i need a little medical "expertize" here?

Question

ok here goes...my girlfriends daughter (8 y/o) has started acting differently in daily situations......she seems to "twitch" when she is around us....what i mean by this is she starts to "appear" to in-oluntarily twitch when she is put in a uncomfortable situation...her twitching occurs in her arms and wrists....at first, i thought it might be an attention getting plot, maybe someone at school did it and she picked up on it....and then my girlfriend told me that she was told by her counselor, at school, that this has been going on for a coupe of weeks....my girlfriends a nurse and i'm a little worried that she might be keeping some information from me...she knew about this for ateast a month and didn't bother telling me...any info on my g/f s daughters situation would be greatly appreciated

thanks for your responses but i think that maybe i left a detail out,which i don't think is important, but we "occupy the same dwelling for about 3 years"... i'm not looking for help in reguards to our relationship, i'm trying to figure out what this "nerous tick" is all about.....i apoligize for not making myself more clear

Answer 1

Listen, I don't think it right for anyone to tell you it is none of your business. You are in a relationship with this women and that means you have a relationship with her daughter. You sound like you are very concerned. That makes me feel that you are going to be a good and caring parent, weather the child is yours or your stepchild. After 3 years, your girlfriend should tell you her concerns about her child. Maybe you need to sit down and tell her your concerns. Don't get upset, just let her know you are there to help, and that you will listen to her. Help her come to a decision, don't tell her what to do, just help....

Answer 2

There are a lot of reasons that this could be occuring. People twitch for medical reasons like seizures and for behavioral/emotional reasons. The biggest issue I see is your fear that it is something horrible that they are keeping from you. You should talk to your girlfriend, don't get accusatory, say something like, "Look, Jenny, I'm really concerned about Teresa's twitching. I want to know why it is happening and how we can help her. You don't have to do this stuff alone, I love her too and want to take care of her with you." If nothing else you will earn some good brownie points.
She may be twitching from guilt, there may be something that she doesn't want to talk about, it could be as silly to us as a lie told to a friend etc. but whatever it is, it is important to her. At about this age kids pick up mannerisms that start as copying something they saw somebody cool do and it just keeps happening. She is doing this when confronted and uncomfortable so confronting her about it is a bad idea. Pointing it out in a conspiratorial way can help her stop it and maybe even talk more openly. Try saying something like, "Teresa, I can see you are uncomfortable, your posture, your face and that new twitch thing. What's up? If you can't tell me everything, tell me a little so I can try to help." This gives her respect and freedom and trust, it will make her feel that she can talk to you and mom. It brings her attention to the twitch without saying "Stop it" or something like that.
Hope that helps good luck.

Answer 3

Sounds like a nervous habit. Keep and eye on it and if it gets worse take her to the doctor. If it only happens when she's in an uncomfortable situation, I'd say it's just a reaction to being put on the spot. Some tap their feet, some swing their arms. It doesn't seem to be painful for her or happen any other time, so I wouldn't worry. I'm a mom to 3 and my older daughter talks very softly when she's put on the spot about something.

Answer 4

well honestly maybe your g/f didn't think it was your business...this is HER child. (not being rude at all, just stating a mother's point of view)
we mom's tend to protect our kids from the judgment of everyone...including loved ones. maybe she didn't think you wanted to be bothered with it. or maybe she is scared! and is blocking the possibilities. sometimes, even though your g/f is a trained professional in the medical field, when the incident is so close to home, we just ignore it and hope it will go away... it's the "not my child" mentality.

perhaps she doesn't think it's anything at all but a nervous tick.

it actually could be a nervous tick OR it could be OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), or turrets syndrome, or a dietary imbalance, ADD/ADHD...etc.
many things.
i think if your really concerned and worried, you should tell your g/f. she may be very scared and in need of your support, but she just doesn't know how to do that without feeling like she "failed" her child somehow. which is silly of course, but sometimes parents are a bit too hard on themselves when a child is ill, or possibly ill.

Answer 5

Tics are common and come out in the ages of 6-7 but can come later. Go see a paediatrician. That's what I did and it will put your mind at ease. Ours see's my son every few months to keep an eye on him. It in my son's case has been going on for 14 months and is most likely tourettes syndrome. Worth going to the doc

Answer 6

well, without knowing more, it sounds like a nervous twitch, or tic, my cousin used to have several, including clearing his throat constantly, kicking his heels on the chair, etcetra...I would not make a big deal about it to the child, but I would make sure she knew...by telling her often...how much I cared about her, and how if she ever had something or someone bothering her, she could tell me anything...kids need to hear this even when they DON"T show signs of a problem, so if she is upset, she needs to know it even more. good luck.

Answer 7

First of all your girlfriend doesn't have to keep you informed of HER daughter's health. You are not related to the child, you are the child's mother's boyfriend and nothing more so if she didn't feel like telling you anything she is well within her rights. The twitching can be the result of many things and since the child's mother obviously doesn't want you to be informed of ALL the problems I'm not going to induldge you.

Answer 8

Ya know how some people stutter? This can be a form of what makes a person stutter, only it effects her physically. Maybe she's being bullied and doesn't know how to tell anyone, and anytime she gets stressed she goes back to that as her coping behavior.

Answer 9

It would be best to take her to a doctor.