do tics or bfrb bother you?

Tics are repetitve, sudden, quick, and involuntary movements or vocalizations. The neurological cause is not fully understood. Common tics include blinking, shoulder shrugging, head jerking, throat clearing, coughing, jumping, mouth widening, nose scrunching, humming, and saying words or phrases repeatedly. The number, frequency, and intensity of tics vary from patient to patient and throughout the day and over time. Tics often decrease quality of life by causing pain, embarrassment, frustration, and anxiety. Tics can also make it hard to get to sleep at night and to perform daily activities throughout the day. People with Tic Disorders often have significant co-existing conditions such as OCD, ADHD, BFRB, Anxiety, Dysgraphia, Gender Dysphoria, behavioral concerns, and Autism. The associated learning disorders and disabilities tend over time to be even more troublesome than tics. Online OTs provides CBIT Habit Reversal Training via telehealth for the following Tic Disorders:

• Tourette Syndrome  (Tourette Disorder, Tourette's, TS)
• Provisional Tic Disorder (Transitional Tic Disorder)
• Persistent Tic Disorder (Chronic Tic Disorder)
• Motor Tics and Vocal Tics, NOS

In addition, Online OTs is a leader in the management of Functional Movement Disorders that involve tic-like behaviors. Our occupational therapy practice played a major role in helping to manage the TikTok Tic crisis that erupted during the early years of the pandemic. TikTok Tics was a mass sociogenic illness that impacted isolated and anxious youth following repeated viewing of social media with exaggerated tic-like content.

Many people who have a Persitent  Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder or Tourette Syndrome (which involves both motor tics and vocal tics)  also have a Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior such as compulsive nail biting.

Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior (BFRB) is an umbrella term for a cluster of compulsive and habitual grooming actions that cause significant damage to a patient's hair, skin, or nails. Most of these behaviors start in childhood and are a source of significant distress and isolation. Online OTs utilizes CBIT & ComB Habit Reversal Training to raise awareness of sensory, cognitive, environmental, motor, and emotional triggers that lead to harmful behaviors. Patients learn to modify their surroundings and to protect themselves with blockers ranging from household items to competing response holds. Patients are also introduced to wearable technology and community supports. Therapy also involves developing plans to replace time currently spent on unwanted actions with enjoyable leisure activities. Online OTs provides Habit Reversal Training for the following BFRBs:

• Skin Picking Disorder (Excoriation)
• Hair Pulling Disorder (Trichotillomania, Trich)
• Nail Biting Disorder
• Lip Biting Disorder
• Cheek Biting Disorder
• Repetitive Scratching Disorder
• Thumb Sucking Disorder

People with BFRBs tend to have a long history of trying to stop their behaviors and hiding them from others. Many carry a sense of shame and a tendency to isolate from others. Online OTs is here to help you every step of the way and will help put useful strategies in place from the very start of your training program.