Slowing Down To Stop Chronic Tics & Tourettes

Key Takeaways:

• Impatience and frustration with constant tics fuels anxiety cycles  
• Softening into self-compassion stills nervous system better than demands  
• Peace unlocked more healing than aggressive striving for tic elimination  

As someone who struggled with constant motor tics for over 20 years, I know how maddening it can feel when these disruptive urges won't go away. In my desperation for a quick fix, I often grew incredibly frustrated that my tics weren't instantly vanishing. But in my healing journey, I've learned that cultivating patience and slowing down has been utterly transformative.

When tics arise hundreds of times a day, it's natural to want immediate relief. But the more impatient I felt, the more my body reacted with anxiety and spasms. I was locked in a vicious cycle, demanding my nervous system relax while sending it frantic signals of stress. 

Over time, I came to accept that retraining lifelong habits requires gentleness and time. After so many years of ingrained ticking, my brain couldn't undo those patterns overnight. Forcing a rapid solution only backfired. 

As I softened into self-compassion, I stopped judging my tics so harshly. My focus shifted from desperately wanting to eliminate them, to calmly guiding my body and mind into states of stillness. 

Making time for meditation, breathwork, yoga, and nature became essential. Tuning into birdsong and rustling leaves reminded my senses of tranquility always available. 

I also cultivated discernment around who and what to spend time with. I limited relationships that fueled anxiety. Activities that overwhelmed my nervous system got culled from my routine. 

Did this mean completely renouncing all stress? Of course not - some is inevitable. But curating more peace allowed my body to relax in ways I couldn't force. 

Have my tics completely disappeared? Not yet. But no longer waging war against my body has brought unexpected freedom. Slowing down opened up space for healing I couldn't demand.

Patience became the antidote to frustration. My tics may always arise, but cultivating equanimity transforms how I relate to them. This continues to be a lifelong journey of coming home to myself.