Specific Environments or Stressors Influence Tics-How CBIT Can Help
Tics often ebb and flow depending on where we are, who we’re with, and what’s happening around us. For many adults living with Tourette Syndrome or chronic tic disorders, certain environments or situations can intensify tics, while others seem to quiet them down.
Recognizing these patterns is key to managing symptoms effectively. This is where CBIT (Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics) shines-by helping you identify triggers and equipping you with personalized strategies to navigate them.
Common Environmental and Situational Triggers
While triggers vary from person to person, some common ones include:
• High-stress environments, such as public speaking, meetings, or crowded events.
• Transitions, like moving to a new home, starting a new job, or traveling.
• Sensory-rich settings-bright lights, loud noises, or strong smells.
• Times of fatigue or illness, when self-regulation is harder.
• Situations with high social pressure or a need to 'perform'.
How CBIT Addresses Environment-Linked Tics
CBIT starts with a functional assessment of your tics-looking not only at when they happen but also at the environments that spark or amplify them. From there, your therapist helps you:
1. Develop competing responses to use in triggering environments.
2. Modify routines or settings to reduce tic-provoking elements.
3. Build stress-reduction techniques.
4. Practice exposure in safe, controlled ways so environments lose their triggering power.
Taking Back Control
The goal isn’t to avoid life’s challenges or stimulating environments-it’s to feel equipped to face them. By using CBIT tools, adults with tics often find they can participate more fully in social, professional, and recreational settings without feeling ruled by their symptoms.
If you’ve noticed that certain environments or stressors impact your tics, you don’t have to simply ‘push through.’ CBIT can help you create a plan tailored to your lifestyle so you can show up as your best self-anywhere, anytime.