since I was 15, I developed a tremor in my head/neck and upper body, including my arms.
At first, when I was 16–17, I thought it was heart-related, but I have now realized it is clearly a tremor.

I am currently 24 and I honestly can’t tolerate it anymore in daily life.
I cannot hold normal conversations without my head shaking or wobbling.
It affects me constantly and makes normal social interaction extremely difficult.

So far, I have not taken any medication.
Over the past two years, I was repeatedly referred to psychiatrists because multiple neurologists did not take me seriously, telling me that this kind of condition usually only appears at a much later age.

I finally have an appointment with a specialist this Tuesday.
I have heard about possible treatments such as Botox injections and something related to radiation-based procedures.
Is there any real chance of a cure without medication?

I am looking for advice on what treatments or medications are generally not effective and should be avoided?

At this point, I feel unable to continue living like this in a normal way. I understand there are people who suffer more severe conditions and worse circumstances, but everyone experiences their own form of suffering in a different way.

My brother (17m) was born a bit weak. He had tonsil removal surgery at 6 months old and pretty much was on breathing machines his first year. He does not have the best immune system as in he gets multiple colds easily during winter. Really wondering if this played a factor to his hand tremors (both hands shake). He’s had them since the moment he could move and at first we thought maybe he was a bit skinny when he was a child, weak nutrients and it will get better when he is older and eats healthier. We did that, he looked better at 10, gained lots of weight, was healthy but the tremors don’t go away. Now as a teenager, tall and healthy boy, his tremors got worse. I feel before as a kid, his hands would shake at simple tasks here and there or when he just woke up but now it’s all the time no matter what. I’ve taken him to doctors and gotten blood tests done and everything cane back normal. The doctors tried telling me it’s because he suppressed lots of anger and that it’s mental state even though I’ve explained it’s been from birth. We don’t have the best doctors from where I’m from and found their explanation hard to believe. We’ve taken him to therapy and he was fine so that ruled that opinion out. And as far as family history, no one has had it, only those in older ages obviously. He’s still a kid and don’t want this tremor to effect him all his life especially since it seems to get worse the older he gets. Does anyone have any explanation or possibility on what might be the cause?

Hello, I (20) went to the neurologist today because my unknown tremor had been getting bad recently and I wanted answers, but long story short apparently I’ve been diagnosed with essential tremors since I was fifteen, but since I had other medical things going on they forgot to explain it to me.

I am going to be starting primidone because I have asthma and we are avoiding propranolol, and I have hope for that, but as of current my functioning is frustratingly impaired. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t even read my one handwriting, and god forbid I reach for something in a crowded cabinet because everything will fall. I also have a tremor in my legs when I’m standing still which can be painful and embarrassing.

I’m glad I finally have a treatment available but reading that this is a progressive condition has only gotten me worried. My family members who have it all got it in their early 30s, and while those from my generation are doing well with meds, my aunts who are in their sixties are struggling a lot more now. This is causing me some anxiety about my future, since I read that the rate of worsening will probably be similar.

Overall does anyone have any advice/ similar stories that they are willing to share?

I don't usually talk about this, but I feel like I need to get it off my chest.

I've had hand tremors for about 4 years now. My hands and my muscles shake whenever I tense , and it's honestly one of the things that affects me the most.

What hurts the most isn't the tremor itself—it's when people notice it and ask, "Why are your hands shaking?" I know most of them don't mean any harm, but those questions always make me feel self-conscious.

And this has become a huge source of stress. Whenever I try to insert a cannula, my hands shake even more. I've reached a point where I avoid doing it for my relatives because I'm afraid they'll notice or judge me. I've heard comments like, "How are you going to be a doctor?" or "You won't be able to do procedures." Those words really stay with me.

Now I’m about to start my internship, and I’m terrified. I keep thinking about procedures like drawing an ABG, inserting IV cannulas, suturing, or any hands-on skill. I’m scared I won’t be able to do them properly, or that I might accidentally stick myself because of the tremor.

Mentally, this has been exhausting.

I know some people will say, "Just see a doctor." I probably should. But I'm afraid the answer will just be a beta blocker, and honestly, I'm not ready to think about taking medication for the rest of my life.

I've always been an anxious person, and I know anxiety makes the shaking even worse. It feels like a vicious cycle—the more nervous I get, the more my hands shake, and the more they shake, the more anxious I become.

