Up to 25 percent of all children cope with the painful embarrassment of facial tics. This problem can best be described as a repeatedly occurring spasm affecting the muscles of both the eyes and the face. The exact etiology is frequently unclear, even though research shows a strong link between stressful events and an increase in severity of symptoms.

Another possible cause of tics is a deficit in essential vitamins or minerals, including magnesium. Some types of facial tics are symptomatic of nervous system disorders, such as Tourette syndrome, a disorder caused by a dysfunction of the nervous system. Tourette syndrome is hypothesized to have a genetic facet as well.

Some examples of a facial tic include rapid eye movements or eye blinking, squinting, mouth or nose wrinkeling, twitching, grunting, mouth twitches, facial grimacing, facial twitches, and throat clearing. This problem often starts during childhood years, and can last for only a few weeks or for several years. At times, the tic lasts even after a child reaches adulthood.

Facial tics can perpetuate and increase anxiety levels in a child whose stress levels are already high because of the disorder itself. Kids can be very cruel, making fun of the child’s problem. Further, teachers who fail to understand and are unable to assist other students to empathize and assist the child in conquering his difficulty can can create a devastatingly negative effect on a child’s self image.

The problem, however, is not relevant only to the suffering youth. Adults who are affected by a facial tic encounter significant challenges in managing this problem. These individuals often encounter overwhelming social difficulties. In some situations, a person can develop the ability to identify the onset and control the urge that results in the facial tic. Even this, however, can become mentally and physically exhausting. Low self-esteem is often a major issue with which these people wrestle. Often, these individuals struggle with low self-esteem.

Grownups who experience cessation of the humiliating effects of facial grimaces and other tics are afforded with an opportunity for social rebirth. Their perception of themselves changes, and they no longer fear to experience life at its fullest. Children who can overcome this problem no longer are burdened by the paralyzing stress that cripples their social lives, and experience childhood with joy instead of psychic pain.

At times, medications, such as mildly sedating drugs, are prescribed to this condition. While the medications may lessen the frequency or severity of these symptoms, the medications themselves can often cause undesired side effects. For this reason, persons sometimes rely on alternative therapies to help them in treating their disorder.

Two treatment methods that have provided exciting potential in assisting people to successfully manage 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 manage the repetitive behavior. Because these therapies are concerned with the root of the difficulty by intervening in the unconscious where the problem originates, they are significantly more beneficial than traditional therapy approaches that merely attempt to control eye blinking, mouth twitches, squinting, facial grimacing, facial twitches, grunting, or other types of impulsive behavior.

Hypnosis helps the client to reach a peaceful dreamlike state and accept suggestions that allow them to expel tension. Because tics are a result of built-up stress within a person’s body, release of the tension enables them to successfully control the impulse. After several sessions, the client ought to be able to experience the ability to cope with tension successfully.

Alternatively, therapists who employ NLP assist the client to train his or her mind to use thoughts that stress them as triggers for relaxing thoughts. In addition, the individual learns to use a non-related body part, such as a toe, to expel the tension that would otherwise be expressed by the facial tic. This technique allows individuals to overcome tension without resorting to the embarrassing behavior.

Another benefit of these two therapies is that the person being treated does not experience adverse effects from medication type therapies. For this reason, both hypnotherapy and NLP are often believed to be the primary treatment for individuals who cope with tics, such as nose wrinkeling, or throat clearing, because these interventions do not have unwanted side effects. This relieves significant pain and distress for the sufferer.

Summary: Facial tics can be socially devastating and may yield harmful consequences. Boys are more likely to exhibit this difficulty, which can persist into adulthood; however girls may also experience struggles with this. While several treatment approaches exist, hypnosis and NLP seem to be the safest options, because they do not result in undesirable side effects and are very effective.

Alan B. Densky, CH offers facial tics hypnosis programs as well as a wide array of popular titles for all anxiety related symptoms. For delight and learning visit his Free hypnosis video library at his Neuro-VISION self hypnosis website. http://www.neuro-vision.us/

- Alan B. Densky, CH

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