Tic Mythology 5 - Treatment: Tic Targets

We should ideally target just one tic at a time. A person may have very few tics or many, but we generally aim to target just one at a time. This helps to build momentum through successes, which also makes it easier to keep at it when a tic proves more challenging (or unresponsive even). It can be difficult to figure out which tic to target first. Normally a CBIT professional can help (with the benefit of knowledge and experience), but I can provide a little bit of guidance here to possibly help a person get started. I use a few guides to figure out what to target first:
1) Larger muscle groups (like hands, arms, feet) tend to be easier than very small ones (like eye muscles)
2) Muscles that you usually exert more voluntary control over are easier than ones that are usually automatic
3) Tics that happen more often tend to respond more quickly - because there are more opportunities for practice
4) Select tics that are likely to respond more quickly
5) Select tics that “matter” to you, so when you get results, those results feel more rewarding and encouraging
(Note: Yes, I have tape on my eyebrow and I’m not wearing make-up, that’s just blood/bruising from getting accidentally hit in the face by a mini golf putter by a six-year old while I tried to coach his swing. We both learned something.)