Eye-rolling TIC – Jaxon’s Transient Tic Disorder and childhood anxiety

Is a Keynote by Next Week Possible? Find Out How.

Jaxon has Transient tic disorder, and this commonly overlaps with other types of anxiety-based disorders. It is not uncommon for children with TIC disorders to have three or four other disorders. Jaxon also has symptoms that meet the criteria for ADHD, separation disorder, and obsessional thoughts. These are all very inter-related and can impact a child’s ability to concentrate and learn – and even interact socially with his age-related peers (estimates suggest as much as 80% and 90% of comorbidity between these disorders).
Transient tic disorder occurs in about 1 per cent of the child population and typically originates in early childhood (about 5-7 years of age). It can peak and get worse in early adolescence (about 12 – 13) and then sometimes go away as the child matures. Most kids are not really bothered by the tics at all and therefore do not require medication or further treatment. It seems the parents are the ones more bothered by the unusual movements and therefore seek some kind of clinical or pharmaceutical intervention. I do not recommend such treatments as they can come with a variety (of sometimes severe) side effects. Any psychotropic medication should be considered with extreme caution and consideration – but never moreso than with a young developing child. These medications will effect the central nervous system and in some cases, can actually make the presentation of the TICS much worse.
Jaxon says he notices the tics but they don’t really bother him. So why should it bother anyone else? The root of Jaxon’s disorders is ‘anxiety’ and the best intervention for this is through cognitive and behavioural therapies (CBT). Such interventions need to be received in the context of the family unit as no childhood psychological problem exists in a vacuum. Indeed, I also struggle with anxiety and separation disorder so it makes me wonder if there is both a genetic and learned component to Jaxon’s disorders.
{I would also suggest you go and do some research on ‘PANDAS’ – but this diagnosis is quite controversial so I won’t go in to too much detail. Except to say, I think it is highly relevant and applies in our case. Check it out for yourself}
So this is the start of our journey to recovery. I hope in time, I can report things have improved and Jaxon is happier, calmer and without these constant disruptions to his life. Let’s see what happens from here….

The post Eye-rolling TIC – Jaxon’s Transient Tic Disorder and childhood anxiety appeared first on .