How To Get Shaking Hands Under Control?

[Deleted member 26314]

Hi, I have a problem with shaky hands. I've had this for the last 2 years and it's on and off, and for about a week or two I will have constant shaky hands. It is impacting every part of my everyday life pretty much; filling out my college application (I do a bit of it but my hands are shaking and it's tiring and takes about an hour to do the first section so the writing is actually readable), I keep spilling and dropping things (I spilt a hot mug of tea over my arm a couple days ago, ended up with a small but painful burn).

Things like that.

It usually starts after a bad bout of nightmares or a bad couple days with triggers and such. And like I said, it lasts for a week or so until it eventually just dies down.

Is there any way to control it, I do need to fill in my college application and I need to do it soon but if I wait the weeks it takes for my hands to calm down, the deadline will be gone. I thought about asking someone else to fill it in, but I'm embarrassed. The only one who knows about my 'problems' (i.e. shaking hands, anxiety, nightmares, PTSD symptoms in general) is my boyfriend and his writing is worse than mine, and my mum doesn't know anything. I'd feel embarrassed asking either of them anyway, and so yeah.

I don't know what to do? How can I get my hands (and brain) to calm down a little?

 

[BigBear]

I thought about asking someone else to fill it in, but I'm embarrassed.

First, I'm not a sufferer, so I can't guess whether my thoughts on this will be pertinent or not.

It isn't uncommon for it to take a long time to control the symptoms of PTSD. It is also critical for you to have supporters who take your PTSD needs seriously. Therefore you have to beat the embarrassment down and get help. And in doing so, you'll find people that will stand by you in your times of need. I know this may be a lot harder than I make it sound. But it's the best advice that I have to give.

Wishing you the best!

Bear

 

[Deleted member 26314]

Thank you Bear. I appreciate your advice. I understand it'll take a long time to manage PTSD symptoms, I was hoping for a 'quick-fix' to help calm my hands down. Some techniques or things to do, for example, to help not get so shaky. I know there is no quick fix for anything, but I was hoping for something I could do to help.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

In my experience, you need to work on healing in order to get the physical symptoms to calm down. Sorry, but in many cases, there isn't a quick fix.

 

[BigBear]

In non-PTSD, I've heard that you can use resistive exercise to help. Press your palms together as hard as you can for as long as you can. Until it tires you. See if the shakes relax afterwards?

Bear

 

[Justmehere]

Have you talked to a doctor or therapist about it?

It may be worth getting a medical work up. It may be neurologic. Stress can make neurologic conditions surface.

That being said, it's probably the PTSD. Healing from the trauma the best thing that will make it better in the long run.

In the short run, anything that helps rest and resource your body, along with anything that helps you ground may help reduce the symptoms. Eating well, trying to get as much sleep as possible, maybe exercise to reduce overall energy and anxiety might help a little.

As for your college application, I agree with others. Asking for help may be the only way to do that. I know it is embarrassing, but if you had shakey hands due to diabetes, I'm sure you could understand why someone shouldn't be embarrassed. You certainly are not the only one with this problem. Check out this thread by @Liana, who has the same struggle: https://www.myptsd.com/threads/is-this-normal-constant-shaky-hands.40650/#post-661063

 

[Deleted member 26314]

Thank you for the link, I'll be sure to check it out. I'm hoping to talk to my therapist tomorrow when I go for my appointment tomorrow, I'm going to hopefully bring up PTSD as a whole and get a proper assessment and diagnosis done, and also bring up this topic of shaky hands. Fingers crossed!

And thank you for all your comments/advice. I know there is know quick fix, maybe I used the wrong words, I just meant I was hoping to find something that would help and not take me months of watchful waiting to figure it out on all by myself. Thank you though, it's all appreciated.

 

[fly away home]

I have had these shakes for at least 20 years and come to a point now where I have had to just accept that my hands shake. The more I try to hide it and start to worry about it, the worse it gets.

If I find myself in an embarrassing situation where some one notices I give a little laugh and say 'sorry I've got the shakes' most everyone responds with 'are you OK? ' this is my chance to brush it off with 'Oh yes I'm fine thanks' then talk about something else.

I'm quite sure the anxiety about the shaking makes the shaking worse so it's a matter of mindfulness and acceptance. I say to myself, Yes my hands are shaking, so be it.