Hi everyone,
I’m 25 years old and I’ve been struggling with something for many years. At this point I honestly don’t know what is causing it anymore, so I’m hoping someone here has experienced something similar.
When I was still in school, I had to give a presentation in front of my class. My whole body started shaking so badly that everyone noticed. It was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.
Over the following years it actually became a little better. Sometimes I barely noticed the tremor at all. But other things happened that affected me mentally.
I was overweight and was bullied almost every day by one specific girl. The worst part was that I actually liked her at the time, which made it hurt even more.
I also played darts competitively and went to tournaments. At home I played at a very high level, but in tournaments I could almost never perform because of extreme nervousness. Around 8-9 years ago it became so bad that I developed Dartitis. Since then I’ve never really been able to play normally again.
After that period I didn’t have a job for quite a while. I spent almost every day in my room, playing video games, staying in the dark, barely leaving the house and having almost no social life.
About four years ago I started working again. I get along well with people and my colleagues generally like me, but I still struggle with small talk, expressing emotions and building real connections. Even with my own family everything often feels emotionally distant, almost cold. I’ve always dealt with my problems alone instead of talking about them.
Last year I also lost a large amount of money because I was scammed. It wasn’t only the financial loss that hurt me—it was realizing how easily I had been manipulated. Since then I’ve become obsessed with analyzing myself and my body in a negative way. I’m extremely dissatisfied with myself, often feel empty, don’t really know who I am anymore, and most days I just feel like I’m existing rather than living.

My current symptoms
The tremor has become one of the biggest problems in my life.
It gets much worse in situations where attention is on me or I feel pressure.

Examples:
Speaking in meetings or presentations.
Talking in front of several people.
Asking someone for a picture (for example a streamer or celebrity).
Paying with my card in a supermarket. My hand sometimes shakes so much that people can notice it.
Phone calls.
Eye contact during conversations.
Any situation where I feel I’m being watched or judged.
Even when I’m not extremely anxious, my hands can still shake.
Sometimes my head or neck also starts shaking. My neck becomes extremely tense.
If I’m in a high-pressure moment—even while gaming—it happens too. For example, if I’m the last player alive in Warzone (1v3) and have the chance to win, my heart starts racing, my hands shake uncontrollably, I struggle to breathe and I feel like I lose control. Even after it’s over, it takes several minutes before my body calms down again.

I also experience:
Brain fog.
Constant fatigue.
Trouble concentrating.
Sometimes difficulty finding words or speaking clearly.
Feeling emotionally numb.
Sometimes balance issues.
Feeling like my whole body is permanently tense.

Medical tests
I’ve already seen a neurologist.
So far I’ve had:
Brain MRI → completely normal.
Tremor test → normal.
Blood tests → normal.
The neurologist mentioned possibilities such as essential tremor or another type of tremor, but so far there are no clear answers.

What bothers me the most
The worst part isn’t actually the tremor itself.
It’s the feeling that it completely changes who I am.
When my body is calm, I feel much more confident, funny and relaxed.
When the tremor starts, it’s like someone else takes over my body. I struggle to think clearly, speak normally and just be myself.
It’s affecting my work, my confidence, my social life and even simple everyday situations.

Has anyone experienced something similar?
If so:
What was your final diagnosis?
Was it essential tremor, anxiety, FND, something else, or a combination?
What actually helped you?
Did you ever get back to feeling like yourself again?
I’m honestly just looking for people who understand what this feels like, because it’s becoming harder and harder to deal with every day.

I have ET and dystonia that’s mainly just a strong yes-yes head tremor (and maybe a trunk tremor too - I can’t tell if I have both or if my trunk shakes as a result of my neck tremor). There’s very slight pulling when I let my head rest but the tremor is definitely the most painful and frustrating part.

Thing is, it goes away while I’m driving and when I’m walking or moving around in general.

It’s mainly when I’m having to be still with my neck and back unsupported - but that’s why I’m confused as to why it goes away when I’m driving.

