Anyone have nervous tics?

Hi all. I never thought of myself as having anxiety until more recently because I used to always think that anxiety had to do something with having specific fears. I don't have any problems with fear of anything. My issue is more of a general inability to be calm. I've always had problems with being relaxed. I think it is a general overactive stress response. It's like I always have to be on and ready to take on the next thing, whatever it might be. I have tics that I do that just drive me crazy and make me feel out of control and weird for doing them. My latest one is constantly moving my tongue up against my upper front teeth. It makes me feel annoying to myself when I do it. I also have just a lot of tension in my face. Is this anything that the rest of you experience? My biggest goal right now is to work on trying be more calm and reduce those tics. Lately, I've been thinking that caffeine is making the tics much worse for me, which stinks because I love coffee. I'm curious if anyone has found any other lifestyle or dietary adjustments that have been helpful in reducing anxiety related tics. Thanks.

I don't have any creative suggestions for you. But I experience the "general overactive stress response" you mentioned. (I also have little tics that come-&-go periodically.) I've struggled with this my entire life. After a while I think my body simply no longer knew how to function any other way. So at this point in my life my body feels like it's churning 24 / 7.

I don't take anything for what I experience. And, in fact, I'm a black tea drinker. So I get caffeine from that as you do from coffee. Perhaps I should give it up. But it's one of the few pleasures I have left in life. Back when I was seeing a pdoc he suggested writing me a prescription for Klonopin. He said it would smooth out the churning. I decided not to go that route at the time although, occasionally, it occurs to me perhaps I should reconsider. (I probably won't.)

Here are links to 5 articles, from PC's archives, that discuss ways to alleviate anxiety, just in case you haven't already read them:

10 Things People With Anxiety Need to Do Every Day

Eat Right To Ease Stress

9 Ways to Reduce Anxiety Right Here, Right Now

15 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Improve Anxiety Symptoms

Top 10 Lesser-Known Self-Help Strategies for Anxiety

Yes, definitely I have a tic on my eyes when I’m feeling very nervous in a social situation that is the one I fear of.
From experience I know that the more you fight against that situation, in that case, doing a tic, the worse.
So, I would advise you to gently accept them when appears and practising relaxation exercises.
There’s a guide relaxation that I enjoy a lot and find pretty helpful. It’s Jacobson’s muscular progressive relaxation. It’s about tensing a group of muscles followed by a relax of the same muscles. The objective is to teach your brain to notice the difference between tension and relaxation and with practise and time, help your brain to stay on relaxation mood when needed and more often, because it can rapidly notice the difference.
It take time. Daily practise is needed but I think it may help you.
You will tell me.

I post here a link for you.

What is Jacobson’s Relaxation Technique?

I used to practise it first following a guided relaxation audio I played on my phone. But it was in Spanish. Sure you can find it also in English wherever you listen to podcasts.
If you have any question, I’m here.
Feel free to ask.