Weird symptoms, maybe neurological.. need your help!!!

[dancergrl77]

Ever since my childhood, I observed my mother display weird behavior. Often, she would tense up, her facial muscles would tighten and almost spasm as she became overly excited about something. Sometimes, she would even repeat thoughts out loud. At first, this thing seemed voluntary as she would only do it when nobody was around. However, as she has aged and I am now an adult myself, it seems as though this behavior as increased significantly. She either doesn't care who is around anymore, or she can't control the urge, although when you call her out, she stops. She doesn't speak much about it, but has said she doesn't know why she does it. NOW, to make matters worse, I have been trying to fight the urge to display the same behaviors. I don't speak my thoughts out loud, but I do fight the urge to tense up my muscles. I find myself with my arms crossed and my hands tightly squeezing my arms as my face, particularly my mouth, tightens hard. This can go on and off for a while, yet I can stop it at anytime which suggest to me that it is NOT involuntary. The urge is strong but I can definitely keep myself from doing it around people. Im scared that it will worsen and I don't like not knowing why this sensation occurs. I've never met anyone else that displays the same symptoms. PLEASE HELP. Does anyone have any idea of what this could be, maybe neurological??? Thanks.

[mkor4]

It does sound like it possibly could be neurological>Did your mum have a mri and a neurological examination?

[Monsterlove]

all because your mother behaved that way doesn't mean that you will behave the same way. Make a huge effort with hypnosis. there are a ton of tapes and cds...go with it...it does sound like your mom may have a tic disorder, possibly Tourette's disorder or suffer from mental illness;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tic_disorder

If the hypnosis does not help, try bio-feedback...

[dancergrl77]

Thanks for your input. I did take a look at your advice, however, I know it's not Tourette's as her "tics" are not involuntary. They are more like spasms. For example, while driving she squeezes the wheel so hard that her hands hurt and go numb, and even though she stops herself when she wants, she still can't stop it from starting in the first place. She will repeat things that were just spoken, either by herself or another person, while tensing her entire body. She does not just burst out random words, instead they are premeditated.

Also, I am not looking to repeat behaviors, in fact I don't want the same behaviors. I am constantly fighting these urges. If anything, whatever she has must have a strong genetic component. Before I look into treating the symptoms, I would like to understand the problem. Otherwise, I may be trying something that wouldn't work or could be harmful.

Thanks again for your suggestions. If anyone else has heard or seen this behavior, or may know of a place I could get more information, I would greatly appreciate your help. THANK YOU!

[chrismia]

Go easy on your mum.
Once you hit menopause (if you are anything like me and the article in The Daily Mail.co.uk I read today) you dont care so much what people around you think. It is one of the benefits of menopause.
I talk to myself, chat to the cats, repeat things people say if they are worth while.
And if I feel very tense inside and perhaps angy I feel my face reflect this by the muscles tensing and my mouth pursing. I have a daughter that can make me very cross inside and my face shows it even though I am trying to hide it. Gosh I hope you are not my daughter.LOL
If you get the chance read the article I have mentioned. The writer expresses things much better than I do.
Dailymail.co.uk "Requiem for a lost youth: Hitting the menopause."
It is about the differences that occur and how they can be a joy.
Maybe you can help your mum and show her the article.

[Monsterlove]

sorry, you provide more evidence of Tourette's since she is unable to control going into the condition....take care of yourself and have your own life.....have you talked with a doctor about your concerns...I think moving out so you aren't be exposed to her behavior would be a positive step for you. Does she do it in front of other people or is it just for you?

[hisglorygirl]

Dancergrl... CONGRATS! YOU HAVE ASKED THE RIGHT PERSON!!! GOD MUST BE SMILING ON YOU TODAY! I don't come to this site much. I think twice in the last year. Today, I just "happened" upon your question quite by 'accident'. Though I do not believe in "coinicdence". Not to say I'm more "special" than any others who've responded to you, I just happen to have a FAMILY FULL OFF PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOUR MOTHER. And, have gone through living **** trying to get my son diagnosed when he was a child. (Moved half way across the country) There was no internet yet! Anyway- I'M HERE TO HELP!:


I HAVE ONE (ACTUALLY TWO) WORD(S) FOR YOU- "TOURETTE SYNDROME"!!! My adult son has it, his father and his grandfather had it. It's genetic and it is pretty much equal with males and females diagnosed with it.

What you see your mother doing and feel yourself having the urge to do is called "TICS" or "ticking". Facial grimacing, words or phrases blurted out, tensing and jerking of any body muscles and even more "complicated" "tics" are the symptoms. The vocal part (vocal tics) is called "Copralalia". One can have a mild case and others quite severe. My son was completely incapacitated from it for a very long time. Luckily much more is known about it today than then. There was a Montell William's Show on it a couple weeks ago and my son was on a local similar TV show since he has been named the "worst case known in history" until just recently they found another who took that noble title.

Yes, in SOME ways it is 'voluntary', but NOT REALLY! It depends on how bad of a case one has and how much self-control and also the ENVIRONMENT one is in. Tics can sometimes be REPRESSED for a certain time, but inevitably 'must' "come out". Times of extreme stress make it worse and also when one is at home or any other place they feel comfortable to "let it all out". Often worse at home after repressing it for some time in public. Though may come out in public no matter what if under extreme stress. Ironically the mere stress of trying to focus hard on NOT expressing the urge to TIC can cause worse ticking.

