As many as one-fourth of all children contend with the embarrassing annoyance of facial tics. This problem can best be described as a repetitive, continual spasm affecting the muscles of both the eyes and the face. The true cause is often unknown, even though research shows a strong link between stressors and an increase in severity of symptoms. Another explanation for the development of tics is a deficit in essential vitamins or minerals, such as magnesium. In some cases, facial tics are manifestations of disorders of the nervous system, including Tourette syndrome, a health condition caused by a malfunction of the nervous system.
This health condition is believed to contain a hereditary facet as well. A few examples of a facial tic are rapid eye movements or eye blinking, squinting, mouth or nose wrinkling, twitching, grunting, mouth twitches, facial grimacing, facial twitches, and throat clearing. A tic often develops in childhood, and can last for merely a few weeks or for several years.
At times, the tic lasts even after a child reaches adulthood. Facial tics can persist and potentiate anxiety levels in a child whose stress levels are already high because of the disorder itself. Young people often can be extremely unkind, making fun of the child's problem.
Further, teachers who fail to understand and are unable to assist other students to understand and assist the child in conquering his condition can have a devastating effect on a child's self-esteem. This issue, however, is not limited to the afflicted youth. Adults who find themselves dealing with a facial tic find this extremely difficult to manage.
These people often face significant social difficulties. In some instances, a person can learn to identify the onset and supersede the spasm that results in the facial tic. Even this, however, can become emotionally and physically draining. Such individual often wrestle with self image problems as well.
Grownups who experience cessation of the agonizing effects of facial grimaces and other tics are afforded with an opportunity for social rebirth. Their concept of themselves is altered, and they no longer fear to experience the fullness of life. Young people who can overcome this disorder no longer are burdened by the paralyzing emotional pain that cripples their social lives, and live with joy rather than emotional pain. On occasion, medications, such as mildly sedating drugs, are prescribed to this problem. Although the medications may lessen the incidence of these symptoms, the drugs themselves can often cause adverse effects. Therefore, persons sometimes rely on alternative therapies to help them in treating their condition.
Two treatment approaches that have shown exciting potential in helping clients to control facial tics are hypnotherapy and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). Both of these therapies take advantages of the strength of the individual's unconscious mind to assist them redirect the repetitive behavior. Because these therapies are concerned with the source of the disorder by intervening in the unconscious where the problem originates, they offer significantly more hope for success than traditional therapy approaches that only attempt to control eye blinking, mouth twitches, squinting, facial grimacing, facial twitches, grunting, or other types of impulsive behavior. Hypnotherapy helps the client to achieve a peaceful altered state and accept suggestions that allow them to release tension. Because tics are a result of built-up stress within a person's body, release of the tension helps them to successfully manage the tic. After several sessions, the client ought to be able to experience the ability to manage tension successfully.
Alternatively, therapists who use NLP assist the client to channel his or her mind to use thoughts that stress them as triggers for thoughts that will relax them. In addition, the person learns to use a non-related body part, such as a toe, to release the stress that would otherwise be expressed by the facial tic. This technique allows individuals to manage tension without resorting to the humiliating impulse.
Another advantage of these two therapies is that the client is not subjected to adverse effects from medication type therapies. Indeed, both hypnotherapy and NLP are frequently perceived as the primary treatment for individuals who are afflicted by tics, such as nose wrinkling, or throat clearing, because these treatment approaches do not have unwanted side effects. This avoids considerable pain and distress for the affected person.
Summary: Facial tics can be socially damaging and may yield extreme consequences. Male children are most likely to exhibit this disorder, which can last into adult life; however girls may also have struggles with tics. While several treatment approaches exist, hypnosis and NLP seem to be the most prudent therapies, because they have no problematic side effects and are very effective.
Alan B. Densky, CH offers a large assortment of popular titles for all anxiety related symptoms, including facial tics hypnotherapy programs. For entertainment and learning visit his Free hypnosis article library at his Neuro-VISION self-hypnosis website.