Tics?

[Boomba124]

Hi just looking for some advice / anyone in similar situation! My daughter started a tik last year of eye blinking that stopped after about 3 weeks. Then she started to move her head only when she was on her iPad. That stopped after about a month. Then about 9 weeks ago she started rolling her eyes and at first I thought she was being stroppy when she was being told off. But then it was constant. The last 3/4 days it’s got worse. We were at a family meal Friday and everyone was asking her what was up with her eyes which made her upset and paranoid. Then at football yesterday her team mates were commenting on it. I feel this makes her do it even more. Last night she was crying saying it was giving her a headache and when she rolls her eyes now it hurts. She’s had an eye test and all is fine eyes are healthy. I believe it’s a tik that’s got worse. I’ve now removed iPad, ordered magnesium / omega 3 vitamins. Any help / advice would be so greatly appreciated. I feel so sorry for her. Xxx

How old is she? Tics are quite common in children and many go away. I would book her an app with gp for a check over, they may want to refer her.

Please don't comment on the tics and I don't think removing iPad or changing diet will help.

My youngest has tics, for about 2 years now, it's likely tourettes as he has verbal and motor tics.

Keep a diary, see if you spot any patterns or triggers.

My bad I forgot to say she is 9 years old. Thanks x

Not sure why my last post is hidden, but my son has had them for 5 years since age 3. The things that help most age the magnesium, enough sleep, low stress and ignoring them (attention to them makes them worse) He can go months with non at all then something will trigger them.

She will more than likely grow out of it. My son has had tics since he was 3 and still has some now at 15 but much reduced apart from in times of stress. You could old go to the GP but ours was pretty useless and just referred to CAMHS who were also pretty useless first time round. Second time we tried to access help they said unless child was suicidal he would probably be an adult before he got to the top of the waiting list. There is research that a supplement called NAC can help we have given DS magnesium for something else and that either helped or it was a coincidence but worth looking into.

There’s a great FB page called Tic Talk Uk with great advice

I’ve had tics my whole life, I was badly bullied for them and other things as a child. I have been diagnosed with ASD and ADHD as an adult. I agree with pp, dont comment on them, tell your family not to comment too.

My son just turned 9 as well. It's a very common age for tics snd most children do grow out of them. My son is asd with oda profile and complex sensory processing issues as well. So co morbid condition for him.

My area has something called just one where you can self refer for mental health support etc. I don't know if it's something other areas do. My son def gets worse with stress.

Bizarrely one of the things that has helped the most has been getting kittens, just because they are such a comfort.

Thanks everyone. I have got the magnesium and omega 3, she has been a bit better today. Friday & yesterday was the worst with everyone asking her & pointing it out! And she was tired also. She suffers with hay fever don’t know if that plays a roll. But defiantly not as bad today. Lots of early nights. Thank you. Just so worrying as she said it was giving her a headache because she couldn’t stop looking up :-( xxx

Hi @Boomba124 - just wondering how your DD is getting on? My DD (also 9) seems to be having similar tics your DD. Definitely worse in the evenings when tired. Just wondering if it settled or if it's escalated? I'm looking into magnesium supplements but not sure which ones - there are so many! DD also has ASD and ADHD so there's a lot going on.

Hey! She was absolutely fine June / July. But then about 3 days ago she started the eye rolling again. I genuinely do believe it’s worse when she’s very tired. So I keep making a conscious effort to get her in bed early. I also think when she gets nervous or anxious she starts. I’ve just got magnesium tablets for kids of Amazon and omega 3 . Both Amazon. Also eye drops from the chemist when she complains her eyes feel dry. She’s had eye test and all fine she just suffers with dry eyes. It’s very stressful as she gets headaches when she can’t control the eye rolling and then other children point it out and make it worse . Xxx

Thanks for replying @Boomba124 - sorry to hear it's starting again for your DD. All I've noticed so far is very mild and intermittent, but with a family history of Tourette's, I'm terrified of escalation. It's definitely only really in the evenings so hopefully managed by keeping bedtimes in check (so hard in the holidays!).