Beyond the Shakes: Embracing Peace in Anxious Times

Beyond the shakes: embracing peace in anxious times one moment at a time. “I can’t stop shaking from anxiety!” The funny anecdote is that I just had a panic attack and was shaking uncontrollably. Good time to discuss this topic. My “panic” stemmed from being able to stick up for myself (still learning) and confront people when they have done me wrong. And a few minutes ago, I did exactly that, and damn did it feel good.

Anxiety and tremors are like two peas in a pod. They go hand in hand. Tremors are one of the worst feelings in the world, but so is anxiety when it rears its ugly head. Anxiety+ Tremors=Panic Attacks. That’s at least one way to get a panic attack. The anxiety is still somewhat with me from earlier. I don’t know if I’ll sleep.

Internal Tremors Anxiety

Internal tremors anxiety is when your body’s “fight or flight” response kicks in. They produce a quivering sensation inside your arms, legs, chest, or abdomen. Internal vibrations aren’t as life-altering as external tremors. For example, you won’t physically shake while trying to pour a cup of tea or write a letter.

Symptoms of essential tremor include:

small movements of the arms and legs, especially when you are active
head nodding
quivering or shaky voice
trouble with balance
problems writing

Body, Hands, Legs, and Head Shaking

Body Shakes Anxiety

Your whole body shakes from anxiety. This is part of what I felt earlier. I was shaking so bad, and my mind was racing. If she doesn’t give me my package back, I have an ace up my sleeve. Two can play this game! I’ll just reorder my necklace, but she can’t get back what she’s about to lose.

Hand Tremors Anxiety

My hands are the first to start shaking when the anxiety is high. Although, I believe some of it is from the Parkinson’s. So, let’s just say, it gets worse. Right now, I’m experiencing intrusive thoughts, so bare with me. I’m still afraid to defend myself. Sorry, back to the topic. I find that the meds I’m on (Klonopin and Artane) are helping with the tremors.

You can try these strategies to help manage anxiety tremors:
- Make a fist and release: You can do this before going on stage or when you notice your hands are shaking.
- Take medication: Medications like beta-blockers, anti-seizure medications, and benzodiazepines can help manage anxiety and tremors. You should consult a doctor to determine the most appropriate medication for you.

Anxiety Trembling Legs

Beyond the shakes: embracing peace in anxious times helps alleviate the trembling. Besides having involuntary movements in my legs, I have trembling legs from anxiety. For example, last night was one of them. My legs felt like jello. I practice meditation to help combat wherever the tremors are, which usually relaxes my whole body.

Some things you can try to reduce anxiety tremors include:

Yoga, meditation, or other relaxation techniques
Getting enough sleep
Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco
Accepting your anxiety instead of worrying about it

Accepting the anxiety instead of battling it was one of the catalysts that for the most part, helped me get over constant anxiety. I still have panic attacks (like last night), but now I have an arsenal to stop them.

Head Trembling Anxiety

Involuntary head twitching can be caused by a number of different movement disorders. This can range from neck spasms to Parkinson’s disease.

The common types of movement disorders that affect the head, neck, and face include:

Essential tremor. Essential tremor is a brain disorder that causes trembling or shaking that worsens when you attempt basic movements.
Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes, among other things, tremors.
Tardive dyskinesia. Tardive dyskinesia is a side effect of long-term use of neuroleptic drugs. These drugs are typically used for psychiatric conditions. This condition can cause involuntary movements such as grimacing and blinking.
Tourette syndrome. Tourette syndrome is a neurological condition associated with motor tics — repetitive movements — and vocal tics — vocal sounds.

How do you treat head twitching?

For treating essential tremors:

primidone (Mysoline)
propranolol

For treating Tourette syndrome:

If this presents mildly, you may not require any treatment. Several treatments are available if needed, though. These include:

methylphenidate (Ritalin)
dextroamphetamine (Adderall)
risperidone (Risperdal)
aripiprazole (Abilify)

Along with the shaking of my head came the sore neck and shoulder muscles. My doctor put me on Valium to help with the tremors and pain, but I became addicted to it. So, that was the end of Valium. I believe I can take addictive meds (Klonopin) now, is that I have a different mindset. The med is there for one reason, and not to get a high from it.

