Boy with Tourettes syndrome. Explaining what he wishes other people would understand on the first day of school to his class. Explain what tics are. A tic is an uncontrolled sudden, repetitive movement or sound that can be hard to control. Tics involving involve movements are called motor tics. Tics involving sounds are called vocal tics. Tics can be either simple or complex.

The type of tics a person has may change over time. How often tics happen also may change. Tics often come and go and can get worse when a person is stressed or anxious.

It's perfectly normal to worry that a tic may never go away. Fortunately, that's not usually the case. Most tics are temporary. They tend to not last more than 3 months at a time.

Many times, people with a tic can think that their tic is the worst one ever. Of course it isn't, but it's still a concern for many people with tics. And those worries can cause unnecessary feelings of embarrassment and actually make the tic worse.

Nobody wants to make tics worse, but is there any way to make them better? While you can't cure tics, you can take some easy steps to lessen their impact:

Don't focus on it. If you know you have a tic, forget about it. Concentrating on it just makes it worse.
Try to avoid stress-filled situations as much as you can — stress only makes tics worse.
Get enough sleep. Being tired can makes tics worse. So make sure to get a full night's rest!
Let it out! Holding back a tic can just turn it into a ticking bomb, waiting to explode. Have you ever felt a cough coming on and tried to avoid it? Didn't work out so well, did it? Chances are it was much worse. Tics are very similar.
A tic? What tic? If a friend of yours has a tic, don't call attention to it. Chances are your friend knows the tic is there. Pointing it out only makes the person think about it more.

What I wish you knew about my tics

John standing in front of a classroom, looking a bit nervous but determined, with students sitting at their desks in the background

It was the first day of school, and John was excited but also a little nervous. He had something important to share with his new classmates. John stood up in front of the class, took a deep breath, and began to speak. 'Hi everyone, my name is John, and I have something called Tourette's syndrome,' he said. 'This means I have tics, which are movements or sounds that I can't always control.'

Meeting John

John explaining tics to his classmates, with a calm expression, while students listen attentively

'Tics can be different for everyone,' John explained. 'Sometimes they are motor tics, like blinking or shrugging, and sometimes they are vocal tics, like humming or clearing my throat.' The class listened carefully as John continued. 'Tics can change over time and might get worse when I'm stressed or anxious,' he said. 'But they usually don't last forever.'

Understanding Tics

John sitting at his desk, looking thoughtful, with a classroom background and a chalkboard behind him

'It's normal to worry about tics, but there are ways to make them better,' John shared. 'For example, I try not to focus on them too much and avoid stressful situations.' He also mentioned the importance of getting enough sleep. 'Being tired can make tics worse, so I always try to get a good night's rest,' John said. 'And it's important to just let the tics out instead of holding them in.'

Living with Tics

John smiling and looking relieved as his classmates clap, with a classroom background

John finished his talk with some advice for his classmates. 'If you see me having a tic, please don't call attention to it,' he said. 'It just makes me think about it more and can make it worse.' He smiled and added, 'Just treat me like any other friend, and we'll have a great time together.' The class clapped, and John felt relieved and happy. He knew he had made a good start to the new school year.