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MedHelp Member's Question

Can anxiety cause hand tremors?

by littleomelette, Dec 05, 2006 12:00AM
I am a 25 year old female.  This past six weeks I have noticed that I have developed hand tremors.



I have been through an extremely stressful period since summer, but those situations have calmed down now, and my tremors have come on since the stress eased off.



I am reasonably healthy and cannot see a reason for this to start happening.  Is it possible that the stress and anxiety that I have been through could have manifested itself in my hands (and what feels like my arms)and make them shake?  I feel like I am picking things up and moving them about as if I was extremely nervous.  I also feel like I can feel the blood pumping through my upper body as my heart beats and I am constantly tired.  I haven't had to stop doing anything.  I have full feeling and can type/write etc perfectly fine.



I am driving myself crazy noticing every little abnormal movement and twitch.  I saw a doctor and she said it was like my mind was that tired/fatigued that my body has decided to do something about it.  Could this be true?  And will my symptoms ever go away?  At the moment it seems like I will be living with them forever.  I just want to be normal again and stop shaking.  Please help.  Any advice would be gratefully recieved.
Member Comments (26)

by littleomelette, Dec 05, 2006 12:00AM
Sorry, also thought I should mention that my arms get really tired when I am lifting things, even a cup of tea.  I feel like I need to put whatever it is I'm holding down after 30 seconds.  Thanks.

by umbleego, Dec 06, 2006 12:00AM
Anxiety can do this to you. Also, to make things worse, when people have anxiety they something don't eat and will sometimes do drugs. Have you been eating properly or do you do drugs of any sort? I have gotten all sorts of symptoms from anxiety, everything from my head going numb, palpatations, migraines, chest pains, almost every symptom there is for anxiety. My anxiety started when I got into high school, I was nervous everyday and I didn't know why, it was the large amount of people that made me nervous. Maybe something is triggering your anxiety? Post again. Thanks.

by littleomelette, Dec 06, 2006 12:00AM
Thank you for replying.  



I don't do any drugs, and haven't had a loss of appetite.  I have been through quite a stressful period since June.  I just want to know if it is possible for anxiety and stress to manifest itself phsically in this way?



I am seeing a chiropractor too at the moment who seems to think that I have deep muscle fatigue which (she believes) is also contributing to the shaking from my neck and shoulders right through to my arms and hands.



I am also in the process of buying my first house, so I have a feeling that may also be contributing hugely.  I am for the time being cutting right back on caffine too!



It's good to know that other people have been through such times and can share any advice.  Thanks for listening :-)

by Lightwise, Dec 06, 2006 12:00AM
Hi, the list of how anxiety can manifest physically is huge. There are lists online that mention shakiness and tremors as possibilities of manifestations. I myself have dealt with many symptoms and am still trying to rule out physical causes. The tendency you'll notice by reading this message board, is to automatically feel there must be a physical root cause to physical symptoms. I spoke to a psychiatrist friend recently who told me he has "seen it all" when it comes to anxiety symptoms. Good luck and GOD bless you and I hope you get better and are able to enjoy life. I mean that sincerely.

by tanns, Dec 06, 2006 12:00AM
To: littleomelette
I have had this shaky, vibrating(visually), fluttering thing that is happening in my chest.  All but one of the times it has happened, my right hand has twitched too.  I haven't seen the neuro yet but surely I'll be there soon.  



Anxiety(if that is what this all is!!!) is the PITS!!!



Good luck to you.

by littleomelette, Dec 09, 2006 12:00AM
Thank you all for your kind words.



I think we all react to anxiety at some time, it's just a bummer when it affects our lives.



I wish you all good luck and a happy healthy life :-)

by bird33, Dec 12, 2006 12:00AM
Yes - absolutely. I was at my worst about a year ago thinking I had the worst disease ever. I remember holding my hands out and watching them shake. I would continually show this to my wife - I almost made her crazy! I vividly remember one day I was doing yard work with a weed whacker and holding it in my right hand for a long time. When I finished I got a drink of water. My hand was shaking so bad that the water was spiling out of the cup. To make a long story short I have overcome my anxiety and no longer shake or twitch (had those too). The key is to ignore these signals and they will slowly subside. Easier said than done but you will find your way!

by littleomelette, Dec 19, 2006 12:00AM
To: bird33
That is so true.  After speaking to quite a few people, and stopping diagnosing myself on the internet, my symptoms seem to be SLOWLY subsiding.  Hopefully I will feel NORMAL again soon.  Good luck to you x

by suzi-q, Dec 19, 2006 12:00AM
To: bird
How did you overcome your anxiety?  suggestions please!

by littleomelette, Dec 20, 2006 12:00AM
To: Suzi
I think it is really difficult to accept that anxiety is all you have.  



I have tried doing small things, like when I'm feeling stressed out, I close my eyes and count to ten slowly to try and clear my head and slow my breathing down. These seem to be starting to work for me.  I am trying to think positive and believe that I can overcome this, and since I have been thinking positive, my symptoms have calmed down.  I have also tried to cut out as much caffine as I can, so little tea/coffee/fizzy drinks and chocolate (bummer).



I do think it takes time, but I do believe you will be able to work through it.  It seems like you are the only person going through it at the time, and by telling friends and family, they can help keep your mood up and support you.  I really think it's hard do it on your own.  Try to find a good friend to lean on.



Good luck to you, and Merry Christmas :-)

by SWJavelina, Dec 22, 2006 12:00AM
Put me down on the list of people who have hand tremors due to anxiety.  I'm a teacher, and I remember one of my students even commenting on my shaky hands.  :-/



SWJ

by lax11, Mar 04, 2007 12:00AM
i also went through some serious trauma over the summer.  after the events i started to have panic attacks.  i have learned to control these to a certain point because i understand them now.  i have developed anxiety since these attacks and worry about my health constantly.  my hands have started shaking just like littleomellete mentioned and i notice my heartbeat and the blood pumping through my upper body.  i worry that i have a terrible disease due to the shaking.  i never shake when i m laying down or sleeping though.  i thought i was the only one going through this.  did anyone here see a psychologist/therapist for these problems or take any medications.  i m a 23 year old male who just finished playing four years of college lacrosse and would like to steer clear of taking anything.  my physical health is perfect and i m in great shape.  please post back..

matt

by cuddles1121, Jul 09, 2007 11:15PM
To: Anyone with anxiety
I am going through the same thing, I have panic and anxiety disorder, and just the past 2 months I have noticed the shaky hands, I went to the dr, and she ran all kinds of blood tests, and to the chiropractor, and now they are going to send me to a neurologist, meanwhile my doctor still thinks it is my anxiety acting up. I was good for a long time, no all of a sudden my hands are shaky. She put me on clonezpam when I get really shaky and this seems to work, but I want to be able to learn how to deal with it, not constantly be drugged up. Any suggestions or websites would be helpful.

by Mazrim, Jul 10, 2007 09:27AM
I have been noticing that my hands shake too. This has caused me to over react. I keep thinking its hypoglycemia (even though I had test done in april and may for it and my sugar was fine... And Im eating better than I EVER have!) But isnt that how this works? You latch onto that one fear and it keeps building on it. Anyways, I keep telling myself that its just the anxiety and that helps! I know its just the body being on high alert for so long that its getting tired.

by braine