Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Coping and support
By Mayo Clinic staffOne of the most unfortunate things about Tourette syndrome may be that it occurs during vulnerable childhood years, when kids are often subject to ridicule or teasing by their peers.
Self-esteem and relationships can suffer when someone has Tourette syndrome. Those affected may be distressed, frustrated and embarrassed about their tics. They may avoid social activities, such as dating or going to the movies. All of this can lead to an increased risk of depression and substance abuse.
School may pose special challenges for children with Tourette syndrome, and students may need special accommodations for studying or taking tests.
People who feel a tic coming on may be able to take steps to suppress it. But suppressing tics typically produces profound anxiety and tension. And when they finally allow the tic to occur, it may be worse than it would have been had they not tried to suppress it.
If you have Tourette syndrome, consider these tips for coping with your disorder:
- Remember that tics usually lessen in severity as you get older. Tics usually reach their peak in the early teens to midteens.
- Get involved in physical activities or hobbies. Research indicates that being engrossed in activities can help reduce the frequency and severity of tics.
- If you must be in a public place for a while, such as on an airplane or bus, take something to occupy your mind, such as crossword puzzles, computer games or sketchbooks.
- Reach out to others dealing with Tourette syndrome for support and information.
If you are living with a child or another loved one who has Tourette syndrome, these coping skills may help you:
- Get informed. Learn as much as you can about Tourette syndrome. Talk to your doctor about any questions you have.
- Find a support group. Ask your doctor for the names of local Tourette syndrome support groups. If there aren't any, consider starting one.
