Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask you what you think if a young man has trembling hands

206 replies

ConfusedWife1234 · 23/12/2018 08:10

What is the first thing you would think of? Would you give it a second thought at all? This is just a poll cause I wanna know.

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 23/12/2018 13:17

How young? DDad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 40, and he’d displayed symptoms for several years before. I think Michael J Fox was 29 when he was diagnosed.

Because of DDad I always associate a tremor with Parkknson’s.

Skyecat · 23/12/2018 13:20

Early onset essential tremor.

CatnissEverdene · 23/12/2018 13:29

I'd say nerves first, then possibly substance issues.

WeirdCatLady · 23/12/2018 13:40

I would assume some sort of nervous condition. If it looked like they were having anxiety issues as well as trembling hands I would ask if they needed anything or if I could help.

myhamsteratefreddiestarr · 23/12/2018 13:40

I would think nerves, a male friend used to shake all the time because he was nervous and had mental health issues.

LuckyLurker · 23/12/2018 13:48

My daughter has this. It is called a Benign Essential Tremor and common in young people. Google it. She has mediation she can take for when it is bad. I never imagine people might assume it was drink or drugs. Ironically alcohol improves the shaking!

Notquiteagandt · 23/12/2018 14:13

My first thought would be torretts or some kind of tick or tremour disorder.

But theres many things that could cause it anything from a sugar rush, energy drinks etc to anixity based reasons upto neurological reasons such as epilepsy, parkinsons, M.S. etc.

I wouldnt pay attention to it tbh as I wouldnt want them to think I had noticed or it was an issue etc as if it was a nervous based reason im sure that would be asperated by someone looking at it and making a thing of it.

I get tremours when my blood sugar drops. I also get them for a couple days after a bad migraine attack when i am still post drome.

sparklesaremyfavourite · 23/12/2018 14:18
  1. anxiety
  2. thyroid disorder (but only because my son has this)
  3. some other medical condition
  4. possibly alcohol or caffeine overuse/withdrawal
CuppaSarahsCuppaChristmasCheer · 23/12/2018 14:21

Low blood sugar. Happens to my husband all the time so I doubt I'd even notice it.

YoungLennyGodber · 23/12/2018 14:22

I’m young and have MS, and my hands constantly tremble Sad

lau888 · 23/12/2018 14:25

My very first thought would be shivering due to coldness. After that, I suppose I would run through the usual list of potential tremor causes - if I was still paying attention. (Obviously, if it was a very young person on their own, I'd take a closer interest in case they were ill and in need of assistance from a stranger.) x

MeOldChina · 23/12/2018 14:26

Neurological condition

lau888 · 23/12/2018 14:29

In response to the update, I confirm that would not be my first thought. Nor would I spend any great length of time observing an adult. I hope that's reassuring. x

IPromiseIWontBeNaughty · 23/12/2018 15:33

Wouldn’t be my first thought either Flowers

Pandamodium · 23/12/2018 15:37

I have them due to PTSD and bipolar meds I'm 30. If anyone notices I just explain minus the gory details.

jimmyhill · 23/12/2018 15:41

Rattling.

InfiniteCurve · 23/12/2018 15:44

My first thought unless there were very obvious pointers to something else would be essential tremor - DD has a tremor,so do I now but I was ok when young.

PollyFlinderz · 23/12/2018 15:44

Three of my children have them and I would always suspect BET in others if I saw their hands trembling.

It doesn’t hinder my children. Not even the one who flies aeroplanes for a living.

Another son has medicine induced tremors. I find that upsetting.

Bluebell878275 · 23/12/2018 15:49

My dad's hands shake. My brother is the same, became noticeable when he was a teenager and he is now in his thirties. Nothing wrong with either of them so it is a bit of a mystery.

whatsnewchoochoo · 23/12/2018 16:01

I'd assume maybe anxiety but to be honest it's highly unlikely I'd notice. I'm never focussed on someone's hands

Bangkokbaby · 23/12/2018 16:04

I have an essential tremor. I've had it since my teens. I would probably assume the person had the same condition. I'm quite paranoid about people noticing as I'm sure they think I'm nervous or anxious.

PatsyStone39 · 23/12/2018 16:24

I've just been out for a coffee and the young male waiter who served us had shaky hands. My first thought was the poor soul had been out last night drinking and was suffering today!

Chouetted · 23/12/2018 16:43

I would assume anxiety, sleep deprivation, caffiene or tremor, depending on context. I wouldn't give it another thought unless they were about to do something that requires steady hands.

elliejjtiny · 23/12/2018 16:50

Nerves, Parkinson's. I think there might be a form of Tourette syndrome that causes tremors.

ALongHardWinter · 23/12/2018 17:03

My first thought would be low blood sugar,as I've occasionally experience trembling hands when I've gone too long without eating. My second thought would be that maybe it was a case of the DTs,withdrawal from alcohol,which I witnessed in my ex.