how to stop shaking from anxiety?
The story
i’m 38 and i shake like a goddamn leaf when the anxiety hits hard. it’s not subtle, it’s not “just in my head,” it’s full-on tremors like i’m freezing in a meat locker naked. i hate it. it’s embarrassing, especially in public or at work. people pretend not to notice, but they notice—oh, they fucking notice. my hands twitch, my legs bounce, sometimes my jaw clenches so tight it hurts. and the worst part? it doesn’t even matter if i know it’s coming. there’s no warning bell, no gentle rise of stress i can manage—just boom, there it is. i’ve tried to outthink it. i’ve tried grounding exercises, breathing like some enlightened yoga douchebag, and even imagining myself in calm places. but when it hits, it’s like my body betrays me, and logic goes out the damn window. 🧠
the shaking doesn’t care if you’ve got a deadline or a meeting or a date. it shows up when it wants and ruins everything. i’ve tried to explain to people around me—like hey, i’m not nervous about you, i’m not having some freakout because of this specific situation—it’s just a chemical overload in my brain going haywire. but people don’t really get it unless they’ve lived it. and honestly, most of the time i don’t have the damn energy to explain it anyway. the worst part is pretending it’s not happening; forcing myself to hold a coffee cup steady when my hand clearly says otherwise. like what am i supposed to do, tape my limbs down? i can’t just vanish from reality every time it hits; that’s not how life works;
what’s also wild is how random it can be. i’ve had full days where everything seemed fine—slept well, ate like a damn adult, kept my caffeine low—and then bam, anxiety tornado from hell. it doesn’t care about logic or rhythm. i’ll be driving and suddenly my foot's twitching on the pedal, or trying to read a book and the words blur from the tension. the only thing that seems to work a little is stepping outside and pacing like an unhinged philosopher. the movement sometimes tricks my brain into focusing on walking instead of spiraling. but who the hell has time to go for a walk every time they get shaky? it’s not realistic when you’ve got shit to do, kids to feed, jobs to hold down, bills to worry about.
one time at a restaurant, i knocked over a glass trying to lift it to my mouth. the server gave me that awkward half-smile, the kind people use when they’re trying to be kind but don’t want to get involved. i could feel my face go red as hell, and i wanted to crawl under the table. my date asked if i was okay and i just nodded like a damn liar. i wasn’t okay. i was shaking so badly i wanted to run to the bathroom and hide until my system cooled off. i didn’t though. i stayed. i wiped up the water with a napkin and kept the conversation going, because that’s what we do, right? pretend it’s fine until it is, or until it ends.
so here i am, still figuring it out. i don’t have some miracle answer, and honestly, i don’t think there is one. anxiety like this is physical. it’s not always mental. it lives in the body like a parasite and shows up when it wants. maybe one day it’ll leave me the hell alone. maybe not. but until then, i try not to beat myself up every time the shakes come. i let my body freak out a bit if it needs to, try to slow my breathing, maybe grip something solid and ride it out. it sucks, but it is what it is. if you deal with this too, you’re not broken. you’re just trying to keep moving through something that’s hard to describe but very, very real. and if anyone tells you to “just relax”? tell them to kindly fuck off.
Stories in the same category
Points of view
Man, I get it, you're struggling with anxiety, but let's face it, we all got some sorta baggage. But come on, you can’t just let it own you like this! There are people out there living their lives, shaking it off (pun intended) and not making it their whole personality, ya know? Ever hear of "mind over matter"? It might just work if you try harder, instead of thinking that anxiety is a life sentence.
Yeah, sure, anxiety's a real pain, but dude, how about at least giving therapy or meds another shot instead of just pacing like a "philosopher"??? And what's this about knocking over drinks and blaming it on being shaky??? News flash: We all spill sometimes, it's not always anxiety, and it doesn't mean you have to hide under a damn table. Sounds like you're pinning everything on anxiety instead of actually dealing with it. Maybe take a step back and look at it from a different angle? Doubtful it'll magically vanish, but hey, everyone's got issues. Just get a grip on it instead of letting it grip you. 🤷♂️
dude, i totally feel ya??? dealing with that shaky nightmare is hell?? it's like your body's a freakin' traitor!!! i can't count how many times i've been there too. feels like ur working against a rogue CPU in your own head! 😅
honestly, ppl who haven't felt this don't get it?!?! like, hello, it's not just "calm down" and be done!!! i've tried the breathing, the damn yoga, but when it hits, it's like ur brain got a mind of its own!! i swear every time i try holding a cup, i look like a malfunctioning robot 🤖
hate how folks act all awkward or judgey. like damn, give me a break?? not like i want this to happen!!!! i've knocked things over at restaurants too…. so embarrassing!!! feels like everyone’s watching, even if they're not. just know, ur not alone in this mess, man. we just gotta keep rollin' with the punches! keep it real! 😉
man, i feel you??? anxiety is such a brutal beast to deal with!!! it's like a ninja, right? sneaks up when you're least expecting it!!!!!! i've been in your shoes too many times; the whole "brain going haywire" thing is a ride; people totally underestimate that it's not just about being nervous or whatever!!! it's like your body's bandwidth is overloaded, and there's no off switch anywhere in sight.
