Why do we shake when we’re nervous or frightened? (2024)

FAQs

Why do we shake when we're nervous or frightened? ›

Adrenaline works directly on receptor cells in muscles to speed up the contraction rate of the fibres, ready for fighting or fleeing. High levels of adrenaline can therefore lead to muscles twitching uncontrollably, making us shake.

When you become anxious, stressed or even angry, your nerves are heightened, causing shakiness. Some medications. Some people are more sensitive to medication than others. Asthma medications, antidepressants, lithium and even antihistamines can cause your hands to shake.

This fight-or-flight response enhances our capacity to survive danger by preparing us for immediate action. Increased tension in our muscles can cause involuntary shaking.

Anxiety, fear, feeling generally unwell and fever can all make you feel trembly - the expression 'shaking in his boots' is one we all recognise. Of course, feeling shaky without knowing what's causing it can make you feel anxious - which can lead to a vicious cycle of shakiness.

The term “shaking like a leaf” is commonly used to describe a reaction to a frightening situation. Shaking or trembling, which comes from the limbic brain (the part of the brain that holds emotions), sends a signal that the danger has passed and that the fight-or-flight system can turn off.

Tremors or shaking can be symptoms caused by your nervous system. When you start feeling nervous, your body often releases stress hormones due to your fight-or-flight response.

There are many possible reasons for shaking. Common causes include medications, stress, anger, anxiety, overconsumption of caffeine, low blood sugar, and some physical conditions like essential tremor.

Panic attacks often include physical symptoms that might feel like a heart attack, such as trembling, tingling, or rapid heart rate. Panic attacks can occur at any time.

Anxiety shivers are a common symptom of anxiety. Although not a formal clinical term, anxiety shivers refers to the experience of anxiety that might cause someone to shiver, shake, tremble, feel like they have the chills, or feel it is hard to regulate their body temperature.

How to stop body shaking? ›

Strategies to help stop shivering may depend on the cause, but can include deep breathing, using extra blankets or heat pads, and medical treatment. When people are cold, the muscles in their body will contract and relax rapidly to generate heat. This causes part or all of the body to shiver or shake.

Medications: Medications commonly used to treat essential tremor include beta-adrenergic blockers (beta blockers), such as propranolol, and the anti-seizure medication primidone.

: to move irregularly to and fro. 2. : to vibrate especially as the result of a blow or shock. 3. : to tremble as a result of physical or emotional disturbance.

Essential tremor is a neurological (nervous system) disorder characterised by the involuntary shaking or trembling of particular parts of the body, usually the head and hands.