Published on 12, July, 2020
Does suppressing stims cause tics?
Amerantin (former member) said:Possibly. I’ve had a lifelong problem with repeatedly clearing my throat, which is much worse when I can’t stim or pace. My psychologist said it was a tic.
Thank you
I do this and sometimes more than others. I really never thought that this could be related in anyway to stress/autism and stimming. This is another one for my ever growing list!
Amerantin (former member) said:I think the social pressure to stifle these probably peaked around age 10 or 11 and I learned ways to suppress them most of the time.
Yes I understand that, but in my experience suppressing tics can lead to a tic attack.
Amerantin (former member) said:I was very good academically at school but forcing me to sit still for hours just resulted in an explosion of weird behaviours and uncontrolled energy.
It obviously was not natural for you to sit still for long periods of time then.
I had lots of motor and vocal tics usually relating to the neck or head and sometimes I would randomly shout the word ‘hey’, which was sometimes quite funny because the last thing I wanted to do was to attract attention!
I’ll randomly jerk without meaning to. And I’ll blink/wink, face, and ears twitch.
Oh yes, me too
I would jerk my neck. Sort of twist it I suppose. And I would look behind myself quite obsessively. I had to check what was there even though I only looked 20 seconds ago.
I think the social pressure to stifle these probably peaked around age 10 or 11 and I learned ways to suppress them most of the time.
I was very good academically at school but forcing me to sit still for hours just resulted in an explosion of weird behaviours and uncontrolled energy.
What tics did you have?
I don’t know if these count as tics, but at school (other places too but mostly school) sometimes I’ll randomly jerk without meaning to. And I’ll blink/wink, face, and ears twitch.
Those dont happen when I’m at home and comfortable. I do stim much more at home than in public.
I am so sorry you had that experience, as you are obviously aware teachers and other staff can be bullies too.
Amerantin (former member) said:I really hope teachers are more aware now.
I hope so too, there are brilliant charities such as Tourette’s Action that deliver training to schools about acceptance of tics. Many neurodivergent people not just those with Tourette’s experience tics.
What kind of tics did you experience apart from the throat clearing?
Thinking about this now I’m actually quite annoyed with my teachers. Rather than try to understand and help they chose to scold and humiliate. I really hope teachers are more aware now.
Yes potentially, I used to tic in school. We need to express ourselves in some way so if we can’t stim for whatever reason then tics are an involuntary way of showing our emotions.
I annoy myself and am very self conscious about it. I got so much grief from it in primary school before I eventually learned to control it a little. But when I get stressed….
I have a friend who has the exact same tic. He is constantly clearing his throat to the point where it’s slightly annoying lol.
Possibly. I’ve had a lifelong problem with repeatedly clearing my throat, which is much worse when I can’t stim or pace. My psychologist said it was a tic.