Best way to get rid of tics?

[CrestieMommy]

I used to be able to sit motionless when I was a little girl, but started shooting meth when I was 19. I noticed when I was coming down or fiending, I developed a twitch in my foot, my toes and right foot go bonkers! Also I bit my lips/cheeks on the inside. I only used for about 6 months and it has been 4 years or so (who's counting, I never went to rehab) since I have touched the stuff... But my big toe still twitches, and most the time I don't even notice it! My sisters and hubby giggle at it. I also developed tics in my face. Blinking hard, and a lot, scrunching my face, flaring my nostrils grinding my teeth to the rhythm of a song in my head... I can't stop! When I'm in public, I haven't caught myself doing any of it (yet), but at home, when I'm watching TV or on my iPad, it just goes crazy. More so when I'm tired, and it makes me even more tired when I do it. I've read that adderall and Ritalin can help, BUT I've also heard it can make it worse! I just figured it had something to do with uppers being that's what I think caused it. I've tried everything -- yoga, meditation, sleeping more, sleeping less, going on walks, listening to music, eating organic.... NOTHING HELPS! Does anyone have any advice? Like I said, it happens more when I'm tired, so I figured if I end up being prescribed adderall or Ritalin, it'll help wake me up a bit so maybe I won't twitch as much (and might help motivate my lazy ass -- I'm tired ALL day, literally, to the point where I have to force myself to do anything. I'm not depressed, just super tired! Anyway, two birds, one stone, right? )
I think it's tourettes, to be honest.

 

[pasha]

Neurologically, drug-induced, and usually benign movement disorders are a common symptom of using stimulants and on stimulant comedowns. Simply put, it's extra strain on your central nervous system.

Using stimulants to treat tics is a 50/50 coin toss as far what evidence there is. This study for example shows that using amphetamines in the presence of tourette's is harmless. Others disagree.

There's also a chance that there's an underlying non-drug induced neurological disorder which was unmasked by your drug use. Overall, I think this is a conversation you should be having with your doctor, or several doctors which can help you tackle this (sometimes difficult to treat) condition.

Homeless -> Healthy Living

 

[Maya]

Neurologically, drug-induced, and usually benign movement disorders are a common symptom of using stimulants and on stimulant comedowns. Simply put, it's extra strain on your central nervous system.

Using stimulants to treat tics is a 50/50 coin toss as far what evidence there is. This study for example shows that using amphetamines in the presence of tourette's is harmless. Others disagree.

There's also a chance that there's an underlying non-drug induced neurological disorder which was unmasked by your drug use. Overall, I think this is a conversation you should be having with your doctor, or several doctors which can help you tackle this (sometimes difficult to treat) condition.

Homeless -> Healthy Living

I would go with what Chromophobia said, it's always best to seek medical help first before assuming anything else. I doubt that what you have is Tourettes because Tourettes is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder that should have started since your childhood. I have a feeling that it is an imbalance that you have developed from shooting meth so once you speak to your doctor please discuss your meth use etc so he/she can perform some tests to see if there is an underlying medical problem.

 

[Foreigner]

If there is a deeper neurological disorder happening from stimulant abuse, then you'll need to seek professional help.

In the mean time, increase the magnesium content in your diet. Supplements are ok but they tend to have iffy absorption. Here's a list of the world's most magnesium-concentrated foods. And I'll add another one to that list: hemp hearts.

Because stimulants make the nervous system so active, they will also strip the body of nutrients involved in neurological functions such as voltage-gating. Magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, sodium, and potassium are all major players there. I would still consult a health professional because your case sounds a bit more extreme, but address mineral imbalances too.

Another thing you can try is obtaining magnesium chloride bath flakes. (Note: These are NOT the same as epsom salts.) They're readily available online, but make sure you obtain them from a health care source, and not an industry source. Also make sure the ingredients are 100% magnesium chloride and nothing else. Boil 1/2 cup distilled water, and pour that over a bowl that contains 1/2 cup of magnesium flakes. Stir until they dissolve. Let cool, and then put in a spray bottle. Spray it on the areas of nervous tension, like your legs, jaw, etc, and rub it in. The magnesium will absorb transdermally and relax the nerves.

If addressing minerals doesn't fix the problem, then there could be a deeper issue. I would stop using all stimulants permanently before you do irreparable harm.

 

[CrestieMommy]

If there is a deeper neurological disorder happening from stimulant abuse, then you'll need to seek professional help.

In the mean time, increase the magnesium content in your diet. Supplements are ok but they tend to have iffy absorption. Here's a list of the world's most magnesium-concentrated foods. And I'll add another one to that list: hemp hearts.

Because stimulants make the nervous system so active, they will also strip the body of nutrients involved in neurological functions such as voltage-gating. Magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, sodium, and potassium are all major players there. I would still consult a health professional because your case sounds a bit more extreme, but address mineral imbalances too.

Another thing you can try is obtaining magnesium chloride bath flakes. (Note: These are NOT the same as epsom salts.) They're readily available online, but make sure you obtain them from a health care source, and not an industry source. Also make sure the ingredients are 100% magnesium chloride and nothing else. Boil 1/2 cup distilled water, and pour that over a bowl that contains 1/2 cup of magnesium flakes. Stir until they dissolve. Let cool, and then put in a spray bottle. Spray it on the areas of nervous tension, like your legs, jaw, etc, and rub it in. The magnesium will absorb transdermally and relax the nerves.

