas and supplements available; follow recommended dosing for best results.
B Vitamins The B vitamins support the nervous system, promote healthy skin and hair, combat stress and depression, fight free radicals, boosts HDL cholesterol, regulate mood and sleep, and reduce inflammation. As stress is a common trigger for Tourette’s, it is important to support the body’s ability to fight stress.
Vitamin B12, in particularly, can support those with Tourette’s by fighting depression and anxiety and improving concentration and cognitive function. For best results, be sure to follow the National Institutes of Health recommended dosing.
Vitamin D It’s believed that nearly 90% of the population has a vitamin D deficiency. Often overlooked as an essential nutrient, vitamin D plays a critical role in the nervous system, muscle health and depression. In fact, researchers from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Ontario, Canada found that there is a strong relationship between vitamin D and depression.
The single best way to get the vitamin D you need is through sunlight; during the winter months, or if you don’t get outside for at least 20 minutes each day, it is important to boost your intake of vitamin D rich foods.
Chamomile For over 5,000 years, chamomile has been used for insomnia, wounds, allergies, arthritis, to fight anxiety and depression and for muscle spasms. As a matter of fact, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology found that chamomile reduced anxiety in patients with mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder.
Luckily, organic chamomile teas, tinctures and essential oils are readily available at health food stores, which makes it easy to incorporate it into your daily routine. To help relieve tension and promote sleep, try diffusing chamomile essential oil. You can also enjoy a cup of tea (or iced tea) any time of the day to gain the benefits from this powerful flower.
Whole Body Relaxation A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that body-mind relaxation meditations can help modulate brain activity in multiple areas where emotion processing is found.
To induce a whole-body relaxation response, guide your child through tensing and releasing various muscle groups. Starting at the feet, and moving upwards, squeeze muscles hard to the count of 5, and then release to the count of 15. Then, go to the next muscle group, and repeat until you reach the top of the head. Some individuals with Tourette’s may find that tensing and releasing the lower body is enough. However, others may find the same to be true with the upper body.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted by researchers at New York University Child Study Center at NYU School of Medicine found that omega-3 fatty acids may benefit individuals by reducing tic-related impairment.
Long acknowledged for supporting heart health, brain health, and cancer prevention, foods naturally high in Omega 3 Fatty Acids should be incorporated into the diet of anyone suffering from TS.
Acupuncture In a small study, Chinese researchers found acupuncture to have an effective rate of 97.1% in the treatment of Tourette’s Syndrome. Their conclusion was that acupuncture is a “very effective therapy for TS.” While parents and children alike may hesitate to try acupuncture, it is a safe procedure that is proven to help with insomnia, pain, stress and now Tourette’s.
Miss Arizona 2013, Jennifer Smestad, a Tourette’s sufferer, used acupuncture to control symptoms including both physical and verbal tics. Her story published in Acupuncture Today is a must-read for the parents of Tourette patients.
Exercise Aerobic exercise has been shown to significantly reduce tics during exercise and post-exercise. The study published in Behavior Modification Journal found that in addition to tic reduction, aerobic exercise also had a beneficial impact on anxiety and mood levels.
While the study did not identify the intensity or length of time for the exercise sessions observed, incorporate regular aerobic activity daily for best results. Try to find ways to make exercise fun. Dance, tennis, basketball, playing tag can all get the heart pumping, resulting in healthier and happier kids.
This post is sponsored by The Farris Group of Keller Williams. 469-569-2968