Self-Hypnosis Video Blog

By Alan B. Densky, CH

As many as one-fourth of all children experience the embarrassing annoyance of facial tics. This problem can most accurately be explained as a repetitive, continual spasm that affects the muscles of both the eyes and the face. The true cause is often unknown, although research has demonstrated a significant connection between stressors and an increase in severity of symptoms.

An alternate explanation for the manifestation of tics is a deficit in essential vitamins or minerals, like magnesium. Some types of facial tics are symptomatic of nervous system disorders, such as Tourette syndrome, a health condition arising from a dysfunction of the nervous system. Tourette syndrome is believed to have a hereditary component as well.

A few examples of a facial tic are rapid eye movements or eye blinking, squinting, mouth or nose wrinkling, twitching, grunting, mouth twitches, facial grimacing, facial twitches, and throat clearing. A tic often originates in the early developmental years, and can last for just a few weeks or for several years. At times, the condition persists into adulthood.

Facial tics can perpetuate and exacerbate anxious disorders in a child whose stress levels are already high because of the disorder itself. Young people can be extremely unkind, making fun of the child’s problem. Further, teachers who do not understand and fail to assist fellow classmates to empathize and assist the child in conquering his condition can create a devastatingly negative effect on a child’s self image.

The problem, however, is not confined to the experience of the afflicted child. Adults who must cope with a facial tic encounter significant challenges in managing this problem. These persons often face overwhelming social difficulties. In some instances, a person can develop the ability to recognize the onset and master the spasm that results in the facial tic. Even this, however, can become emotionally and physiologically draining. Such individual often wrestle with self image problems as well.

Grownups who obtain relief from the humiliating effects of facial grimaces and other tics are afforded with an opportunity for social rebirth. Their perception of themselves is altered, and they no longer are afraid to experience the fullness of life. Young people who successfully this condition no longer are burdened by the overwhelming emotional pain that hinders their social lives, and live with joy instead of psychic pain.

On occasion, medications, such as mildly sedating drugs, are prescribed to this problem. Although the medications may lessen the frequency or severity of these symptoms, the drugs themselves can often cause adverse effects. Therefore, individuals frequently turn alternative treatments to assist them in treating their disorder.

Two treatment approaches that have provided promising potential in helping clients to overcome facial tics are hypnotherapy and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). These therapies take advantages of the strength of the individual’s unconscious mind to help them re-channel the spasm. Since these treatments identify and treat the source of the difficulty by intervening in the unconscious where the problem originates, they are much more useful than traditional therapy methods that merely attempt to control eye blinking, mouth twitches, squinting, facial grimacing, facial twitches, grunting, or other types of impulsive behavior.

Hypnotherapy helps the person being treated to reach a restful dreamlike state and receive suggestions that assist them to expel anxiety. Since tics are caused by suppressed stress within a person’s body, release of the tension enables them to successfully manage this behavior. After several sessions, the client ought to be capable of demonstrate the ability to cope with tension successfully.

Alternatively, therapists who use NLP assist the client to channel his or her mind to use thoughts that stress them as triggers for relaxing thoughts. Furthermore, the client learns to use a non-related body part, like a toe, to release the emotional energy that would otherwise be expressed by the facial tic. This also allows individuals to overcome tension without resorting to the humiliating behavior.

Another positive effect of these two therapies is that the person being treated does not experience adverse effects from medication type therapies. In fact, both hypnotherapy and NLP are frequently considered to be the ideal treatment for individuals who cope with tics, such as nose wrinkling, or throat clearing, because these interventions do not have unwanted side effects. This avoids considerable pain and stress for the sufferer.

Summary: Facial tics can be socially destructive and may yield serious consequences. Male children are more likely to struggle with this difficulty, which can persist into adult life; however female children may also experience difficulties with this. While several treatment approaches exist, hypnosis and NLP seem to be the most prudent methods, because they do not cause negative side effects and are very efficacious.

About The Author: Alan B. Densky, CH offers a wide assortment of popular titles for all anxiety related symptoms, including facial tics hypnosis programs. For entertainment and education visit his Free hypnotherapy article library at his Neuro-VISION self-hypnosis for self improvement website.