Living with Essential Tremor

From ever since I can remember I have had this shaking in my hands but just thought I was a nervous kid. As I grew older I started to drop the many activities I was involved in as it got to the point that if I tried holding a glass or tea cup my hand would shake so I hated going out to eat. Many times I wondered why me as no one else in my family seemed to have this condition.

I have been to the doctor and I was told I have a tremor and should trace my family history but I came up blank - no one else was afflicted, not even my mom who is in her 70 is shaking. I feel so embarrassed at times when people stare at me during my episode of shaking - this makes my shaking more intense. I use to experience stiffness in the neck and my head would shake slightly but this has decreased overtime.

When I am extremely stressed or after lifting heavy things I am unable to write properly but I have been learning to minimize the things around me that may cause stress in my live to avoid this. I have also been practicing little things like resting my elbow on the table to decrease lesson the shaking, or not lifting a full glass or simply holding my glass or cup with both hands.

Sometimes I am required to do presentations and this makes me so nervous as all I am thinking of is that the people are looking at my shaking and not necessarily listening to what I have to say. I am now in my forty, still living with it and still hate having to interact or interface with people as they always seem to comment on it - “why are you shaking?” However, I am now in a little better position to afford the service of a neurologist so I will be making an appointment to see one sometime this month. I hope they can find the cause and the right cure for my condition.