Stop the Urge To Tic & Calm the Storm Tourettes

Key Takeaways:

• Noticing "pre-tic" sensations and taking slow breaths interrupts escalation   
• Anchors me in stillness before tic hijacks nervous system reactively 
• Rewires brain to be less hair-trigger through simple mindful practice

As someone who has struggled with constant motor tics for over 20 years, I'm all too familiar with the overwhelming urge that arises right before each spasm. It's like feeling a storm brewing inside that quickly erupts in lightning-fast twitches. A tense energy takes over that seems impossible to resist.

But I'm learning that finding presence and calm in the moments right before the tics hit is key to regaining control over my body. By tuning into that tense "pre-tic" state mindfully, rather than reacting on autopilot, I can often discharge the urge before it escalates.

The second I feel that stormy sensation start to brew in my shoulder, neck, or face, I take a long, deep belly breath. As I inhale for a count of 4, then exhale even slower for a count of 8, I visualize the negative charge of energy start to dissipate.

It's remarkable how a simple breath, by lowering my heart rate and activating the relaxation response, can interrupt the tic reflex. While I still can't stop them all, I'm no longer so powerless against the urges.

Repeatedly meeting the uncomfortable "pre-tic" state with mindful breathing has gradually rewired my brain to be less reactive to the sensations. The storm within no longer whips into a tornado at the slightest cue.

Of course, remembering presence in the heat of the moment isn't easy after a lifetime of habitual ticking. But the more I condition my mind to respond versus react, the more freedom I gain.

By cultivating calm before the tics hit, rather than fighting them once they've arrived, I've taken back some control over my body. The storm within no longer owns me. My breath anchors me firmly in the eye of the hurricane, where stillness abides.