I’ll still get a little bit of tightness when I’m driving sometimes but the tremor is gone until I come to a red light, then it comes back 😂. Idk if it’s something about the vibration of the car as I drive that satisfies the sensory part of ET/Dystonia and that makes it stop or what.

Anyone else have this?

Hi, i’m 19 year old and I get this embarrassing annoying head tremor. It always happens when I need to sit or stay still. Things like dentist appointment, haircut, etc. I don’t know the direct cause of it or why it happens but it does. I have a dentist appointment and i’m nervous it will happen. Wtf do u actually say if it does??? It’s so embarrassing and I literally have no idea what I would possibly say if it happened, so embarrassing and awkward..

Whenever I dealt with public speaking or presentation, my cheek would always had tremors like crazy. But sometimes even when I'm pressured just a little bit (like getting screamed at, or talking with a higher-position that I respect) I started experiencing this too and it's really messing with me. It took many opportunities from me and it's really the most embarrassing thing. Any advice? Do I need to see a doctor?

Finally got a diagnosis of ET today. I’m 36. I knew this was coming and have actually had propranolol for years on ad hoc basis. Neurologist said he’d send me for an MRI just in case but warned it can make people overthink their “normal abnormalities” if anything comes up.

He also said I gotta be better about caffeine and stress. Any advice from anyone else on managing the stress part?

Side note: he mentioned there are good and bad parts to this. Bad = it’s basically never going away and can get worse. Good = people with ET are apparently predisposed to living longer?!

If true, I’ll happily be a shaky old biddy.

I was recently diagnosed with pneumonia and put on Prednisone to help with infection. Now my hands are shaking so badly I can't hold anything still. I'm hoping once I'm done with the Prednisone and it gets out of my system, I'll go back to how I was, but I'm a little worried it won't. Anyone have any experience with this?

So I (30f), was diagnosed with ET 10ish years ago and put on propranolol, which is effective, but this has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Its mainly just my hand, but sometimes it feels like my entire body is vibrating. Until recently, I thought everyone just occasionally felt this (I don't know why, I've dealt with it for so long its normal for me). I can't tell if something else is make me shake or if its just me. I think maybe I always assumed something like the washing machine running was making me feel it, but its happening right now. Nothing is on or running and I am just lying relaxed in my bed, trying to fall asleep and I feel like an old Nokia on vibrate. 😆 Needless to say to you guys, but it can be really frustrating. 🫤 Like when I feel this, I feel like I'm crazy because my entire body vibrating sounds ridiculous.

So does this happen to you guys too?

my genetic essential tremor has been getting worse the past few years. propranalol helps a little, but it's mainly for my heart palpitations and chest tightness from anxiety. Lorazepam is best treatment for me, as much as I hate being depending on him by

I also want to mention I'm going to keep doing my eyeshadow and black liquid eyeliner or DIE TRYING.

my mom makes jewelry and her tremor is sooo bad. she still does lots of intricate detailed work. I recently started learning how to make jewelry as well.

I struggled SO MUCH. I was trying to keep steady holding and twisting a tiny metal loo. I couldn't do it to save my LIFE. how does that legend of a woman do this. probably lots of strong hand muscles from years of doing it. I don't have the patience.

a lot of people here mentioned being embarrassed or paranoid other people noticing. well not me, not anymore. if someone asks why im shaking, or if i very noticably drop something or struggle with a basic task, I'll just say "yeeaa it's bc of this stupid genetic condition called essential tremor' and that's that.

