How Reducing Stress Can Help Ease Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms

“When people are upset, agitated, or have heightened emotions or stress, their tardive dyskinesia movements get worse,” says Jessica Tate, MD, a specialist in movement disorders at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

What’s more, she adds, stress can be a “very common complaint” among patients with the condition.

Indeed, stress and tardive dyskinesia can sometimes create an unfortunate cycle. Stress can make symptoms worse, which can bring additional distress or social embarrassment and further exacerbate unwanted movements, Dr. Tate notes.

The reverse can also be true. “I have had people with tardive dyskinesia and other movement disorders who have experienced an improvement in symptoms and quality of life when they find strategies to manage or reduce stress,” she says.

Tate recalls a patient in a high-stress occupation who struggled with unwanted movements. “He was close to retirement, and once he stopped working, it made a world of difference in his symptoms, because it reduced his stress level so much,” she says.

Although most of us can’t stop working or eliminate stressors, it does show that there can be a real connection among stress and tardive dyskinesia, Tate adds.

Research on stress and tardive dyskinesia is limited, but it’s a good idea to try lifestyle habits traditionally associated with lowering stress levels, she says.

Try Mindfulness and Meditation

Consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Exercise Regularly

Get a Better Night’s Sleep

Take Up a Hobby

“Carving out time to pursue a hobby or interest that you’re passionate about can make a big difference in quality of life,” Tate says. As with exercise, it doesn’t really matter what extracurricular activity you choose, as long as it brings you joy, which will probably lower your stress levels too.

Join a Support Group

Finding support is a big part of dealing with the stress of something chronic, such as tardive dyskinesia, according to Tate. “Although having understanding friends and family is huge, I think it can be even more important to find a support group and interact with people who are going through the same thing, who actually have that insight,” she says. Sharing your experiences with others facing similar challenges can provide emotional uplift and practical coping strategies.

“With so many online communities, even if there’s nothing in your town or city, there’s likely an online community that you can access,” she adds. The National Organization for Tardive Dyskinesia offers information and resources, including support groups via Zoom.