Hi reesecups. Welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

My personal understanding is that "nervous" tic disorder is a misnomer. Tic Disorders are indeed conditions in which the Central Nervous System is involved, but they are not caused by being highly strung/nervous/habits.

Many people find that if they also have a comorbid condition e.g. anxiety, ocd, add/adhd, depression etc., which is interfering with their lives and they receive appropriate treatment then their tics tend to settle. Perhaps that's what happened in your situation? Often the comorbids are much more troublesome for people than their actual tics.

It's typical, apart from the waxing and waning of tics, for tics to diminish over time. Of course, this doesn't happen for everyone, but that is typical progression. Unfortunately stressful events can certainly cause an exacerbation of tics as you've experienced and they will hopefully be quite temporary. Stress and fatigue can play a part so make sure you're getting enough sleep and maybe try some relaxation therapy or exercizes.

When you mentioned that your tics diminished after going off the meds., it is possible that it was a combination of natural progression of the condition in conjunction with the therapy your were receiving for a comorbid condition (if that's what the therapy was aimed at).

I hope those tics settle soon. Take care of yourself.