How to Stop Shaking

Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: July 14, 2021 References

Sometimes our bodies shake, which can be annoying when trying to carry out regular activities. Shaking is most noticeable when it is in the hands and legs. There are many reasons why your body might be shaking. Your body might be shaking because you are nervous, hungry, over-caffeinated, hypoglycemic, or as a result of a medical condition. In some cases, it's a simple lifestyle change that can help you stop shaking, but in other cases you may need medical attention. Keep reading to learn what you can do to stop shaking.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Relaxing to Stop Shaking

1
Take a deep breath. An excess of adrenaline can cause your body to shake, especially if something has scared you and caused your fight or flight response to kick in. This shaking will probably be most noticeable in your hands and legs. If you find that you are shaking as a result of fear or nervousness, the best thing that you can do is take a deep breath. Deep breathing stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is associated with sleep and relaxation. By taking a few deep breaths, you can put yourself into a more relaxed state.^{[1]
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- Inhale a long, deep breath through your nose and hold it for a few seconds. Then, exhale through your mouth.
- Take several deep breaths to help yourself calm down. If you are able, recline or lie down for a few minutes to make your deep breathing even more effective.
- You might want to try the 4-7-8 breathing technique to help with relaxation, which you can learn more about here: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uz2255.
2
Practice yoga or meditation. Stress and anxiety may be the cause of your shaking or it may be making your shaking worse. Relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation can help you stop shaking by reducing stress and anxiety. Try taking a beginner yoga or meditation class to see how it helps your shaking.

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3
Get a massage. Massage has been shown to reduce shaking in people who have essential tremor, a condition that causes the arms, legs, and head to shake at all times. In the study, the intensity of the subject's shaking decreased right after the massage. Whether you shake from stress and anxiety or from essential tremor, you may get some relief by having regular massages. Try a massage to see if it stops your shaking.
4
Get enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep can cause your hands and legs to shake or make shaking worse if you have an essential tremor.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital
Go to source} Make sure that you get the recommended amount of sleep every night. Teenagers need between 8.5 and 9.5 hours of sleep per night, while adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Adjusting Your Lifestyle

1
Consider how much you have eaten. Low blood sugar can cause you to experience shaking in your hands and legs, especially if you are diabetic. If you notice that you are shaking and you think low blood sugar might be to blame, eat or drink something with sugar in it as soon as possible. Low blood sugar needs to be treated quickly to avoid more serious complications like confusion, fainting, or seizures.^{[4]
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- Eat a piece of hard candy, drink some juice, or chew on a glucose tablet to raise your blood sugar.
- You should also have a snack like a sandwich or some crackers if your next meal is more than 30 minutes away.
2
Consider the amount of caffeine you have had. Drinking too many caffeinated beverages like coffee, cola, energy drinks, and tea can cause you to shake. Up to 400 milligrams of caffeine is considered a safe amount for adults and up to 100 milligrams for adolescents. Children should not have caffeine at all. Since everyone is different, you may experience shaking from even a small amount of caffeine.^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- To stop shaking from caffeine, limit your caffeine or eliminate it entirely if you are sensitive to caffeine.
- Some ways that you can limit your caffeine intake include:
  - drinking decaf or half-decaf coffee in the morning
  - drinking caffeine-free cola
  - not drinking any caffeinated beverages past noon
  - switching from coffee to tea
3
Determine if nicotine is to blame. Smoking can cause your hands to shake because nicotine is a stimulant. If you are a smoker, then your shaking hands may be the result of your smoking.^{[6]
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Research source} Nicotine withdrawal can also cause shaking, so even if you have recently quit smoking, you might be feeling the effects of it. The good news is that nicotine withdrawal symptoms usually peak after about 2 days and then become less noticeable as more time passes.
4
Consider how much alcohol you drink on a regular basis. Some people find that a drink may help relieve shaking, but when the effects of the alcohol wear off, the shaking returns. Frequent excessive consumption of alcohol can even make shaking worse. If you are prone to shaking, limit or avoid alcohol to help stop your shaking.
5
Examine other recent lifestyle changes. Have you recently quit drinking or stopped using drugs? If so, your shaking may be the result of withdrawal symptoms. If you have been alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent for a long time, then you should seek treatment while you detox. During the detox process, some people experience seizures, fever, and hallucinations. These severe complications can even cause death.^{[7]
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- Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing shaking while detoxing from drugs or alcohol.
6
Ask your doctor about side effects of the medication you are taking. Many medications have the unfortunate side-effect of causing your hands, arms, and/or head to shake. This side-effect is called a drug-induced tremor. From cancer medications, to antidepressants, to antibiotics, to asthma inhalers, a drug-induced tremor is a possible side-effect. If you are experiencing a tremor and you think it might be a side-effect of your medication, talk to your doctor about your options.^{[8]
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- Your doctor may decide to have you try a different medication, adjust your dosage, or add another medication to help control the tremor.
- Don't stop taking your medication without speaking to your doctor first.
7
Ask your doctor to perform tests that may identify the cause of your shaking. There are several serious medical conditions that may cause shaking, including Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, brain damage, and hyperthyroidism. If you have other symptoms or you cannot attribute the cause of your shaking to something else, then you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor can perform tests to determine what is causing your shaking and advise you on the best course of action.^{[9]
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- Describe your symptoms to your doctor in as much detail as possible—e.g., where it is located, whether it tends to happened while you’re moving or at rest, and what sort of movement it is. Different types of tremor may point to different underlying causes.^{[10]
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- Depending on what’s causing your shaking, your doctor may be able to prescribe a medication that can help. For example, beta blockers, which are normally used to treat high blood pressure, may help with essential tremors or shaking related to anxiety.^{[11]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I stop my hand from shaking when I try to write?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Hand shaking may be caused by a number of factors. It might be simply from overworking your hand, or it could be a symptom of a neurological disorder. Talk to your doctor to be safe.