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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Essential Tremor
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Essential Tremor
by Kim__0__0, Nov 28, 1997 12:00AM
Hi,My names is james and I am a student and i think i have essential tremor disorder. My hands and fingers shake, fairly rapidly and this started about four months ago. I am 18 yers old and at first thought that the shaking was due to my drinking which is excessive. At first I only noticed it when I went to take a drink from a water dispenser. However now it has progressed so that I notice it when I eat, drink etc.
I used to work as a waiter and have now had to give that up as I felt it was being noticed by the customers and was becoming embarrassing. I have been to a doctor who also had the problem, which I thought was odd for a doctor, who diagnoised it as a Benign central tremor. He seemed to indicate thaT I should just live with it. however being a student I am finding it very difficult to just ignore it. It has now reached the stage where i have to have 4-6 cans of beer before I can go out anywhere.
I also smoke, and although I would not say i was overweight I would say I was unift.
To conclude I wanted to know :
Whether the esstential tremor does occur in a person so young ?
Would easing up on the drink help ?
Would being more fit help ?
Would practising meditation help ?
If no other altrnatives are available are there any drugs that could help ?
Is there a chance it could be psychosomatic ?
Finally, are there any techniques for helping with the anxiety it brings ?
thank you very much for listening
james
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Dear James:
It is quite possible that you have essential tremor. Essential tremor often ameliorates with the use of alcohol. In fact, individuals with essential tremor have a risk of becoming alcoholic, because they are socially less embarrassed from their tremor after a couple of drinks.
With your relatively high alcohol consumption, it is equally likely that you have alcohol withdrawal tremor. The latter tremor is alo an action/postural tremor, and resembles essential tremor closely. Almost by definition, it also improves after alcohol intake.
In either situation, it is critical that you ABSOLUTELY ABSTAIN from taking alcohol in any form (inluding beer). It is probable that you are already significantly dependent on alcohol physically, in which case you may need some professional help from experts on drug dependence.
Essential tremor can occur in individuals even younger than you.
Essential tremor (and alcohol withdrawal tremor) are not psychosomatic disorders. Anxiety can, however, intensify an existing tremor, and anti-anxiety measures may help.
Meditation, exercise, and physical fitness may lessen you anxiety and improve your self image. These measures do not have a substantial effect on tremor.
Some drugs such as beta-blockers and primidone can substantially improve essential tremor.
It is my sincere advice that you consult with a neurologist and also with a psychiatrist specializing in drug and alcohol dependence.