I honestly don't know what to do anymore.

Has anyone here gone through something similar? Did things get better? Were you eventually able to perform procedures confidently?

I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences because, right now, I feel pretty alone.

About a month ago I (M 40s) started taking a microdose of semaglutide. I’m not really all that overweight but started on this medication to hopefully help with some mild sleep apnea after failing CPAP. That’s a work in progress and haven’t lost much weight yet. Not diabetic as well.

Here is the strange part. I’ve struggled with essential tremor since I was a teenager but have had it so long that it’s normalized to me despite it progressing a bit. My tremor is quite variable and ramps up under pressure or physical exertion. I take propranolol on rare occasions but haven’t used it recently. Ever since taking semaglutide my tremor seems to be super mild to close to non existent. Today I assembled a bike (think lots of wrenches) that normally would have left me shaky for the rest of the day but I seem to have no tremor. I also have certain movements like moving my wrists where tremor was quite obvious that are smooth now. I don’t quite get it but I obviously plan on continuing.

Was curious if anyone has any similar experiences.

Hi everyone,

I’m 34 and have had mainly left-sided symptoms for about two years. My left hand sometimes trembles at rest or during movement, and my hand and forearm often feel tight or contracted.

When I walk, my left arm sometimes swings normally and sometimes less. Typing is also difficult at times: my left hand may work normally, then become tense, shaky, or less coordinated.

The symptoms vary with stress, fatigue, physical activity, and how much attention I pay to my hand.

My brain MRI, CT scan, blood tests, and genetic testing were normal. I am being followed by a neurologist.

Has anyone experienced something similar, and what has helped you?

from faq

5.    What is a realistic time line before symptom relief is seen?

The oral therapy produces an appreciable improvement within a few days, but sometimes the patient may not realize it. This is the reason why we always request and perform a video recording of the patient before and after the therapy, at regular intervals, to be used as reference.

Within 30 days in most of the cases, a clear and appreciable improvement of the symptoms is detected by the patient as well. A further improvement is observed within the following two-three months.

There exist an oral dose (OD) and an intramuscular dose (ID) that differ in absolute quantity but which are equal in effectiveness. However, if the intestinal absorption is not optimal, the OD may require to be increased to counterbalance for this condition, or to a certain level the patient may need to be switched to intramuscular regime and have the optimal ID.

The effectiveness of one intramuscular injection (100 mg) is nothing short of impressive in all cases we observed. One phial determines an almost sudden improvement that is clearly appreciable by the doctor as well as by the patient.

This improvement concerns primarily the facial mimic and expressions, the muscular tone, the mood of the patient and his/her movements and speed, and the reduction of the tremor. Within one hour the UPDRS improves by some 30-40%.

The improvement is clearly visible by the videos recordings before and after the shot. In all of our patients we carry out the UPDRS and the recordings. The patient is asked to speak and his/her face is recorded, is asked to walk, write, and perform other activities. In addition we always carry out the pull test.

Subsequently, the patient, as in the case of the OD, will continue improving for the following two months or so, reaching a stable clinical condition.

https://highdosethiamine.org/frequently-asked-questions-about-hdt/

6.    Do tremors eventually go away over time?

The tremor is highly reduced, though being one of the sturdiest symptoms of PD, usually it is indispensable that l-dopa is also administrated to the patient.

It is rare that a patient who follows our protocol does not experience an appreciable or often even nearly complete regression of the tremor.

...Dr. Costantini's idea didn't die with him. Today, this movement relies heavily on other doctors, researchers, and dedicated support groups that help implement this protocol precisely (including how to avoid the so-called paradoxical reaction).

Dr. Daphne Bryan: She is one of the most important figures carrying on Dr. Costantini's work. She was a patient of his herself (diagnosed with Parkinson's), and thanks to the B1 therapy, she reversed most of her symptoms. She wrote the foundational book "Parkinson's and the B1 Therapy," which is currently the bible for people who want to use this protocol safely and according to exact guidelines. She also runs a massive, highly active support group on Facebook ("Parkinson's B1 Therapy"), where patients with ET, Parkinson's, and dystonia share their dosages, results, and research.

