My 9-year-old son has recently been placed on Clonidine for the suppression of multiple tics. He was last taken off this drug in March and has been tic free until now. Recently he began sniffing, blinking and shrugging his shoulders and has been placed back on the Clonidine. Over the years he has displayed these, as well as throat clearing and possibly others although they have not all been at the same time. I spent years fussing at him until a trip to my pediatrician approximately 6 months ago where he observed his behavior and suggested the medication. How does one determine the difference between TS and one of the tic disorders? My pediatrician is reluctant to diagnose TS without seeing a Pediatric Neurologist.    Dr. Pies' Answer

I work with someone who is a "rescuer". It appears to many that she really only likes someone if she can find something wrong with them so that she can then be considered their rescuer. This has caused problems in her personal relationships if someone does not need to be rescued. She appears to decide that something is wrong with someone, based upon even the slightest little bits of personal information and then everything that she sees evidently supports her view...a self-fulfilling prophecy. What causes this and what can we do?    Dr. Pies' Answer