Anxiety/Habits/Tics in my child

[Chicklette]

Hello. My son is 10 years old. Since he's been young, possibly starting around the age of 2, he's had "habits". There's been so many, that I can't remember all of them. I know we've been through a lot. They seem to come on suddenly and leave just as suddenly. They can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to a few months. Once one is gone, there is ALWAYS a new one. They normally are things like certain sounds, head/neck cracks(over and over and over again) facial expressions, mouth twists...it's really hard to describe them. The most recent ones are head shakes, like you are saying no very quickly but just moving your head a small amount, and now he's thrusting his chin forward and then from side to side repeatedly. We just do not know what to do anymore. We've seen our pediatrician and she says to just ignore them and they will go away. However, we have been living in Mexico for the past two years and ever since we got here he has been complaining about being stressed out. He's super bright, and gets excellent grades and has even learned Spanish while here fluently. We always tell him to just do his best and we do not expect straight A's all the time! We told him we love him and whatever he brings home on his report card, as long as he is trying and willing, we are fine with so I can't see that we are stressing him out there. I think he's hard on himself though, so I'm wondering if this is part of the problem. Also my husband and I tend to "bicker" in front of him and I have to also wonder if that is part of it. We are in the process of having him see a therapist. Has anyone else had these experiences and if so, what did you do and what was the outcome? Thanks!

[Chicklette]

Sandman, Thanks so much for the input AND the book recommendation! I will be looking into this today! My husband and I have made up a list of things we will be changing to see if this will help him out at all. The one main thing I have been told to do is NOT to say anything to him about it. I can vouch for this because when I harp on him about it, it just makes it worse and he cries and says he's not normal, and he has mental problems or maybe he's autistic. Which he is not. Thanks again!

[Chicklette]

Thanks so much for your input. We do restrict his sugar intake, as we always have just because it's unhealthy. He never gets caffeine and a normal amount of sleep...but like you said,...doesn't help anyway! We are taking him to a therapist on Monday...wish us luck!

[Sandman2]

  It would have been interesting to have noted these behaviors and then seen if there was a pattern related to things like moving, new schools, friends, or even parental disagreements.
   I do think that anxiety and not knowing how to handle that is possible.  A visit with a therapist is a good idea.  Hopefully, they don't tell him to "tough it out", but can give coping skills.
   If this is anxiety related, you might try ordering "don't pop your Cork on Mondays".  Its  " A very informative and wonderfully entertaining handbook for children that explores the causes and effects of stress and offers young people practical approqaches and techniques for dealing with stress factors in their daily lives."   It can be found here - http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Pop-Your-Cork-Mondays/dp/0933849184/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=02Y12J9TDX6CJDJ6JQMC
    along with other very good books that might be helpful.
     And, ya, at his age, try not to bicker in front of him.   In about 5 more years he can tune it out.  This is a very sweet age.  Enjoy him.  Don't spoil it for him.

[RockRose]

My youngest child had tics.  As with yours,  they would come and go,  changing to different things.  

The most enduring tic was squeezing his eyes tightly shut quickly,  and then opening up his eyes wide.   This would happen every couple seconds.  

Another tick was he'd crinkle up  one side of his nose.  He had a throat clearing tic.  

He could stop them if he forced it,  but he was struck with a severe desire to repeat the tic.  Like,  he said,  if you have the urge to cough,  sitting there not coughing.  

So my son's tics weren't involuntary,  like sneezes or muscle twitches.  They were voluntary but almost compulsary.  

He's now a young adult and they stopped around the age of 17.

Nothing much helped - limiting caffeine or sugar didn't help,  extra sleep didn't help,  etc.  They did seem to be in the fall around the start of school,  and then just after Christmas.  

Best wishes.