If addressing minerals doesn't fix the problem, then there could be a deeper issue. I would stop using all stimulants permanently before you do irreparable harm.

I don't use stimulants. I don't even drink coffee, or smoke. I'm completely free of everything, I take a prenatal daily, along with fish oil, ginkgo biloba, saint john's wort, vitamin c, and vitamin b. I'm the healthiest person I know, honey. No stims here!!

 

[CrestieMommy]

I would go with what Chromophobia said, it's always best to seek medical help first before assuming anything else. I doubt that what you have is Tourettes because Tourettes is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder that should have started since your childhood. I have a feeling that it is an imbalance that you have developed from shooting meth so once you speak to your doctor please discuss your meth use etc so he/she can perform some tests to see if there is an underlying medical problem.

I beg to differ. A bunch of teenage girls developed tourettes after receiving a specific vaccination.

 

[Foreigner]

I don't use stimulants. I don't even drink coffee, or smoke. I'm completely free of everything, I take a prenatal daily, along with fish oil, ginkgo biloba, saint john's wort, vitamin c, and vitamin b. I'm the healthiest person I know, honey. No stims here!!

I incorrectly assumed you were a stim user. Sorry!

I'm a practitioner of eastern medicine and qi gong, and the kind of health issue you're describing we would call "liver wind". It usually means that some extreme level event is happening in the body and its symptomatic effect will be on the nervous system. Because you have clenching to the songs in your head, there's a psychological component to this. On the whole, it represents hyperactivity of some kind. Both the mind and nervous system can't rest, which is why I suspected stimulants.

If there isn't a genetic level thing happening here, then I would investigate your environment, and double-check minerals. The ancient remedies for "liver wind" were shell medicines from the ocean, like turtle or clam shell, because they are rich in both common and rare minerals. I know you think you're healthy, but the average North American lacks in minerals because food is now grown in depleted soil. They receive sprayed fertilizers but not the vast array of nutrition that was originally in the soil.

Energetically speaking, minerals are heavy and grounding. They take all that active nervous energy and mental activity, and hold it down. If minerals have zero impact on this, then you may have a neural disorder that needs checking.

 

[CrestieMommy]

I incorrectly assumed you were a stim user. Sorry!

I'm a practitioner of eastern medicine and qi gong, and the kind of health issue you're describing we would call "liver wind". It usually means that some extreme level event is happening in the body and its symptomatic effect will be on the nervous system. Because you have clenching to the songs in your head, there's a psychological component to this. On the whole, it represents hyperactivity of some kind. Both the mind and nervous system can't rest, which is why I suspected stimulants.

If there isn't a genetic level thing happening here, then I would investigate your environment, and double-check minerals. The ancient remedies for "liver wind" were shell medicines from the ocean, like turtle or clam shell, because they are rich in both common and rare minerals. I know you think you're healthy, but the average North American lacks in minerals because food is now grown in depleted soil. They receive sprayed fertilizers but not the vast array of nutrition that was originally in the soil.

Energetically speaking, minerals are heavy and grounding. They take all that active nervous energy and mental activity, and hold it down. If minerals have zero impact on this, then you may have a neural disorder that needs checking.

Thank God I don't have to turn to pharmaceuticals... I'm a very holistic person myself, recently investing in and replacing all otc and prescription meds with a ton of doterra essential oils. I will be ordering some capsules of magnesium off amazon if I can find a good brand. Any recommendations?

 

[Foreigner]

^ This isn't the politics sub-forum, we're talking about human health here. So please tone it down.

Any recommendations?

Magnesium orotate is the best form, followed by citrate. Magnesium oxide is only very minimally absorbed.

 

[RhythmSpring]

Salvia divinorum is pretty good at removing, or at least making me mindful of my own tics.

 

[GodandLove]

MEDITATION! Hatha Yoga! Tics are the result of an undisciplined mind.


Now I know modern physicians in the western world would like you to believe otherwise, and that it's a neurological disorder, but understand in 50 years the medical practices of today are going to be outdated and useless.

Where as healing through Spirituality remains ageless.

Edit
"I've tried everything -- yoga, meditation"

If you truly put even the slightest bit of effort into these practices... You would not have made this thread. So I recommend that you do a little bit more research and try to find someone willing to teach. You'd be surprised. Type meditation groups along with your town into goolge and you'll get phone numbers to people with actual experience.

Good luck

 

[Serotonin101]

Couldn't this also be linked to a lack of dopamine in the brain similar to Parkinson's disease? Stimulants reek havoc on the dopamine system and there could be long term damage to it.

 

[Maya]

It could also be. I think there is this type of test that tests your dopamine levels called catecholamines which is done either by blood test or urine test. But the thing is this test is done for pheochromocytoma(neuroendocrine tumor of the medulla) or neuroblastoma (tumor from the neural crest element of the sympathetic nervous system )so I'm not entirely sure if this will help with determining a solution to ticks. Although it won't hurt to try to see where your dopamine levels are at as it is a very important neurotransmitter in the brain.

 

[CrestieMommy]

I think having tests done is a good idea for me! As for GodandLove, as I stated before, I do a lot of yoga and meditation...