compulsive

  If this is mental , physical or what?  But I can't find anything   out there about this . For  6 months been constantly sucking saliva through my front 2 teeth and /or  moving  my tongue along my fronth teeth. Its not like I have a big gap there at all.   I went to  DDS to see if there has been some change .  I could tell they  didn't take me serious and just said it is more than likely stress. I am close to 60 now and people develop quirky little things as they age .  My own mother does something similiar to this( bugs me even more).   I don't think she is aware she does it but I  very aware of myself doing it . My dr.  didn't want to give me prosac (for some reason ) maybe because he thought  it was GERD.  I don't have problems at night,  in fact it improves when I go to bed . I took the GERD  meds for a month but convinced the doc to let me try Lexapro  which didn't help either.  I have even sneaked saran  wrap and to stick to front of my mouth(inside )  when no one is looking .  That works for maybe 30 minutes before it gets messsed up.  I have tried chewing gum and  oral gels..  What is happening  ?  Does anyone know who I can talk to about this.  I do not rule out OCD but I don't  see this listed anywhere as an OCD thing and it is not  a  tic    (involuntery reflex) but I can tell myself over and over to stop.  If I really concentrate, it stops briefly  but I can not do anything else. I told a few friends - they say forget about it - don't worry about it --- I usually would be the one to say to another person but it seems to be bigger than me .  I feel bad for smokers who can't quit .  I feel I am adicted   I am very good at concealing this from others so far but I think soon it will be impossible .  People say I am quieter but it is because I am thinking hard about NOT doing it.

[Carol in PA]

Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) is defined as a condition characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts and/or repeated, ritualistic behavior.

OCD sufferers seem to notice a greater improvement with their condition when chemicals in their brain are brought back to normal balance than by behavioral or psychological treatment.

OCD symptoms are not short-term or fleeting, but rather they are PERSISTENT thoughts, rituals or impulses that seem senseless even to the sufferer but are irresistible or uncontrollable.

Source:  http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/ocd.htm

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There are several things you can do to help yourself.
Supplementing magnesium and essential fatty acids, such as fish oil, is helpful.

Google for OCD  and magnesium or fish oil for information.

Wishing you the best,
Carol

[Quixotic1]

As you described your problem I pictured something called "tardive diskinesia".  This is usually a longterm side effect to certain types of medication, but it is considered a "movement disorder."  It is neurologically based and you might do a search for the two words

tardive dyskinesia

and read about it.  If it seems possible, then you should see a neurologist.  It is characterized as rhythmic movements of the mouth, lips or tongue (and sometimes other places)  It is worst when you are relaxed, tends to decrease when you use the affect part (like eating) and disappears in sleep.

I may be way off base, but it is interesting that your elderly mom does it also.  Certain movement disorders certainly do run in families.

Quix

[difi]

thanks for responding .  I feel like it it "sounds" like a combination of both . I have not been taking medications that would have effected me.  This  is worse when I am relaxed and does decrease  when I talk , eat or rest???   This behavior is persistent and is like a ritual in a way BUT more like I feel I have scratch an itchy spot,   I did buy some fish oil and  may start taking vitimen B or B12 ( I am still surfing the web to find out more about that)   Thank you both.  I hope someone else will add info  if they have experienced this.  Do you have any suggestions as to if I should post in another way or  in another forum ?  I find this hard to articulate or classify .