Tremor Chat

Today is my father’s birthday.   I cannot think of a better day to give tribute to an amazing individual and role model.   This man is beloved by not only his daughters and wife but also, in my opinion, “a community.”    However, he would never admit that because he is much too humble.   The love he possesses for his family, his career, and, life in general,   has made him a legend to many.   Growing up in and out of foster care from a young age, my father learned, in the simplest of terms, to appreciate everything in life.   I can truly say I cannot remember the last time my father has had a bad day and this year has been a tough one.   It is because of my father that my tremor was first noticed and in turn diagnosed by a Pediatric Neurologist.   Sitting on the couch forcing my poor dad to watch some silly cartoon I’m sure, he looked at my mom and said, “Do you notice how Erika’s head always shakes back and forth when she watch...

I can remember my very first job interview, I was in high school.   As any typical 17 year old I was nervous but unlike a typical teenager my legs were shaking and hands were tremoring.   I walked in and took a deep breath and said matter-of-factly, I have a movement condition and I do shake but my tremors will not effect any work you have doing.   That job I had for the next 5 years.   I've had many jobs, internships, and positions in my life since and interviewing has become second nature to me.   However, a common question I receive is: how do I approach my tremors when interviewing?   The first question to tackle is whether you are confident your tremors will or will not interfere with the work you will be doing.   It is very important to come to terms with the fact that you cannot deny the simple fact that you have this condition or hide your tremors.   I have come to terms with the fact that because of my tremor I will not be a brain s...

Having been diagnosed at a young age my future has been in the back of my mind.   Now I realize that is normal for a young female. I am very healthy, I am very active, but I have this hereditary neurological movement condition that can cause social anxiety. I personally have zero desire to pass on to a future generation.   Because of that I have made the personal decision with my significant other to not have children.   Having children brings up many different stressors; childbirth then caring for an infant then raising a child and those lovely teenage years.   I know would for a fact these stressors cause my tremors to be exasperated beyond belief.   Some may view this as selfish but, in my opinion, bringing a child into this world who could possibly live a life with tremors would be worse.   Plus, If I do not have yearning desire to be a mother, why would I bring a child into this world?   Now I am a motherly and compassionate individual; often ...

Social anxiety is real.   Social phobia or anxiety affects up to one-third of individuals with ET, according to Schneider’s study reported in the May issue of Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Whether y ou’re anxious to walk outside your home, worried about what the girl next to you in class is thinking about your shaking hands or meeting your significant  other’s  family for the first time, anxiety is real.   Having tremors plus anxiety is like wearing your anxiety as a logo on your t-shirt!   Many people with ET experience social anxiety;” a form of anxiety experienced as shyness or a fear of public places, performance, public speaking, social situations, interactions with others, and being evaluated or scrutinized by other people. The term social anxiety also is used to describe anxiety brought about by anticipating embarrassment or shame.” Tremors are impossible to hide when your anxious or emotional.   Even after you have calmed down it still takes...

Sitting in a support group leader meeting for individuals effected with Parkinson’s a couple months ago someone said with a disease like this “you just have to assemble your team.”   Oh boy, did that statement resonate with me! I think today would be a more than appropriate day to share my thoughts on this statement.   Today is Mother’s Day and I can’t help but be reminded how important my support system has been in making me the person I am today.   My mother is not an emotional woman, she is the strongest woman I know; I like to think that it takes a strong woman to raise one.   Even to this day there isn’t anything I wouldn’t tell my mother.   She is my best friend, now I do not have many friends as I’ve gotten older, I have learned the few friends I do have are more like family.   Often the ones who do not try or fade away are not meant to be in your life.   Family, however, now they are forever, and my family is one of a kind.   My father...

Staying active with Essential Tremors is something I constantly preach to anyone who asks me how I cope with my tremors.    There will always be medication and doctors, but therapeutic options will in the end be healthier and often more lasting.    Growing up I was always active, but I never had true passion for fitness until recently. I can 100% attest to the fact that it has aided my everyday life when it comes to my ET.    It is proven that stress and anxiety are triggers for tremors so why not engage daily in activities to reduce these inevitable feelings? Engaging in regular exercise can improve your blood flow and circulation while reducing stress.   I used to say that I come with a warning label, and I do not mean that to offend anyone.    I simply used to feel the need to explain myself to everyone. I have learned through life and experiences that the only person's opinion that matters are my own. Thinking back to when I first...

Essential Tremors was originally called Benign Familial Tremor but when doctors realized the inconsistencies of this,they made the decision to change the name of the condition.   ET while most certainly not malignant it also more life altering than something that is 'benign'.   After this then removing the word "benign.'   The condition is also not consistently genetic so the need to remove familial was obvious.   Changing the name to Essential Tremors, does always give my support group a good chuckle though since as individuals with ET we certainly do not feel our tremor is essential to anything.   Being able to laugh at yourself especially with ET is a crucial part of living everyday life.   The ability to hold your head up high and simply walk through the grocery store can be exhausting.   Our thoughts dictate our actions yes but when our bodies are experiencing involuntary actions because of a condition we have it can be difficult to stay posit...

If you're reading this, I would like you to do me a favor.  Don't worry, I'm not about to give you a tutorial of where the "Donate" button is located.   Seriously though, let's imagine, ok?   Now start nodding, don't stop.   Tense your neck and shoulders, now bounce your legs and maybe begin to shake your hands, keep nodding.   Hard to do? Possibly annoying or maybe getting a little painful?   You can stop now, you probably already did. Now imagine doing all the above while getting dressed or eating lunch, in public.   This is a very small example of the life of a someone with tremors. Hi, I'm Erika.   I've had 'diagnosed' ET (Essential Tremors) since I was 13; currently I am 25. I have decided to begin this blog as a steppingstone towards my goals for my future. Raising awareness about Essential Tremors and movement disorders has been a passion of mine since I was very young. I began a support group at age 18, meeting almost every othe...

I was diagnosed with tremors at 13. I am a full-time Nanny for a two year old girl while being a social media consultant for a local Parkinson's nonprofit and beginning my own nonprofit.  I'm training for a NPC fitness competition.  I've been a support group leader for an Essential Tremor Support Group for 7 years. I've created this blog to create awareness and be advocate for my condition because over 10 million Americans have Essentials Tremors and I run into people everyday who have absolutely no idea what Essential Tremor is.