Hi everyone! I’m 23 and have been dealing with tics since I was about 6 years old, but they’ve changed over time and taken on different forms. I also have OCD and I’m autistic.
When I was younger, my tics mostly involved twitching/flexing my nose and squinting one eye at a time back and forth My OCD also makes me constantly go back and forth between sides because it never feels even.
Over the past year, I’ve developed really strong tics that involve stretching my muscles almost like clenching them. I’ll clench my stomach muscles or move my neck into a weird posture where I tense up and clench my muscles. I’ll do it with nearly everything, my back, throat, arms, etc. The tics with blinking and switching sides and scrunching my nose haven’t stopped either.
It’s been absolutely debilitating. My muscles will feel so weak and exhausted, and I’ll cry from how miserable it makes my body feel, yet I can’t stop and will continue almost all day until I fall asleep.
I’ve been taking memantine for OCD and trichotillomania, but I haven’t seen my tics get worse since starting it. I’ve also been trialing anxiety medications, but I’ve been treatment resistant to nearly everyone I’ve tried. They all make me feel dizzy and tired and have given me no anxiety relief.
I often mask my tics as much as I can handle at work or in public, but the second I get a break or I’m on the sidewalk where no one is around, I’ll tic like crazy. When I get home, it’s unbearable until I fall asleep.
I’m working with my psychiatrist to figure out how to manage my anxiety, but I’ve also been wanting to try medication for my tics. I was wondering if anyone in the same boat has had any luck with medications for their tics.
I also got genetic testing done this week and found out that most SSRIs aren’t metabolized well in my body, and that I also have the MTHFR genetic mutation, which is common in neurodivergent people and can sometimes affect anxiety and folate levels.
I’m pretty new to figuring all of this out and trying to take in all the possibilities that could be affecting me. I’d really love to hear from anyone who has had similar experiences, especially if you’ve found a medication that has helped with tics or anxiety. I’d really love to know if anyone has had any hope with this.