Trembling Panic Attack

Beyond the shakes: embracing peace in anxious times helps with panic attacks. A panic attack is a brief episode of intense anxiety, which causes the physical sensations of fear. These can include a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling and muscle tension. Panic attacks occur frequently and unexpectedly, and are often not related to any external threat.

Panic attacks can very much cause tremors, especially the whole body. What I experienced last night was just that. It came on so quickly, I reached for the Klonopin. It calmed me down within fifteen minutes.

People with panic disorder experience frequent and unexpected panic attacks. While not everyone who experiences a panic attack will develop panic disorder, women are more likely than men to do so.

Night Tremors Anxiety

I was having night tremors anxiety for several years. I would jolt awake and leap out of bed. In essence, I believe it was a panic attack, but I was dreaming simultaneously. So, whatever I dreamed about caused the panic attack, and I woke up. I would shake until I knew there was no threat.

Anxiety can cause tremors during sleep in a number of ways, including:

Tense musclesAnxiety can cause muscles to tense up, leading to involuntary shaking or trembling.
Restless sleepAnxiety can make it difficult to reach deep sleep, which can keep the body alert and more likely to experience tremors.
Nightmares and vivid dreamsAnxiety-caused nightmares or vivid dreams can lead to physical reactions like shaking.

Other conditions that can cause night tremors include:

Nocturnal panic attacks

These sudden episodes of intense fear can cause trembling, rapid heart rate, sweating, and shortness of breath. They can be triggered by stress, traumatic events, or changes in sleep patterns.

Night terrors

These are common in children and can be linked to separation anxiety. Adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mood disorders may also be more likely to experience night terrors.

Some ways to treat night terrors include:

Therapy: Psychotherapy can help with stress management and exposure.
Anticipatory awakening: This technique involves waking up 15 minutes before the usual time of a night terror, staying awake for a few minutes, and then falling back asleep.

Some ways to create a safe sleeping environment include:

Locking all doors and windows
Removing trip hazards and dangerous objects
Identifying and relieving sources of stress
Getting more sleep
Having a relaxing routine before bed
Avoiding screen time for at least an hour before bed

Anxiety Tremor Treatment

Anxiety Tremors Medication

Beyond the shakes: embracing peace in anxious times and can be helped with meds. Medications that can help with anxiety tremors include:

Benzodiazepines

These anti-seizure medications can help with muscle tension and anxiety. Examples include alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin). They can be effective for tremors caused by anxiety or emotional stress, but they can have side effects like confusion, memory loss, and sedation.

Beta-blockers

These medications can help with tremors associated with essential tremor, high blood pressure, and performance anxiety. Propranolol is a commonly prescribed beta-blocker for essential tremor. Beta-blockers work by blocking adrenaline, the hormone released when you feel anxious or nervous.

Gabapentin

This membrane stabilizer can be used as a monotherapy or as an add-on therapy for essential tremor. It’s usually well tolerated, but side effects can include sedation, irritability, ataxia, and weight gain.

Topiramate

This medication can be used as a monotherapy or as an add-on therapy for essential tremor. Side effects can include suppression of appetite, weight loss, and paresthesias.

Botulinum toxins

These injectable medications, like Botox, temporarily weaken muscles to reduce shaking. They can be particularly effective for tremors affecting the head, voice, and hands.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is one of the best ways to combat anxiety tremors. I utilize it right before I meditate. It helps relieve the built up stress in your body and muscles. Here’s how to do it:

Tense and relaxTense a muscle group for about five seconds, then relax it for 10–20 seconds.
2. RepeatRepeat the tensing and relaxing process for each muscle group, working your way up or down the body.
3. FocusPay attention to how each muscle feels when it’s tense and relaxed.
4. PracticeWith practice, you can become more aware of when you’re tense and how to relax.

