Another possible cause of tics is deficiencies in essential vitamins or minerals, like magnesium. In some cases, facial tics are manifestations of nervous system disorders, including Tourette syndrome, a health condition arising from a dysfunction of the nervous system. Tourette syndrome is thought to contain a genetic aspect 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. The condition often starts in childhood, and may last for just weeks, months, or even years. Sometimes, the tic persists into adulthood.

Facial tics can perpetuate and increase anxious disorders in a child already experiencing significant stress as a result of the condition itself. Children’s playmates are often incredibly cruel, making fun of the child’s problem. Further, teachers who do not understand and are unable to aid other students to understand and assist the child in overcoming his condition can create a devastatingly negative impact on a child’s self image.

This issue, however, is not confined to the experience of the suffering child. Adults who must cope with a facial tic encounter significant challenges in managing this problem. These sufferers frequently struggle with overwhelming social difficulties. In some instances, a person can learn to recognize the onset and supersede the spasm that initiates the facial tic. Even this, however, can become mentally and physiologically draining. Such individual often wrestle with self image problems as well.

Grownups who obtain relief from the agonizing effects of facial grimaces and other tics are afforded with an opportunity for social rebirth. Their view of themselves is altered, and they no longer fear to experience the fullness of life. Children who successfully this problem experience freedom the agonizing anxiety that impairs their social lives, and live with joy rather than psychic pain.

Sometimes, medications, such as mildly sedating drugs, can help treat this condition. Although the medications may lessen the incidence of these symptoms, the medications themselves can often cause adverse effects. For this reason, individuals frequently turn alternative treatments to assist them in treating their disorder.

Two treatment methods that have shown promising potential in assisting clients to overcome facial tics are hypnotherapy and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). Both of these therapies utilize the power inherent in the individual’s subconscious to assist them re-channel the repetitive behavior. Because these treatments address the source of the difficulty by intervening in the unconscious where the problem originates, they are much more useful 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 allows the person being treated to enter a peaceful dreamlike state and receive suggestions that assist them to expel tension. Because tics are a result of built-up anxiety within a person’s body, releasing this tension allows them to successfully manage this behavior. After several sessions, the client ought to be capable of possess the ability to manage tension successfully.

Those therapists who use NLP assist the client to train his or her mind to use thoughts that stress them as triggers for thoughts that will relax them. Moreover, the individual is taught to use a non-related body part, such as a toe, to expel the stress that would in other circumstances be manifested by the facial tic. This also allows individuals to overcome tension without resorting to the humiliating impulse.

Another positive outcome of these two therapies is that the client avoids the experience of adverse effects from medication type therapies. For this reason, both hypnotherapy and NLP are usually considered to be the treatment of choice for individuals who cope with tics, such as nose wrinkling, or throat clearing, because these therapies do not have undesirable side effects. This relieves significant anguish and stress for the affected person.

Summary: Facial tics are often socially devastating and can have harmful consequences. Boys are more likely to experience this difficulty, which can continue into adult life; however girls may also have struggles with this. While several treatment approaches are available, hypnosis and NLP appear to be the most prudent options, because they do not result in problematic side effects and are very efficacious.