Tips for Everyday Life with Tardive Dyskinesia

Ease Your Stress
Stress and worry may make your TD symptoms worse or harder to manage. Be gentle and kind to yourself. Write in a journal. Listen to music. Go for a nature walk. Take breaks when you’re tired or stressed. Try relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing to ease tension.

Talk About It
Talk about how you feel with someone you trust. Getting your worries out may help you feel better, find ways to manage life with TD, and get support. Reach out to family members or friends you trust. Join a peer support group. Talk to a professional therapist.

Go Online
Make daily chores easier by doing them at home with your computer or personal device. Order groceries online. Try mail-order prescriptions. Ask your doctor if you can do a telehealth appointment on FaceTime or Zoom instead of visiting their office.

Try Adaptive Tools
Small changes can make daily tasks easier. Instead of typing on your phone or tablet, use voice activation and dictation to get the job done. Try an electric toothbrush or razor. Add a padded grip to your pencils. Pick up a specialty set of lightweight forks, spoons, and knives with adaptive grips.

Get Moving
Being active may help ease TD symptoms like tremors. Regular exercise is also good for your balance, flexibility, and gait. Look for a type of exercise that feels comfortable for you. Try low-impact exercises like walking and swimming, which are gentle on your joints.

Join a Support Group
Join an online or in-person support group to meet people who are also managing life with TD. Connecting with others who have TD can help you feel supported and less alone. You can also get tips for easing symptoms, learn about new treatments, and find ways to take better care of yourself.

Aim For 7-9 Hours of Sleep a Night
Getting enough sleep may help with TD symptoms. When you sleep well, your body feels better, runs better, and is more resistant to stress. Sleep is also a powerful mood booster. If you have trouble sleeping well, talk to your doctor or see a sleep specialist.

Limit Caffeine
It’s possible that cutting back on caffeine may improve your TD symptoms. More research is needed, but experts think caffeine may make involuntary movements worse. Pay attention to how you feel after you drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks. If you feel better with less, cut back on how much you take in.

Minimize Tripping and Falling
Use tools to help you stay balanced and stable. Use handrails when going up and down stairs. Try walking with a cane. Get non-slippery floor rugs. Install grab bars in the bathroom. Avoid walking in the dark or in cluttered spaces. Clear out and open up rooms and spaces in your house to lower your odds of tripping and falling.

Ease Neck and Back Pain
Uncontrollable movements may give you a sore neck or back pain. Try placing a hot towel, heating pad, or microbead wrap over your neck and shoulders. Wrap an ice gel pack in a towel and apply it to sore spots. Drape yourself in a weighted blanket. Pop a small pillow behind your neck to cushion it better. Ward off neck stress by taking breaks when you’re at your computer or on your phone.

Empower Yourself
Be your best friend and your biggest advocate. Learn more about TD. Be in the know about new studies and information. Talk to your doctor about your treatment plan. Understand your boundaries. Listen to your body. Being an active part of your treatment may help you feel more in control of managing life with TD.
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SOURCES:
Amber Specialty Pharmacy: “6 Tips to Help You Manage Your Tardive Dyskinesia Diagnosis.”
HealthCentral: “Self Care and Tardive Dyskinesia: 7 Ways to Relax, Refresh, Recharge.”
Mental Health America: “Mental Health Treatments.”
Mind: “Stress,” “Tardive Dyskinesia.”
National Alliance on Mental Illness Santa Clara County: “Tardive Dyskinesia.”
National Organization for Tardive Dyskinesia: “Treatments,” “Zoom TD Support Groups.”
National Tremor Foundation: “Exercise.”