Cooling Strategies

Beyond the shakes: embracing peace in anxious times can be helped with cold water. Taking a cold shower or drinking cold water can offer immediate relief. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, the anxiety will start in. I often take cold showers, because it refreshens me. It’s a good wake-up call in the morning. Also, it takes me to a place (cold place) away from concentrating on the anxiety. I know it doesn’t sound nice, but it works.

Grounding Techniques

Grounding techniques can help you feel more present and calm when you’re experiencing anxiety. Here are some grounding techniques you can try:

Focus on your senses: Identify five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. You can also try:
- Pressing or rubbing your palms together
- Holding a piece of ice in your hand
- Dipping your face in cold water
- Savor the taste of food or drink
Breathe deeply: Breathe in slowly, place a hand on your belly, and feel it move with your breaths. You can also try square breathing, where you breathe in for four seconds, hold for four seconds, breathe out for four seconds, and hold for four seconds.
Visualize a calm place: Close your eyes and picture a place where you feel content and at ease, like the ocean, the forest, or a friend’s kitchen.
Check the facts: Get clear on what’s really happening rather than how you’re interpreting it.
Use humor: Seek out something that gives you a chuckle, like watching cat videos or a stand-up comedian.
Hold something and focus on it: Look for an object with an interesting texture or color, and focus on it.
Practice earthing: Earthing, also called grounding, involves activities that electrically reconnect you to the earth. Like pretending you have tree roots extending from the bottom of your feet into the earth.

Cognitive Deletion

For example, worrying if your partner had a car crash when they’re 10 minutes late home.

Or worrying that you won’t get your salary this month, because it’s one day late coming into your bank account.

Or worrying that your front door is not locked, even though you’ve checked it multiple times.

So this is unnecessary or invalid worry. But the reason why ‘Cognitive Deletion’ is so effective is because it sends a signal to your brain to check if your worry is valid or not.In other words, is it real or imagined? And once your brain realises that it’s NOT valid, all your overthinking instantly stops. This is the only way to stop the anxiety cycle. And when this anxiety cycle stops, you sleep

So, if anxiety is interrupting your life, then every day, it’s just going to get worse and worse. But fortunately, The Serenity Method is a video coaching program, and it’s the only course in the world that teaches ‘Cognitive Deletion’.

‘Cognitive Deletion’ is a unique set of BRAIN techniques that anyone can learn to do. They are easy to implement, you just need to be willing to try something new instead doing what you always do! And if you’re willing and motivated, you’ll eliminate unwanted anxiety out of your life for good.

Within days, you’re going to start to notice a massive difference, and the relief will be immense. The entire Serenity Method video course is online, which means you can view it instantly from anywhere in the world.

Sum It All Up

Beyond the shakes: embracing peace in anxious times can help you stay strong. There are lots of ways to combat anxiety and relieve yourself from the tremors. Some people prefer mindfulness techniques, while others rely on medication. I believe I rely too much on medication. I mean, I have tried these other strategies. The quick and easy way is to pop a pill. Such a fast-paced human race. Hardly ever take time for ourselves.

As for my trembling, anxiety the other night, I confronted her and she lied (as usual). I will just reorder my product. She will get a nice surprise coming soon. I’m not a “get even” type person, I’m just tired of being taken advantage of. I’m not “just taking it” this time. Not anymore! Peace and always love. Until next time…

Articles About Shaking From Anxiety

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Anxiety Shaking: What Causes It?

Have a Good One,

Cindee Murphy
“One Voice Getting Over Shaking From Anxiety” (Really)

“You are not your illness. You have an individual story to tell. Hence, you have a name, a history, and a personality. Staying yourself is part of the battle.” — Julian Seifter

“Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to the error that counts.” — Nikki Giovanni

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Why should we worry about what others think of us, do we have more confidence in their opinions than we do our own?” – Brigham Young