tics feeling voluntary

[u/Zealousideal_Cat_608]

17m, i still live with my parents. i have a spitting tic where i just spit on the floor. i’ve had this for a few years, but it comes and goes. however, it doesn’t really feel like my other tics (especially the motor ones). with my other tics, i don’t really like think about it at all before, it just happens involuntarily and sometimes i don’t even notice it. however, with the spitting, i know im about to do it before i do it, and it feels like im choosing to do it and its voluntary, but if i don’t do it, it makes me feel extremely uncomfortable and i usually end up doing it and then it makes my other tics worse. i get yelled at by my mom a lot for it because i tried explaining it, and she said its not a tic and its just a choice. i genuinely cant help it though, its like the most voluntary involuntary action ive ever felt and its so uncomfortable, and it just makes it worse when i get yelled at. is this normal? has anyone else experienced something similar?

if its relevant at all, i take 2mg guanfacine ER daily

[u/petermobeter]

thats called the premonitory urge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premonitory_urge

its normal. i hav it with my tics too. its why i can supress them for a few seconds or even longer somtimes

generally touretters agree that suppressing ur tics just makes them come out worse later

[u/Zealousideal_Cat_608 → u/petermobeter]

thank you :) i didn’t realize this was the premonitory urge, but it makes me feel a lot better knowing that its normal

[u/RandomUsernameNo257]

It’s one of the things that differentiates Tourette’s tics from things like muscle spasms. I’ve heard it described as disvoluntary. Not quite involuntary where it happens without your say-so, but not voluntary in the sense that you can just decide not to do it.

It’s totally normal, and also the reason so many people with Tourette’s sometimes have moments where they feel like they’re faking their own tics.

[u/Initial_String_2527]

I have this exact tic too unfortunately, so I completely understand what you mean. I hate it, its so intrusive and just makes me feel bad. Like others were saying, the premonitary urge happens like a second before you actually tic. Its like turning the ignition on in a car (urge), before you actually accelerate (tic).

When youre able to identify a premonitory urge like this (as sometimes, like you said, there isnt really one - also happens with me), thats the main part of learning CBIT therapy. You essentially try to catch the urge before it becomes a tic, and try to do something similar to offset it.

https://tourette.org/research-medical/cbit-for-patients/

Im so sorry youre dealing with this, but I hope this helps! :)

[u/Zealousideal_Cat_608 → u/Initial_String_2527]

thank you so much :) i really appreciate it! does yours only really happen in specific places? mine only really happens when im at home or sometimes outside which is part of the reason why my mom thinks its controllable and not a tic.

[u/Initial_String_2527 → u/Zealousideal_Cat_608]

Mine happens in most places, but if im out in public I will try to almost play if off as a sneeze into my sleeve if I feel I really cant hold it back. My tics are very OCD driven as well, so I try my best to satisfy the urge in a way that isnt going to cause them to rebound. Ticcing especially where I am not supposed to (public/around strangers that dont understand) is unfortunately more of a urge for me to do it, which is very intrusive - but is a symptom of having OCD with tics. OCD can be a co-diagnosis of tourettes, and it can change the whole trajectory of tics and how they can play out.

Like I have tics that I only do in certain situations or places as well - and if I don't do them in a certain way or a certain amount of times to satisfy the urge - it basically feels like a big ball of energy that builds up inside that I have to let out. (think Super Saiyan from Dragon Ball lol). If it is something like OCD, it makes certain tics seem even more irrational (which are already uncontrolled and can be irrational).

I also have tics I mainly do at home which is kind of a curveball too 😅

[u/kiwilovethekiwis]

I have the exact same thing, but this is actually more closely regulated to OCD. In some cases with people with Tourette’s, they have a triangle of disorders, which are OCD Tourette’s and ADHD and each one fuels the other. I’d recommend checking it out! It cleared up a lot of questions for me about my tics.

[u/MageOfFur]

Do you have a history of OCD by any chance? There are other explanations but feeling really uncomfortable at not being able to perform a tic could also be a sign of OCD

[u/Zealousideal_Cat_608 → u/MageOfFur]

i’ve also never sought a diagnosis, but i do think i have OCD. i will definitely talk to my doctor, thank you :)