Practical Support for Tics, Tourette's & Childhood Anxiety

This blog exists because good information about tics and anxiety can be genuinely hard to find. Whether you're a parent trying to understand what's happening with your child, an adult managing tics yourself, or just starting to explore your options — you'll find practical, accurate, and approachable content here.

Emily Reid, OTR/L

Hi, I'm Emily — an occupational therapist and tic specialist sharing practical, honest guidance on tics and anxiety that's grounded in real clinical experience.

CBIT Therapychild anxietytoolkit
Illustrated diagram of the human digestive system with arrows showing bidirectional communication between the gut and brain, with text overlay reading "The Gut-Brain Connection and Tics: What's Really Happening Inside the Body" — a blog post by Three23 Therapy.

The Gut-Brain Connection and Tics: What’s Really Happening Inside the Body

Anxiety, Nutrition, Parent Resources, Tic Education, Tourette Syndrome

read post
Red light therapy panel being used on a hand, with bold text overlay reading "Light Therapy for Tics and Anxiety" — a blog post by Three23 Therapy on using light therapy to support tic management and calm the nervous system.

Light Therapy for Tics and Anxiety: What It Is, Why It Works, and How to Use It

Anxiety, Parent Resources, Sensory Processing Disorder, Sleep, Tic Education, Tourette Syndrome

read post
Child taking a brave step into an unfamiliar place with a parent's supportive hand, representing breaking the anxiety avoidance cycle with gradual exposure and confidence building.

Why Saying “You’ll Be Fine” Isn’t Helping Your Anxious Child — And What Does

Anxiety, Parent Resources

read post
Child sitting alone hugging their knees against a wall, with text overlay reading "6 Physical Symptoms of Childhood Anxiety That Have Nothing to Do With Being Sick"

6 Physical Symptoms of Childhood Anxiety That Have Nothing to Do With Being Sick

Anxiety, Occupational Therapy, Parent Resources

read post
Tic vs. Habit vs. Compulsion graphic with text “How to Tell the Difference” and a tangled brain illustration representing confusion parents feel when identifying behaviors.

Tic vs. Habit vs. Compulsion: How to Tell the Difference

Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Tic Education, Tics, Tourette Syndrome

read post

Tics and Anxiety: Why They Show Up Together — and What You Can Do About It

Anxiety, Suppressing Tics, Tic Education, Tics, Tourette Syndrome

read post

The Sleep Connection: Helping Kids Rest, Regulate, and Rebalance

Anxiety, Sleep, Tics, Tourette Syndrome

read post

Teaching Responsibility to Combat Anxiety

Anxiety

read post

School Accommodations for Tics and Anxiety

Anxiety, School, Tics, Tourette Syndrome

read post

The Tourette Syndrome Iceberg

Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Tics, Tourette Syndrome

read post