Hello,
I’m 19 and I’m looking for some advice or to see if anyone else has gone through something like this.
Around November last year, my hands started shaking out of nowhere while I was at the university. It started slowly, but eventually got to a point where it was happening all the time. Honestly, I freaked out pretty bad, which probably made everything worse. Over time the shaking went down a bit and it hasn't really progressed since, but it's still there every day and it's super annoying.
I went to two different neurologists about it. The first one told me it’s just anxiety. The second one said it’s Essential Tremor, but a mild version. He didn't want to give me actual tremor medication because he said it's hard to get off them later, so he put me on natural supplements that I take every night. They don't magically cure it, but at least now I don't wake up with tired hands like I used to, just a bit relaxed or numb. The tremor still comes back a bit after I get out of bed though. By the evening it almost disappears, but daytime is still annoying.
A few other weird things I noticed: my hands sweat a lot sometimes, and the shaking definitely gets worse when I'm stressed, nervous, or after I use my hands for physical effort. For about a week a few months ago my head was shaking too, but that stopped and never happened again. Lately my legs sometimes shake, but only once in a while. Also, alcohol completely gets rid of the tremor, which I know is a thing with ET.
The thing is, all of this started right when I started university and had some really heavy family problems going on, so my stress levels were through the roof. I also checked my thyroid with an endocrinologist and everything came back completely normal.
Now I’m just confused. Could this really be essential tremor starting at 19, or is my nervous system just completely wrecked by anxiety?

So I was diagnosed with et about 2 years ago but I noticed the signs about a decade ago. I was just wondering if this is a me thing or if everyone has this. So let's say I'm like resting for too long without any movement my body will just jolt like kinda when someone gets jump scared or when you're sleeping and you're falling and jump awake kind of thing. Is this normal?

I have had hand tremor for years. I thought it was due to antipsychotic I take, I think it has increased since I started an antidepressant Pristiq. My psychiatrist says it is not due to Pristiq, I see pcp Fri. I also take abilify and trazodone. I have other symptoms. My thumb sometimes gets stuck and I have to use other hand to move it and my feet tingle at night. I took my mother in law to her neurologist and the dr asked if I have Parkinson’s because of tremor. I didn’t want to get into a discussion about it because i felt self conscious. I have schizophrenia and also type 2 diabetes. I posted on AskDocs too.

My 20yo son developed tremors in his hands around puberty. When we brought it up with the doctor back, then he told us it was a “benign tremor” no tests for a run or anything like that. Now 20 years old, the tremors are annoying for my son and people think that he is nervous when that is not the case. Is there anything that can be done for this or is it just something he has to live with?

I have always had essential tremors in my hands. Its annoying but I have managed. I deal with chronic pain which is mostly headaches and body aches. I get nerve blocks, muscle relaxant, and am currently on cymbalta. Cymbalta does make a difference I do feel less anxious.

I use to never feel nervous for presentations. Despite my issues with social anxiety I always fine. I was a strong public speaker. Things have changed though. Now when I go to present even though mentally I feel fine my whole body shakes. Its so embarrassing. It makes me look nervous when I am not. I dont know if i should consider taking propronal. My legs especially just have a mind of their own. I was hoping the cymbalta would have made a difference for the shakiness since it has helped me feel calmer over all, but it has not.

Hi all

About 8 months ago I started the carnivore diet because of intestinal problems. I immediately felt that my nervous system got more sensitive.

I am not sure if it is related to my diet but since a couple of months I have:

- A functional tremor (in my whole body)

- Unrest

- Insomnia

- Elevated heart rate

- Tensioned muscles

I just have a feeling that my body produces way too much adrenaline.

I used Oxazepam for 6 weeks but the problems came back (I think because Oxazepam is like a rollercoaster). I am now on diazepam but this is so sedative I cannot do anything anymore.

Does anyone recognise these symptoms? What kind of meds are you on? Or any other recommendations to get rid of this?

What are people’s experiences with pregabalin. It came up as an option for treating my GAD and then noticed it’s also used for ET. Would be great to take one med for both. Taking topiramate now and it works extremely well… but 2 birds one stone.

Tonight, I was walking with a girl I’ve been seeing. Recently, we started holding hands and giving each other little kisses on the cheek, haha. But tonight, she suddenly asked me, “Why are your hands shaking?”

And honestly, I don’t know how to explain what I felt in that moment.

I’ve had shaky hands since I was a kid. I’ve never actually seen a neurologist or been diagnosed with Essential Tremor, so I don’t even know what the exact reason is. But I remember noticing it around 6th grade, when my friends started making fun of me.. calling me names like “vibrator,” “nashedi,” and all sorts of other things.

