DS started this odd nervous habit

[Saiahma]

Would you be concerned about this?? About a month ago I noticed DS 6 started this odd nervous habit. He kind of rolls his head around (like when you have muscle tension in your neck and your trying to stretch it KWIM???) He does it a lot. I've noticed him do it when he's reading, or eating, and even at basketball practice. I asked him about it once and he just said he's trying to crack his neck. I don't want to make a big deal about it, thinking maybe he'll stop. Do you think it's just a nervous habit? I'm one of those people who twirls their hair around their finger when they're nervous and it always drove my mom nuts...maybe it's just something like that. Or would you be concerned?

[Kermit]

Does it look like a slow, very deliberate motion, or like something he keeps doing almost unconsciously and can't stop?
If he's doing it deliberately, it's probably just something he enjoys doing. If it's a tic, it is something he feels the need to do and can only supress briefly, and then will have to continue doing. Tics tend to occur more at times of stress or excitement.
A huge percentage of children have a transient tic at some time in their childhood, so it's not a big deal if it's a tic. Drawing more attention to a tic will possibly cause him to do it more and add anxiety. And if it's not a tic, it's even more nothing to worry about!
Do you notice any other behaviors that seem like nervous habits?

[PikkuMyy]

I had all sorts of transient tics as a child, and continue to have them as a 26 year old. All of them started of as something I had to do but then got in the habit of doing. I shrugged my shoulders (my school uniform strap kept slipping down my shoulder), squinted my nose (hot in summer, eyeglasses kept slipping down nose because of sweat), tense the muscles in my neck making my face look awful (had a wierd cramping in jaw), etc. Each of these tics lasted a few months after the initial reason had passed, driving my mother up the wall! But they all passed and were later replaced by something else.

The wost thing about it was the amount my mother nagged me about them. I knew what I was doing but couldn't stop myself. I knew it would pass and it drove ME crazy each time she pointed it out. So I'd recommend just leaving him alone as I'm sure he's aware of what's going on.

Emily

[Kermit]

Emily, you still have tics, but none of them are the same? As in, they always go away for good and you are always getting new ones?
BTW, sorry if I'm being nosy. I've never talked to someone with such long-term transient tics and find it interesting. My husband and kids have Tourette Syndrome.