A premonitory urge could be a specific type of internal sensation might often occurs just before a repetitive movement or vocalization (a tic).
What it feels like
People could describe it as:
- A rising tension, pressure, or discomfort in the body
- An itch-like or “not quite right” feeling
- A sense that something needs to be released or completed
What happens next
The person performs the tic (movement or sound), and:
- The urge could be temporarily relieved
- But it usually builds up again, creating a cycle
Where it’s most common
Premonitory urges could be associated with:
- Tourette Syndrome
- Other tic disorders (chronic motor or vocal tics)
Simple example
One might feel:
“There’s pressure in my neck… I have to jerk it.”
After the neck jerk:
- The pressure goes away briefly
- Then slowly returns
Clinical importance
- These urges could be key targets in behavioral treatments, especially Habit Reversal Training (HRT)
- Patients might learn to recognize the urge early and respond differently instead of performing the tic
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 