Dr. Elliot Overton: A British functional nutritionist and researcher (who runs the EONutrition YouTube channel) who is an absolute expert in the field of thiamine megadoses. Although he focuses on highly bioavailable oral forms (like benfotiamine or TTFD), he explains the phenomenon of the paradoxical reaction (the worsening of symptoms at the beginning of the journey) in great detail and teaches how to adjust doses so that the cells can properly absorb this vitamin.

https://preview.redd.it/zr1s80a9raah1.png?width=1024&format=png&auto=webp&s=2b7c94d4776f579fcf49d0fe6c91a9ec8f7028a9

I was recently diagnosed with Essential Tremor and I’m wondering if there are any other potters/ceramicists in this sub that would be willing to share your experience. My tremor is mild but it greatly affects my ability to throw on the wheel. It’s been frustrating and devastating… and I’m still learning how to navigate and accept this diagnosis.

I am 30 and have a mild shake and am grateful it is the way it is now, however I know this is a progressive disease and I wish it would just stay the way it is now forever. Is there a possibility it does stay like this forever because that would be honestly not that bad! I am just worried I am around the corner of something very bad and by the next few years it gets horrible. What are your experiences with aging and ET progression?

​

Hello,

I have been diagnosed with Adult-onset Still's disease.

My current medications are:

\- Methotrexate 15 mg once a week

\- Folic acid once a week (2 days after methotrexate)

\- Hydrocortisone 10 mg every morning

For more than a year, I have been experiencing tremors throughout my body. However, I notice them the most in my hands and in my smile. My hands almost always have a tremor, and even when I smile, my smile visibly shakes.

These tremors are present even when I am completely alone, relaxed, and not feeling anxious. They are not limited to stressful situations.

Stress does make them much worse. For example, about a week ago I had an interview for admission to a Master's program. During the interview, I felt like my whole body was shaking, and when I had to write my personal information on a piece of paper, my hands were trembling so badly that it was difficult to write.

I am becoming increasingly worried because I will soon start my Master's degree, and I am afraid these tremors will affect my studies, especially writing, presentations, and speaking in front of others.

Could this be related to Adult-onset Still's disease, my medications, an essential tremor, or another neurological condition? What tests or evaluations would you recommend?

Thank you for your time.

Hello, it’s been 7 months since I quit the SSRI Citalopram. I got extremely, extremely physically/neurologically sick after I quit. To make a long story short: I had over 30+ symptoms. I was bedridden for 3 months, I couldn’t walk/sleep/eat, and my body felt like it was on fire and being electrocuted 24/7. Hell on earth. It has been the most horrible period of my life.

On this day I only have around 2-3 symptoms left. Which are: low libido (almost fully back), myoclonus in my toes and small tremors in my neck/head.

I don’t really understand what’s going on, but my head feels wobbly. And when I look up or down, I feel like my head is a jelly and can’t keep proper balance. My head feels heavy. I hear cracking noises when I’m not even moving it. This seems to be worsening day by day.

Every 30 seconds I feel a tremor and hear a crack, even when I’m not even moving or holding my head up.

Will this go away?

I lead a volunteer, open-source project building a zero-friction symptom logging app called "Today Matters". The project began as a personal mission to build an accessible tool for my husband, who is navigating Parkinson's.

While the app itself functions as a Parkinson's tracker, the reason I am reaching out to this specific community is to focus entirely on the interface mechanics. Standard touchscreen apps completely fail anyone dealing with daily hand tremors or changes in fine motor control.

We want to make sure our screen layouts, button sizes, and touch targets actually work smoothly for someone with a shaky hand. We are looking to learn from your daily physical frustrations with smartphones so we can design our interface correctly.

Who we’re looking for:

Anyone experiencing significant daily hand tremors (such as Essential Tremor) who uses a smartphone daily.

You do NOT need to have Parkinson's to participate—we are strictly looking to learn about your physical experience navigating phone screens with tremors.

What’s involved: A relaxed 60-minute conversation over Zoom or phone. No tech expertise needed—just your everyday experience. There’s nothing to prepare and no right or wrong answers.

Why it matters: This is a free, open-source tool built entirely by volunteers. While the data logged is for Parkinson's, the layout solutions we build will be completely open and transparent, proving that touchscreen interfaces can be designed to accommodate hand tremors with dignity.

Closing the loop: Because this is a transparent, open-source project, we are committed to sharing our design updates back with this community as we progress so you can see how your feedback turns into real, accessible screens.

Your privacy: Everything you share is anonymous. Your name will never be connected to anything you tell us.

