Picture this: your child’s tic disorder triggers are flaring up again—those sudden twitches or noises that break your heart every time you see or hear them. You’ve dragged them to countless doctor appointments, tried medications that left you both weary, and maybe even dabbled in therapies that promised hope but delivered little. You’re tired, frustrated, and wondering if you’ll ever find a way out. What if I told you the answer might be staring you in the face—not in a pill bottle, but in the everyday choices you make for your child? Hard choices, sure, but ones that could finally turn things around.
I’m Dr. Piper Gibson, and I’ve been right where you’re standing. Over 13 years ago, my son was hit with a transient neurological tic that threw our world upside down. Like you, I trusted conventional medicine to fix it—until it didn’t. So, I took matters into my own hands. I went back to school, dove headfirst into natural health, and figured out how to help him heal. Now, I’m here to share that hard-won wisdom with you, because no parent should feel as helpless as I did back then.
In this post, we’re tackling the real deal: tic disorder triggers—the sneaky culprits that might keep your child stuck—and the tough changes you might need to make to break free. We’ll dig into what these triggers look like, why letting go can feel like a punch to the gut, and three clear steps to get you moving toward healing. It’s not a walk in the park but a path worth taking.
Key Takeaways
- Tic Disorder Triggers like dairy, mold, or chlorine keep your child sick—crossing to solutions means tough sacrifices.
- Change is hard but Non-Negotiable: Holding onto harmful stuff (like cheese or a moldy arena) might harm your child’s health—treat triggers like fire.
- Step 1—Spot What’s Stuck: List potential tic disorder triggers (food, places, habits) to pinpoint what’s holding your child back.
- Step 2 & 3—Shift and Act: See triggers as threats to ditch, then commit to small changes (e.g., 60-day dairy break)—one bite at a time works.
Table of Contents
The Hard Truth About Tic Disorder Triggers
Let’s get straight to it: there’s a line in the sand with tic disorders. On one side, you’ve got the mess—the triggers that keep your child’s tics firing and their health crumbling. On the other side, there’s hope—natural solutions that can help them heal. But crossing that line? It’s not as simple as stepping over. It means letting go of stuff you and your child might cling to like a lifeline.
Take food, for example. Maybe your kid’s obsessed with cheese—I mean, who isn’t? Cutting it out feels like you’re ripping joy from their world. Or picture this: they’re a hockey nut, but the arena they play in reeks of mold. Every practice, every game, they’re breathing in something that’s quietly making their tics worse. I see this all the time with the families I work with, and it’s a gut-wrenching spot to be in.
Here’s a way to think about it: if that hockey arena was blazing with flames, would you let your child waltz in there? Heck no—you’d yank them out faster than you can say “goal.” But triggers like mold, chlorine, or even certain foods? They’re sneakier. They’re like a slow burn, eating away at your child’s health while you’re busy looking the other way. Just because you can’t see the smoke doesn’t mean the fire’s not there.
Why Change Is Hard but Necessary
You may be thinking: “Piper, I want my kid to be happy. Why does this have to be so tough?” Trust me, I’ve been there. You don’t want to remove or pull their favorite snacks from the sport that lights up their eyes. But here’s the brutal truth: holding onto those things might be what’s keeping them sick.
Let’s stick with the hockey scenario. Your child lives for those games, but if the arena’s moldy, every skate on that ice is like sending them into a danger zone. You wouldn’t let them near a burning building, so why let them keep breathing in something just as harmful in the long run? The same deal with food. If dairy is lighting up their inflammation and tics, every bite is another log on the fire.
So, ask yourself: Is keeping them in that sport or letting them scarf down that cheese worth it if it means they stay trapped in this cycle? It’s a brutal question, but sometimes love means making the call that hurts now to heal later.
Three Steps to Identify and Eliminate Tic Disorder Triggers
Ready to take action? Here are three steps to help you overcome overwhelm and start making a difference.
Step 1: Identify What’s Keeping You Stuck
First things first: figure out what’s fueling the fire. What’s in your child’s world that might be triggering their tics? Is it a food like dairy, notorious for stirring up inflammation? An environment like a moldy basement or a chlorinated pool? Or maybe it’s you—your own hesitation to shake things up because change feels scary.
