The Emotional Impact of Essential Tremor and Strategies for Coping

The Emotional Impact of Essential Tremor and Strategies for Coping

When you think about essential tremor, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the physical symptom of hand shaking. While this is a physical symptom, this condition impacts much more than just movement. For many, the physical symptoms of essential tremor can cause many emotional and psychological issues that are not as frequently noticed or identified.

The presence of shaking can cause mental issues with confidence and self-esteem, impair social skills and can even cause a poor quality of life overall. Things that are usually simple, like eating in public or signing your name, can cause an overwhelming amount of anxiety and can be torturous to participate in.

It is extremely important to understand the mental issues caused by essential tremor just as much as it is to understand the physical symptoms. If a person has proper mental support, treatment, and coping strategies, there is potential to live a confident and fulfilling life.

What Is Essential Tremor?

Essential tremor is a neurological disorder that is caused by involuntary and rhythmic hand shaking. Of all the disorders that are present, essential tremor is more heavily identified with hand shaking and head, voice, and limb movement.

Unlike the other movement disorder, Parkinson’s, essential tremor is not a resting disorder and is only present when there is movement.

Essential tremor can be found in people of all ages; however, it is more frequently identified in older people and has a higher degree of familial occurrence.

Symptoms of Essential Tremor

Essential tremors can be identified as a gradual onset of a movement disorder that becomes more severe and that can differ from person to person.

Common Symptoms of Essential Tremor:

• Hands shake during various activities
• Difficulty with clear handwriting
• Tremors when eating/drinking
• Tremors of the head/voice
• Difficulty with fine motor tasks
• Symptoms worsen due to stress, anxiety, or fatigue

Though these symptoms are primarily physical, they cause emotional and social distress.

How is Essential Tremor Diagnosed?

There is no specific test which indicates Essential tremor. Diagnosis is completed by a thorough examination by the neurologist.

Overview of Medical History:

The neurologist may inquire about:

• When the symptoms first appeared
• Do other family members have a history of tremors?
• What activities does the tremor impact?
• What makes the symptoms worse?

Neurological Examination:

The neurologist will assess:

• Patterns of the tremor
• Coordination
• Balance
• Strength of the muscles
• How the muscles respond
• Other involuntary movements

Ready for the tremor?

Blood tests and MRI’s may be completed to examine how other neurological problems may be causing tremors.

The Emotional Impact of Essential Tremor

The emotional impact of having Essential tremor is often overlooked. Though the condition is non-life-threatening, it is perceived as such, causing anxiety in distracting social situations.

Loss of Confidence

Individuals become aware of their tremors as they are more apparent during interactions.

Shaking hands have a negative impact on writing notes and even holding a cup during a meal.

Social interactions become less frequent and limited as their confidence decreases.

Social Anxiety

Having Essential tremor causes some people to think about how others will perceive them.

Some think others will conclude they are nervous or sick. Others think they have been drinking.

Because of these issues, sufferers may try to keep their distance from:

• Social events
• Public engagements
• Business activities
• Restaurants
• Socializing with unfamiliar people

All of these behaviours can isolate the person from their friends and loved ones and generate a sense of loneliness.

Frustration and Emotional Exhaustion

Constantly battling the effects of essential tremor can be frustrating and emotionally draining. Once easy tasks take a lot of effort and can drain you of your mental capacity. Adapting to the symptoms takes a toll on your cognitive energy as well.

How Essential Tremor Affects Your Work and Professional Life

Essential tremor makes it difficult for some people to be successful in their jobs. This is especially true for jobs that require precision and involve a lot of handwriting or public speaking, or that require interaction with a lot of different people.

Stress and anxiety may also be amplified because of concerns regarding job and public performance.

Depression and Low Mood

Some people experience depression, while others just suffer from a low mood. This can be especially true for people who have low mood during a flare-up of symptoms when they lose some degree of their independence.

Emotional symptoms of essential tremor should be acknowledged.

Why Does Stress Increase the Severity of Tremors?

The most frustrating factor of essential tremor is that emotional stress almost always worsens the tremors. This creates a cycle:

• Tremors create embarrassment
• Embarrassment creates anxiety
• Anxiety creates stress
• Stress exacerbates tremors
• Worsened tremors create further anxiety

Managing the condition becomes all about breaking this cycle.

How to Cope with the Emotional Effects of Essential Tremor

Educate Yourself on the Condition

Understanding essential tremor can decrease your fear regarding the condition. Because this is a recognized neurological condition (and not a sign of weakness or nervousness), it can help boost your self-confidence.

Talk Openly About Your Symptoms

For some people, talking about their symptoms to friends, family, or coworkers can facilitate understanding of their condition.

The best environment for an individual is often one that is understanding and less frustrating.

Practice Stress Management Techniques

Stress can make tremors worse and lead to an individual losing further control of their symptoms.

Some suggestions to help manage stress are:

• Deep breathing
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Mindfulness
• Physical activity

Even a few minutes of relaxation daily can make a difference.

Stay Socially Connected

Although avoiding social events can provide some temporary relief, insecurity can make your emotional state worse.

Contact with friends, family, and community members helps to lessen loneliness and gain confidence.

Seek Professional Help

A counsellor, psychologist, or another mental health professional may be what you need if your emotional state is a result of anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem. Mental health professionals can help you learn to think in a more positive and healthy way.

Join a Support Group

To know that you are not alone can be very empowering. Support groups are a great way to share what you are going through and how you have coped, as well as hear how others have coped.

Medical Treatment

Treating the physical symptoms will help your emotional state. To treat essential tremors, you can try:

• Medication
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy focuses on voice tremors
• Deep Brain Stimulation

If essential tremor is a more advanced case, your neurologist can suggest the best options for you.

Conclusion

Many people think of essential tremor as a physical issue, but we must take the psychological part into account. Tremors can bring anxiety, embarrassment, frustration and negative effects on self-esteem.

We must address these emotional difficulties and use education, stress control, social support, and medical aids. People with essential tremor can lead successful and independent lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does essential tremor affect emotional health?
Essential tremor can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem and cause withdrawal and depression.

2. Why does nervousness make my tremors worse?
Anxiety and nervousness activate the stress response, and this makes the tremors more severe and easier to notice.

3. How can psychological support help essential tremor sufferers?
Psychological support can improve coping skills, reduce anxiety and bring emotional stability to the sufferers of essential tremor.