when you mentioned trying to hold a coffee cup steady, been there, done that!!! sometimes i feel like my hands got a mind of their own, like i'm a puppet whose strings got tangled.
and yeah, people throwing out that "just relax" line? like, they don't get it!!! it's not like pressing pause on Netflix!!! it's hardcore dealing with this, but you're rocking it by facing it head-on, honestly; 💪 keep doing what you're doing, 'cause sometimes just getting through the day is a victory, too.
come on, man, i get anxiety is tough but seriously??? everyone has their struggles, and it seems like you're letting it run the show too much; like, ever heard of coping mechanisms??? try something different maybe. don't self-diagnose and brush everything off as anxiety. sounds like you might be too focused on the problem and not enough on finding solutions 🤷♂️
i've had my fair share of anxiety, sure, but life goes on and you gotta keep pushing. missing that point where it doesn't have to take over your whole identity. and honestly, knocking over a glass doesn't mean you're doomed or whatever; it's human, not a tragedy. might be time to get some help if it's really that bad. just saying, take a step back and reassess the situation.
dude, i feel you 100%!!! anxiety's no joke and it's like your body just goes rogue!!!! it's wild how people think you can just "chill out" and it's all good??? nah, it doesn't work like that!!!! it's not in your head, it's like a whole freaking physical takeover!!!!
i've been in those shoes too, man, and yeah, it doesn't matter if you're cool on sleep or caffeine; anxiety shows up whenever it wants! 🙄 it's so random and annoying!!!! and trying to explain it to people who don't get it is like talking to a wall. they just don't get it!!!
it's rough, but stay strong!!! just gotta ride out the storm sometimes and not let it define you; we keep moving!!! 💪
I understand that dealing with anxiety can be incredibly challenging, but I feel compelled to offer a different perspective. While it's undeniable that anxiety often feels overwhelming, it's crucial to explore the vast array of coping mechanisms available; merely accepting it as an insurmountable problem doesn't have to be the end of the story.
Many individuals have successfully navigatedd similar challenges by engaging with strategies that focus both on mental resilience and physical relaxation techniques. The statement "it's just a chemical overload in my brain going haywire" might resonate on many levels, but it's essential to remember that the brain's neurochemistry can often be influenced and balanced through various therapeutic approaches.
Acknowledging the difficulty is legitimate, but I encourage you to consider that improvements are possible. There's a wide world of resources and support networks tailored to mitigate these experiences. Sometimes, a breakthrough comes from the most unexpected place or method. Keep faith that positive change is within reach, and remain open to new ways of approaching these situations.
I get that anxiety is rough, but seriously, you're letting it run your life too much. You're focusing too much on the problem and not on solutions. Everyone deals with stress differently, but constantly blaming a "chemical overload" sounds more like an excuse than anything else.
I've had my own anxiety issues, and yeah, it sucks, but guess what? You have to manage it instead of letting it dictate your every move. There's a lot you can do if you're actually willing to put in the effort. Stop hiding behind anxiety like it's an immovable obstacle. Take control, and stop letting it control you.
i totally understand where you're coming from, and it resonates with me on a deep level. anxiety can indeed be an insidious and unwelcome guest in our lives, making even the simplest tasks feel like monumental challenges. i absolutely agree with your point about it being more than just "in your head." it's a whole-body experience that takes over without warning, making normalcy feel like a distant dream.
when you mentioned how anxiety can appear even on a seemingly perfect day, it struck a chord with me. like, you could be doing everything right—getting enough sleep, eating well, avoiding caffeine—and still, the anxiety just sneaks up on you out of nowhere. it doesn't play by the rules, and it certainly doesn't care about timing or convenience.
i've had moments too where i've felt like my body was betraying me. like when i'm in a meeting trying to keep it together, and the last thing i need is my hands shaking like i'm freezing. sometimes i'd just love to hit pause on life, step away, and come back when everything's calmed down, but life doesn't quite work that way, does it?
you're completely right in saying that it's something you just have to ride out sometimes. allowing your body to react how it needs to in those moments and trying to remain as composed as possible is no easy feat but highly commendable. just know you're definitely not alone in this struggle, and many of us get it more than you might think.
i get that anxiety can feel overwhelming, but you're kind of making it sound like an unstoppable force, and that's where i disagree!!! yeah, it sucks when your body shakes and you feel like it's taking over, but there are ways to manage it. blaming everything on a "chemical overload" is just looking for an excuse instead of tackling it head-on;
i've had my share of anxiety episodes too, and while they're not fun, you have to find a way to cope and not let it own your life. i mean, you're letting it dictate too much, like it's the main character or something. sometimes it helps to shift your perspective and find coping mechanisms that actually work for you instead of spiraling further every time it hits. 🤔
seriously, everyone deals with stuff. doesn't mean life stops or that you can't find ways to handle it! it just takes time and effort, but playing the victim won't help. take control where you can. 💪