TOURETTE SYNDROME & ANXIETY
When worry, pressure and tics feed into each other
Tourette syndrome and anxiety can interact in a difficult cycle. Stress and anxiety may make tics more noticeable for some people, while the experience of ticcing can create anxiety about being watched, judged, interrupted or misunderstood.
This resource explores anxiety about ticcing, anticipatory worry, suppression, fear of other people's reactions, panic and overwhelm. It also looks at how avoidance can gradually make somebody's world smaller and why support should build confidence without forcing a person to hide their tics.
The individual downloadable guide includes practical grounding that does not require the body to remain still, ways to reduce demands during overwhelm, ideas for school and work, a simple anxiety-and-tics check-in and guidance on when professional support may be useful.
The aim is not to make somebody calm enough to stop ticcing. It is to reduce unnecessary distress and create enough safety for them to participate in life without constantly monitoring how acceptable their body looks to other people.
Space to Breathe Therapy
Support • Understand • Belong
