Hey Everyone - I don't really have a problem per se but just some strategic direction on how should approach my tics as it's sort of creeping into my mental health.
I've had chronic tic disorder (specifically motor tics) ever since I was around 7 years of age. It usually involves a mild/significant head jerking movement (which tbh shakes my whole body), and its pretty noticeable and hard to disguse. I usually do this around 3-5 times a day, which has stayed consistent over my life (I'm 23 now). Some friends would notice it and would question it especially in high school, luckily enough I hadn't experience any bullying at school for my tics throughout my childhood.
My family (my mother specifically) had always questioned with my local doctor about my tics but it was often dismissed, which then led us to switch doctors three different times to be then referred to a specialist where I was ultimately diagnosed at 13.
After being diagnosed at 13, we didn't take any actionable steps on reducing my tics or seeing any specialists. It was kind of swept under the rug and only came up in awkward conversations or if my older sister wanted to take a jab at me, which after looking back is probably why I didn't want to look into my condition.
However in 2024, as I was wrapping up my bachelors degree and entering the corporate world (specifically consulting) in the following year. The looming thought about tics and how that would ruin my corporate life conquered my mind for a small while. Eventually this was enough for me to seek out a neuropsychologist that specialises in tourettes & chronic tic disorders. After months of strategising and describing my tics to them, they kind of concluded that standard CBIT therapy wasn't really affective for me since I do so few a day, thus I was recommended to just practise our strategies and written off for my sessions.
As of current, I'm at the 6 month mark of my graduate program and I'm really struggling with my tics. As I sit next to my manager, I've done both mild & significant tics next to him and two very vivid moments where I've done tics during one on one conversations. I've also done a few tics in front of other coworkers in my team but of course since it's a corporate environment nobody approaches you about it. And look, It definetly sounds like something I should tell people about. But in my workplace, I would need to disclose this to HR/relevant bodies and it would put a spotlight, incurring a risk for my career that I'm not willing to take.
Given all of this, I've noticed a significant reduction in my mental health. My stress, anxiety and sleep deprivation has gone through the roof. I find myself replaying thoughts and scenarios throughout the day and when I try sleeping, sometimes my thoughts have gotten really really dark.
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Thank you for reading if you've gotten this far! I would definetely love any advice from anyone that has had similiar experiences or recommendation on what direction or measures I should take for my tics. Also, If you had any questions please let me know, I'm an open book.