Eliminating vocal tics?

Post Reply New Topic

I recently have experienced problems where I accidentally blurt out phrases like "I'm a murderer," "I'm a sorcerer," "I'm a rapist," and "I'm a n*****." How do I stop saying these things before it gets me in trouble?

This is extremely worrisome because it's not something I can control, and I don't want it to get in the way of my life at school or anything like that.

Stop thinking about saying it, focus on something else.

I have the same problems particularly when I'm in a public setting, you can go on powerful medications that will cut back on your tics (but the side effects can be dangerous!) or you can try to distract yourself. Read an interesting book, listen to music and focus on the words or listen to classical music, draw or color something, or get into a heavy discussion with a friend.

1) distraction, how Liesbeth said

2) pushing you tic in another direction
For example if you notice the "I'm a murderer" is comming again say something simmilar like: "I'm Mike" or I don't know. Think about it befor with wich sentence you can try to replace you tic.

I do this with my hitting tic. I sometime slap myself in the face and I try to replace it in public with going over my hair.
I works a lot of times for me.
You can actually train that.

Maybe you could even find a special physiotherapist and/or a psychotherapist who could help you with that.

3) suppress them
Actually not a good idea for long, because you tics "want" to come out.
My tics come out most of the time when noone is looking.
So I know when I like someone, because I tic in front of them. That's automatically.
I have to be under a lot of stress when I start getting tics in front of strangers.

4) Take magnesium
Helps for me and it's worth trying, because it's a lot better than heavy medications, but doesn't help with everyone.
It helps me a lot, so that I even don't need other medication because of my tics.
There are also other supplements you can try: How to Take Supplements for Tourette's Syndrome

5) Medication
It should really be the last option, when nothing else is working.

I have had TS my entire life and I have had very little success trying to change tics when I have them. A tic will stick with me for anywhere from 6 month to a 2 years. One day I will wake up with a tic and one day I will wake up and it will be gone.

I have vocal tics, but I do not say phrase. I have gone through phases of coughing, clearing my throat, and barking (among others). Vocal tics are hard because they are so noticeable to others and that makes them almost impossible to hide.

My best advise is not to hold them in but to try and say a different word. But maybe even try doing another vocal tic? Like one of mine?