There are several
varieties of tic disorders, including the most commonly known disorder
of Tourette's Syndrome. Other tic disorders include: Chronic
Motor, or Vocal Tic Disorder, and Transient Tic Disorder.
A tic is a sudden, reoccurring motor movement that is beyond a
person's control. The tic can involve as little as one muscle, to
several muscles at the same time. A common tic that many of us have
experienced from time to time, is a twitching of the eye. Other tics
include eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, face grimacing, jerking,
grunting, clearing the throat, or nose wrinkling. These are called
simple motor tics.
Tics of more complex nature include jumping, touching, bending,
twirling, or moving into a strange body position. A tic can also be
verbal, such as swearing, making an obscene statement, or calling
someone a name.
Tics can last from several seconds to several hours and can be
involuntary or voluntary. They are typically experienced as a mounting
tension or bodily need, such as a persistent need to scratch an itch.
Only when the individual performs the tick, is tension and anxiety
released within the individual with a tic disorder.
Tics generally decrease or stop at night, are more prominent when
the individual is alone or under great stress or pressure. Often, tics
abate when the individual is mentally engaged in an activity.