I developed a tic during covid and I’m desperate to cure it!!

[Frugalfashionista87]

Hi all,

Around 2021 I started going through such a stressful period that doesn’t seem to have ended. I have developed a sniffing tick which is now also one where I wrinkle my nose and I have actually started to develop specific eye wrinkles as a result. It’s making me really self-conscious, especially now that I’m interviewing for job roles. I’m absolutely desperate to cure myself!

Thing is, I won’t know if I’ve got rid of it unless I am conscious of it and by thinking about it all the time I’m worried I’m more likely to keep doing it, if that makes sense,
so it’s a bit of a Catch22. I thought about trying to do something else every time that feeling came on to divert my attention, such as pinching myself, but I’m worried that that will become the new tic that I will feel the need to do.

Has anyone managed to rid themselves of nervous tics? I’m in my 30s so I’ve basically had them for most of my 30s so far.

Anyone had successful hypnotherapy or any other treatment?

Most of the times for stressed induced tics you do need to reduce the stress - anything else is just putting a plaster on the problem rather than fixing it. Maybe stress coping mechanisms if you can't reduce the stress? Or therapy if it's a stress you can't remove like grief?

I do feel for you

Is it the same as me grinding my teeth? I'm looking at extensive dental work and possible loss of teeth, I've already lost one and two have been saved but it's horrendous. I think I did it before, but it got much worse because of lockdown.

I don't know if this will apply to a tic but initially I have had to have masseter Botox which scared me because I don't want to end up with a weird face - no offence, I realise a lot of people have it and they look perfectly fine - and also it scared me because it's injecting poison into your face!

I think the suggestion to deal with the stress is impractical. What we have to do is learn to find ways to deal with it because life is always going to have stressful things in it.

I wonder if this is a bit like me, do you need something to make you stop immediately? So you need to find a physical solution for an immediate stop, and then work on any longer term things afterwards.

do you do it when you're on your own? I'm wondering if you can stick something to your nose that will fall off when you wrinkle it.