I need some help in finding a way to verbalize and describe the difference between the involuntary neurologically based motor or vocal tics of Tourette Syndrome and the compulsive behaviour which is often a co-morbid condition associated with Tourette in some people.
Compulsions and tics might appear to be the same, because there might be repetitive actions in both.
On some level I think I can distinguish between the two, and though I understand the origin of tics are neurological and the origin of compulsions is psychological, how can they be distinguished when helping a person with Tourette gain insight into their disorder.
Some examples of motor tics: twitching one's shoulder, eye blinking, abdominal muscle contractions.
Some examples of reported compulsions:licking the mouthpiece of a public telephone, (in Toronto I heard the following
placing one's foot on the track of an approaching streetcar and removing it as the streetcar approached.
Both the tics and compulsions described are repetitive...but it seems the compulsions are triggered by situations whereas the tics occur under most conditions.
Any further insights into this would be really appreciated.
Compulsions and tics might appear to be the same, because there might be repetitive actions in both.
On some level I think I can distinguish between the two, and though I understand the origin of tics are neurological and the origin of compulsions is psychological, how can they be distinguished when helping a person with Tourette gain insight into their disorder.
Some examples of motor tics: twitching one's shoulder, eye blinking, abdominal muscle contractions.
Some examples of reported compulsions:licking the mouthpiece of a public telephone, (in Toronto I heard the following
Both the tics and compulsions described are repetitive...but it seems the compulsions are triggered by situations whereas the tics occur under most conditions.
Any further insights into this would be really appreciated.