Grab a notepad and get real with yourself. Jot down every possible culprit. Here’s a quick hit list of common tic disorder triggers to chew on:
- Dairy: Inflammation’s best buddy, and a tic trigger for lots of kids.
- Mold: Hiding in damp corners or old buildings, it’s a silent saboteur.
- Chlorine: That pool smell might be more than just nostalgia—it can irritate sensitive systems.
- Food sensitivities: Gluten, sugar, artificial junk—any of these could be culprits.
- Toxins: Your home might be hiding hazards from cleaning sprays to pesticides.
Your child’s triggers might not match this list exactly—every kid’s different—but this is your starting line. Be honest, even if it stings.
Step 2: Shift Your Perspective
Now that you’ve got your list, it’s time to flip the script. Stop seeing these triggers as harmless parts of life and start treating them like the threats they are. If something’s hurting your child, it’s a fire—get out and don’t look back.
This might mean tough calls. If that moldy arena’s a problem, maybe hockey takes a timeout—or you find a cleaner rink. If dairy’s the bad guy, it’s time to ditch the milk and cheese, at least for a while. I know it feels like you’re stealing their happiness, but you’re not—you’re handing them a shot at feeling better.
Step 3: Commit to Action
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to flip your whole life upside down today. Start small, one bite at a time—just like my husband says about eating an elephant. Pick one trigger and tackle it head-on.
Say dairy’s your target. Try cutting it out for 60 days. Grab a calendar, slap a sticker on each day you make it through, and turn it into a game for your kid. Watch closely—do their tics ease up? Do they seem brighter, less foggy? Kids often buy in when they feel the difference themselves. Same goes for something like chlorine—skip the pool for a bit and see what shifts.
It’s not about being perfect; it’s about moving forward. Every step you take is a brick in the road to healing.
You’re Not Alone on This Journey
I’ll level with you: this stuff’s overwhelming. When my son’s tics started, I was drowning—too many options, not enough answers. But here’s what I figured out: you don’t have to do it all at once, and you don’t have to do it solo.
At Regenerating Health, we’ve got your back. We can help you pinpoint your child’s specific tic disorder triggers, map out a plan that fits your life, and cheer you on as you go. Ready to ditch the struggle and step into solutions? Join our community—subscribe to this blog for more straight-talk tips, and book a free consultation with us. We’re in this together.
The most common triggers include dairy, which may increase inflammation, mold in environments like sports arenas, and chlorine from swimming pools. Toxins and food sensitivities are also potential contributors that can exacerbate tic symptoms.
To identify triggers, compile a list of potential factors: foods like dairy, environments like damp spaces, or recurring habits. Test by removing one element, such as dairy, for 60 days and monitor changes in tic frequency or severity.
Yes, mold exposure in settings like a hockey arena can aggravate tic disorders. Inhaling mold spores may act as an environmental trigger, contributing to symptom persistence in a manner less overt but still significant.
If a child resists, implement a structured trial—remove dairy for 60 days, tracking progress with a calendar. Improved symptoms, such as reduced tics, may encourage compliance by demonstrating tangible benefits.
Evaluate the trigger’s impact: if an element like chlorine exposure correlates with sustained or worsened tics, its removal is justified. Test by excluding it temporarily; a reduction in symptoms confirms its relevance.
Conclusion – Help Is One Click Away
Helping your child beat their tic disorder naturally isn’t a cakewalk—it might mean waving goodbye to comfort foods, shaking up routines, or wrestling with your own “what ifs.” But here’s the hook: imagine the tics fading, replaced by a kid bursting with energy and confidence. That’s the prize waiting on the other side of this fight, and it’s worth every tough call you make.
I’ve been in your shoes—overwhelmed, unsure, desperate for a win. I’ve also felt the rush of watching my son break free from those tics, and I’m telling you, you can get there, too. But you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Want a shortcut to clarity? Book a free initial consultation with my team at Regenerating Health. We’ll dig into your child’s unique triggers, hand you a plan that works, and be your backup every step of the way.
References:
Caurín B, Serrano M, Fernández-Alvarez E, Campistol J, Pérez-Dueñas B. Environmental circumstances influencing tic expression in children. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2014 Mar;18(2):157-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2013.10.002. Epub 2013 Oct 27. PMID: 24210363.