{"id":5757,"date":"2023-05-30T16:31:08","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T16:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/njcts.org\/teens4ts\/?p=5757"},"modified":"2023-06-06T12:29:22","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T12:29:22","slug":"how-mindful-activities-help-me-manage-my-tics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/njcts.org\/teens4ts\/how-mindful-activities-help-me-manage-my-tics\/","title":{"rendered":"How Mindful Activities Help Me Manage My Tics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By Maria Sooy, NJCTS Youth Council<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As someone with Tourette Syndrome I also struggle with the co-occuring issues of anxiety and depression. I find that when I feel less anxious and depressed, my tics tend to be more mild. Having a balanced and healthy lifestyle helps me manage these feelings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although I know that these conditions will never completely disappear, I have found strategies to help me manage them. The most helpful thing for me is participating in mindful activities where I am present in the moment. One of my favorite activities that I have been doing for a few years now is yoga. Yoga is all about not have expectations for yourself and focusing on exactly what you are doing in the moment. I don\u2019t always want to do it, but after I always feel refreshed and everything in my life seems a little more manageable. Taking my mind off of the things that are bothering me even if it\u2019s only for an hour has a huge impact on how I feel. The focus on breath and keeping a clear mind in yoga helps me to stay present. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although yoga is helpful to me, there are lots of options when it comes to stress relieving, mindful activities. Some other things that I also find helpful are taking a bike ride, journaling, or reading a book. Any activity that allows you to focus on exactly what you are doing in that moment is helpful. I hope you will find incorporating more mindful activities daily as beneficial as I find it for my overall wellbeing. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Maria Sooy, NJCTS Youth Advocate
\nI find that when I feel less anxious and depressed, my tics tend to be more mild.\u00a0 Having a balanced and healthy lifestyle helps me manage these feelings.\u00a0 Continue Reading