What Triggers Tics in Children? Understanding What Makes Tics Better or Worse

If your child has tics, you may find yourself wondering: “Why is it worse today?” “Is something causing this?”

Tics can feel unpredictable—but there are some common patterns that many parents begin to notice.

What can trigger tics?

Tics are influenced by the nervous system, and they often increase when a child is:

Stressed or anxious Big feelings can make tics more noticeable.

Tired Fatigue is one of the most common triggers.

Excited or overstimulated Tics can increase during high-energy moments too.

Being watched or commented on Drawing attention to tics can sometimes make them more frequent.

Using fast-paced screen content Some parents notice that tics become more noticeable after time spent on short, fast-moving videos (such as TikTok or YouTube Shorts).

This may be linked to how the brain works. The areas involved in tics—particularly the basal ganglia—are closely connected to dopamine, a chemical that helps regulate movement and attention.

Fast-paced, highly stimulating content can create lots of quick bursts of dopamine and increase overall arousal in the brain. For some children, this can leave the nervous system feeling more “revved up,” which may make tics more frequent or intense for a while.

This doesn’t mean that screen time causes tics—but it can be one of several factors that influence how noticeable they are.

Can illness trigger tics?

For some children, parents notice that tics:• Appear suddenly• Increase after illness• Come and go in “waves”

In these cases, it may be helpful to explore whether there could be an underlying factor such as PANS/PANDAS with a medical professional.

What helps reduce tics?

While tics cannot simply be stopped, the following can help:

• A calm, low-pressure environment

• Good sleep and routine

• Reducing attention on the tic

• Supporting emotional wellbeing

• Checking for deficiencies such as B12

• Balancing screen time with calmer, slower-paced activities

• Having some screen-free wind-down time, especially before bed.

A note on nutrition, inflammation, and overall health

You may come across information about diet, vitamins, or inflammation when reading about tics—and wonder whether this is something to explore.

Research is increasingly looking at how the body and brain are connected in tic disorders.

We know that:

• The brain systems involved in tics are closely linked to dopamine

• These systems can also be influenced by nutrition, the immune system, and inflammation

Some studies suggest that:

• Low levels of certain nutrients (such as vitamin D, and possibly B vitamins) may be more common in children with tics

• Inflammation in the body may affect how the brain regulates movement and behaviour

• Gut health and diet may play a role in how brain chemicals are produced and balanced

However, this area of research is still developing. It doesn’t mean that deficiencies or inflammation are the cause of tics—but for some children, they may be one piece of a bigger picture.

What might be helpful to consider? If you’re concerned, you could speak with a healthcare/ functional medicine professional about:

• Checking for common deficiencies (e.g. vitamin D, B12, iron)

• Supporting a balanced, nutrient-rich diet

• Looking at overall health, sleep, and stress levels

  
  

The aim isn’t to “fix” tics through diet—but to support your child’s brain and body as a whole.

Can therapy help?

Yes—support such as CBIT can help children:

• Understand their tics

• Reduce their intensity

• Feel more in control

A reassuring message

Tics often change over time—and many children learn to manage them successfully.

With the right understanding and support, things can feel much easier.

You can read more about CBIT and tics support here

You can read more about PANS/PANDAS here