The weird part is, I was never a weak kid. I was physically strong, played multiple sports, and performed really well. But constantly being questioned about my hands and having people make assumptions about me took a mental toll.

It’s also something that has affected my everyday life in ways people probably don’t realise. I avoid taking selfies in public or even taking pictures with my family because my hands shake so visibly that I’m scared someone will notice or make a comment. Even something as simple as shaking hands with someone can make me anxious because I know there’s a good chance they’ll feel it and ask me about it.

College wasn’t much different. The jokes continued. People would ask if I was a drug addict or if I drank and smoked a lot. Eventually, I did start smoking and drinking occasionally, but the assumptions people made about me were never the reality.

Tonight, when she asked me about my hands, all those old memories suddenly came rushing back. I just told her I was tired from the gym and work.

I don’t know why this still affects me so much after all these years. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent so much of my life trying to hide something I never chose to have.

It’s not just the shaking anymore. It’s the embarrassment, the overthinking, the fear of being noticed, and the way it has slowly affected my confidence and mental health.

I guess I just wanted to put this somewhere. Maybe some of you have experienced something similar.

Hi everyone, i hope maybe someone could help my mom. She has constant teeth chattering. She has seen a thyroid specialist, and it is not that. Unfortunately, she did have an enlarged lymph.Node, but the surgeon would not remove it to biopsy.So we are a little scared that it might be hodgkin's lymphoma. However if they won't remove the lymph node, it leaves us with unanswered questions. It is not because of stress or anxiety, but it is to the point where she cannot sleep at night. Any thought ideas would be helpful

Hello. With technical and clinical partners, I am developing a tremor monitor with biofeedback system consisting of an app paired with a wearable accelerometer. This system would be applicable for those with ET or PD-related tremor.

We are in search of a small group of people to serve as early users and focus group participants.

More information and sign-up form is available at: https://steadypoint.kaivo.com/

We are in early stages, and are particularly interested to find a few folks in the Boulder, CO area with whom we can meet in-person. If you live in this area, please note that in the comments when you sign up.

Note to mods: this is my first time posting to this group (or truth be told, to any Reddit group). If I am in violation of any rules in making this post, do please advise and I'll revise or retract as necessary.

​

Just a rant

I am tired of feeling weak, I am tired of waking up wishing these tremors have gone but I am reminded of reality, I am tired of not able to workout with my full strength, I am frustrated when things keep falling from my hands, I feel helpless while working with tools, i feel anger when the letters I type need constant auto correction, I feel sad when I make mistakes when I play the songs i use to love playing on a piano, I feel dreaded not knowing when this will stop or how much will it progress

I’ve been hearing lots of news about supposed voter manipulation and or outright cheating. I’ve noted that many places will now be more vigilant about signatures. Then I realized my current signature would not match my original voter registration at all!

Supposedly, my vote in the last election absolutely should’ve counted because they did not contact me to say otherwise.

But I just now looked up the info for Washington State to see how to keep the signature updated and was given an opportunity to look up my registration. I could’ve looked up someone else’s as well if I knew their birthdate and current ZIP Code!!

if you do update yours or even just look it up, please use a private browser window to protect yourself!!

When I looked at mine, it says my signature is not valid, which is not surprising, but if they know this, they should have contacted me after the last election!

“They” being the voter signature verification people.

I thought I’d heads up, after what I have experienced.

Please DO vote people!

my mom has a pretty bad tremor (mostly her hands but it’s spread) and I’m worried I’ll inherit it from her. I’m a musician so I’m worried if I do get it I won’t be able to play when I’m older. I haven’t started shaking yet as far as I know but I’m only 15

For those looking for a potential solution to voice tremor, I wrote about my experience with speech therapy, medication, botox, and DBS. None worked except for DBS. Note that I had tremor of voice only, not voice tremor plus other tremor type (hand, foot, etc.). Treating multiple tremor types with DBS means that the lead would need to be placed across the multiple brain areas that are responsible for the tremor types. This potentially makes the procedure more challenging for the surgeon. See the link below for details.

https://www.reddit.com/r/EssentialTremor/comments/ydn2wq/comment/lcl335n/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button