Why Anxiety Cannot 'Cause' Tics
Anxiety cannot cause tics, if you've been on my blog, you know I say this and lot and I will continue to.
But why do researchers and Tourettes and Tic experts say this?
Essentially, anxiety is a Serotonin pathway-based disorder/emotion. Serotonin is largely responsible for emotions like anxiety, sadness, motivation, and others.
There is a lack of serotonin in the synaptic cleft meaning that the brain has very little serotonin to absorb. This is why SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Uptake Reinhibitors, which allow more serotonin to build in the synaptic cleft) aka antidepressants are the medication used to treat them.
In terms of the part of the brain we're looking it, its the Amygdala which is responsible to the 'fight or flight' part of our brain. When there is a lack of serotonin the brain, or damage to the amygdala its common to see symptoms like fear, panic, paranoia, inhibition, etc.,.
In regards to Tourettes, Tic disorders and generally, any other involuntary movement, we're looking at Stratial Dopaminergic Alterations and motor pathways in the brain include the sensorimotor cortex, putamen, pallidum, and substania nigra.
An excess of dopamine in the brain can cause a hyperinnervation of dopamine terminals, particularly in the striatum which is hypothesized to lead to an increase in the involuntary movements and sounds as see in those with TS or tic disorders.
As for the motor pathways in the brain, studies have shown an overactivation in there areas and in fact, the more activation seen in these areas often indicate a more severe case Tourettes. And truthfully because its a neurological disorder, the details of neuropath ways and how everything connects gets MUCH more complicated from here and I've really only touched on 2% of this, but I digress.
Down to a brain structral level, anxiety and Tourettes and Tic disorders are completely unrelated.
Sources (at least the ones that are pubically accessible):
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