How to join us: Please send me a Direct Message (DM) or comment below if you’d like to join us in building this. Your voice can truly make an impact.

Have had an essential tremor of the hands my whole life. I am a 35 year old woman , and I have recently felt my neck and even lip have a slight tremor starting. Today during an exercise class my neck and head started uncontrollably shaking. I’m so scared of my tremors progressing, and affecting my neck and head. It’s had a huge impact on my confidence growing up. Need to see a neurologist as i haven’t seen one in over a decade … does anyone have any tips or recommendations, things that have helped me?

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share some interesting data regarding High-Dose Thiamine (HDT / Vitamin B1) therapy, which was pioneered by Italian neurologist Dr. Antonio Costantini specifically for neurological disorders and essential tremor.

📈 The Improvement Rates (What the Studies Show)

According to Dr. Costantini's published clinical observations on ET patients:

• Average Response: A 50% to 70% reduction in tremor intensity. Most patients regained the ability to write, drink from a cup normally, and button their shirts.
• Maximum Response: In the most successful cases, patients saw a 90% to 100% reduction—meaning the tremor stopped almost completely.
• Timeline: Onset of improvement was often surprisingly fast, sometimes within just a few days of hitting the correct therapeutic dose.

💊 How Much to Take & How to Start

Standard low doses (like 50 mg) do not work because chronic neuroinflammation blocks the standard pathways into the brain. You need a "taran" effect (passive diffusion), which requires gram-level doses.

• The Target Dose: Typically between 1,000 mg and 2,000 mg (1–2 grams) daily of pure Thiamine Hydrochloride (HCl) powder.
• How to Start: Do NOT start with grams immediately. You must start with a tiny micro-dose (a small pinch of powder, around 50–100 mg) to check your body's tolerance and avoid a paradox flare-up.
• Titration: Slowly increase the dose every few days, looking for the "sweet spot" where the tremor starts to back off and your energy stabilizes.

Since pure B1 powder is incredibly cheap, it seems like a highly logical, low-risk biochemical experiment for anyone dealing with severe tremors. Has anyone here actually given the Costantini protocol a proper shot?

https://preview.redd.it/b995mcgwv29h1.png?width=1024&format=png&auto=webp&s=ce7e42fdd5c9169a064470c6cdbb8aac0cf0db91

I previously made a post where I recommended C8 MCT oil. The average tremor improvement is 50% or even more, but it’s a bit of a roulette. Personally, I noticed that it actually works, and it is backed by research—this isn't fiction. For some people, the improvement is small, for others it's moderate, and for some, it's huge.

I'm pasting what I plan to test myself now so that others can benefit from it. Neurologists will never tell you about this. There were people who actually bought C8 oil and now know it works, while others did nothing and have no idea because they couldn't even be bothered to try—even though it's totally worth it. It’s another chance, and everyone reacts differently.

If anyone wants to look into it, they can use Google or AI to find more information. Those who can't be bothered won't try it anyway

Hi guys, sorry if this isn’t relevant to the subreddit.

Basically I’ve been apparently having ET since at least June of last year. I started to notice shaking when I’m working out. For example when I’d be doing donkey kicks or deadlifts, I can feel my pelvis shake. I’m pretty active and even when I started working out 5 years ago, I would never shake this much so I knew it wasn’t normal. I love yoga but now the flowy movements just feel so choppy all throughout my body.

This year I got an MRI of the brain and spinal cord, all clear. Blood tests like thyroid, diabetes, B12, all clear. A neurologist recently told me that I have ET and offered medication.

Does anyone else experience it like this? I’m new to looking at the subreddit but so far have only seen people post or comment about feeling it in their hands. I have that too but it’s never ever when I’m at rest.

Thanks in advance and I wish y’all the best despite this affliction :)

I have always been really self conscious about my tremors because i am a doctor and i have to do injections and do some precise work. My tremor is killing my confidence and as i am taking an SSRI for my anxiety i feel like my tremor is getting kinda worse because of the ssri

Now the problem is because i have a tendency to Psoriasis i am not allowed to take Propranolol ( ẞeta Blockers) as they might exacarbate or cause flares. Am i doomed? I want to focus on the procedure but instead my tremor is causing me more anxiety and kill my confidence, i feel like my career is doomed, is there anything else i could take? Any experiences?