Another word to help you is... NEUROLOGIST! And a GOOD one who specializes in treating MOVEMENT DISORDERS because that's what Tourette Syndrome/"TS" is.

In your mother's day, as in my son's father and grandfather's day, genetic 'disposistions' such as this were FAMILY SECRETS because it made you different, it meant you were "weak" in some way. That's just how they were taught. My son's great grandmother (who also had it) taught her son/my son's grandfather a big STORY to tell whenever anyone asked why he "acted like that". The story was that "He fell off of a tractor and had a serious head injury when he was 16". They were "close" with the lie... It is a problem with the BRAIN.

Though it was "discovered" in the 1800's and named after the doctor who treated a prominent citizen for... Dr. Guilles de la Tourette- Even until just the last 10 or 20 years, not much was known about it, what caused it etc. Also, it's so rare even today, most family doctors miss it in rendering a diagnosis. They may have heard of it in medical school one day, but it's not seen much. Often, neurologists know what it is, they sometimes mistake it for something else or miss it entirely.

You must find a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders like Parkinson's disease etc. "TS" is actually like the opposite of Parkinson's because Parkinsons is caused by too little Dopamine and TS is caused by too much. (To put it simply, but oh how I wish it were that "simple")

We are very fortunate to live in the Houston area to see the top neurology clinic in the worls for movement disoders. They even have a "TS CLINIC". It's "Baylor College Of Medicine Movement Disorders Clinic". Pope John Paul II was treated by the professor there, Dr. Joseph Jankovic. The next best Dr. there is Dr. William ONDO. ***THIER # IS (713) 798-7438

If you're anywhere near the Houston, TX area you may want to bring her there or at least go yourself. If she won't go, because of the way she was brought up or whatever, if you go for yourself (to see if you may have a mild form) and then talk to her about it, you may be able to remove the stigmatism and also help the relationship. There are many great medications now to help. My son takes Orap and Valium for it.

YOU MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL TOURETTE SYNDROME ASSOCIATION (you can find their # easily online) then ask for your LOCAL CONTACT NUMBER who would be your local TSA director. Ask that person what doctors they recommend for your area and you also may be interested in attending some of their MEETINGS for moral support and education. Yes, there are others out there in this same wierd and stressful situation

Though this is purely a neurological disorder, not psychiatric, sometimes having TS "predisposes" one to have psychiatric illnesses/diagnosis' along with it. (But not always) Just ahving to deal with the urges can cause an "anxiety disorder" or "depression". In additon, there is OFTEN another psychiatric d/o "co-morbid" (along with) TS... It's called OCD/ Obesseisive Compulsive Disorder.

You can look these up online. There's a lot out there. Good luck to you and God Bless!

[hisglorygirl]

PS- Sorry to post twice, but I read your reply to another poster:

"...her "tics" are not involuntary. They are more like spasms. For example, while driving she squeezes the wheel so hard that her hands hurt and go numb, and even though she stops herself when she wants, she still can't stop it from starting in the first place. She will repeat things that were just spoken, either by herself or another person, while tensing her entire body. She does not just burst out random words, instead they are premeditated."

TS tics are NOT purely involuntary as some suppose. It is more like an irresistable URGE. It also manefests as sapasms. In addition, there is often another movement disorder that goes along with TS called "Dystonia", and also callled "Dystonic Tics". What you describe above is truly just that, even tensing the whole body-- ALL of what you describe. TS's may also do it SEEMINGLY 'on purpose' to avoid doing ANOTHER tic that she is afraid of doing. (called 'replacement tics' or 'substitue tics)

TS is a very complicated neurological (brain) disorder involving the brain, muscles and psych. Each case differs in some way just like any other disease or disorder. It's an individual thing and ALSO VARIES IN THE SAME INDIVIDUAL OVER TIME. The time of variation can be minutes to years. (The type and frequency of the tics and spasm)

Repition of her own words or sentences AND the words of others is also classic in TS. Also uttering non-sense noises. They CAN and do also stop it in the middle of it. (Wouldn't you?) In addition, what you consider "premeditated" may be just that, but not in the way you think. It's like a phrase keeps coming into the mind and they "HAVE TO" say it. They will repeat words of others or what they hear on TV or radio etc.

Please consider. Do some research and see a QUALIFIED neurologist via referral from the National Tourette Syndrome Association.

Yours truly, hisglorygirl

[dancergrl77]

Wow, everyone seems to be pointing to a diagnosis of Tourettes Syndrome. I was so sure that this was way off base as I studied this sydrome in my undergrad as a psychology major. However, everything I learned involved extreme cases. My mother, nor I, have any impairment in our daily functioning. If anything, it's more of an annoyance that causes great confusion. Especially when nobody around shows the same behavior and all the TS people I have seen show quite typical symptoms that would be hard to misdiagnose. Due to your last posting though, I may have to reconsider and look into some more mild cases. Perhaps this is the case after all. Thank you so very much for your insight. All though I do not wish for a diagnosis of any kind, I do hope this is the answer I am looking for. I will keep you posted with my results if you happen back onto the sight.

[rad-skw]

Yes, tics and tourette's. Just go to your doc for a referral and bring him a video or your mom and yourself. Your mom has suffered long enough. Listen to "hisglorygirl".

To chrismia. I'm all about free and natural behavior, but ask your friends and relatives if they notice anything odd about you when you are angry. Tenseness and anger could be caused by hormone fluctuation, like PMS, but if they think you are over-reacting then why don't you and your daughter go talk to someone (professional) to iron out your differences instead of bottling it up?