# Twitch in my eyelid driving me nuts - can anything be done? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 24, 2011, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitch-in-my-eyelid-driving-me-nuts-can-anything-be-done/590160 "2011-07-24T07:30:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitch-in-my-eyelid-driving-me-nuts-can-anything-be-done/590160/21 "2011-07-26T18:54:40Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > This happens to me like clockwork when I get stressed- I think I’ve had a twitchy eye for every final I’ve ever taken. It is reliable enogh that I use it as my canary in a coalmine for knowing when I need to slow down and take care of myself. > > Any relaxation technique should help. If you don’t mind a little woo, Andrew Johnson’s self-hypnosis iPhone apps are like relaxation crack to me. I don’t buy the suggestivity, but they do lull me into the deepest, most relaxing naps ever. Other than that…meditation, excersise, journaling…anything that works for you should help. At the worst, it’ll go away eventually. Mine usually lasts a few days at most. I luuuv that guy’s voice. I don’t have a smartphone but I nabbed the free progressive muscle relaxation mp3 he posted on his website. I have the same problem, jjimm. Nothing really helps mine except lots of sleep (more sleep than you think you need) and removal of the stressor (or dealing with the stressor through meditation and relaxation). Caffeine doesn’t have a significant effect on my twitch, I generally drink a baseline level of caffeine every day (about 3-4 cans of soda) and it just doesn’t affect my twitch. Mine just comes and goes with the stress. Give it a few days and try some meditation audios. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitch-in-my-eyelid-driving-me-nuts-can-anything-be-done/590160/22 "2011-07-26T19:05:07Z")
> [@SecondJudith](#): > > I agree with the suggestions for relaxation techniques, even just going into the toilet to shut the door and breathe deeply for a few minutes. With our toilet doing that might put you into a full blown panic. Another vote for the Gatorade; hydration _and_ potassium. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitch-in-my-eyelid-driving-me-nuts-can-anything-be-done/590160/23 "2011-07-26T19:58:55Z")
I get the eye twitch from eyestrain. All. the. time. I invested in a glare protector for my computer screens, got my eyeglass prescription checked, and eliminated harsh flourescent overhead lighting in my office. Pulled out all the light bulb sticks and brought some nice lamps in. Totally changed the glare problem. Once I made myself start taking eye breaks and getting proper sleep… twitch vanishes. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitch-in-my-eyelid-driving-me-nuts-can-anything-be-done/590160/24 "2011-07-26T22:58:43Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I get the eye twitch from eyestrain. This is what was happening to me as well. Lots of twitching in one eye, and also increased blurriness. I went to the eye doctor for the first time, and it turned out that that eye was nearsighted _and_ has a decent cataract. A good pair of reading glasses did the trick with stopping the twitching. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitch-in-my-eyelid-driving-me-nuts-can-anything-be-done/590160/25 "2011-07-27T01:23:29Z")
A few years ago, I had a similar problem (along with other stress symptoms like wicked insomnia). The only thing that helped in the end was leaving my job, which was the primary source of stress. Of course, the insomnia was driving me batty, too - I stil have that on and off, but lately time-release melatonin capsules seem to be helping. P.S. Where are you going? If you’re going to be in this neck of the woods, do stop by! ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitch-in-my-eyelid-driving-me-nuts-can-anything-be-done/590160/26 "2011-07-27T19:56:22Z")
Oh hells yeah, is that familiar. It’s enough to drive one potty. I have it going on right now, matter of fact - it’s due to a project at work that apparently has me more stressed than I’d like to admit. No idea on how to get rid of it, other than time and less stress. If you find the answer, let us know! Best of luck to you. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitch-in-my-eyelid-driving-me-nuts-can-anything-be-done/590160/27 "2011-07-28T13:51:26Z")
Exhaust yourself and get solid nights of sleep. I had two weeks of twitches just recently, and that’s what it took - fair warning, though. Even after it more or less went away, if I thought about the twitch, my eyelid would twitch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitch-in-my-eyelid-driving-me-nuts-can-anything-be-done/590160.md?page=1)